SMU Dedman School of Law

All students must earn a minimum of 87 hours to complete the J.D. degree.   One of the many advantages of earning an SMU J.D. is that students have a broad range of upper-level elective courses that give them the flexibility to tailor an individual course of study.   Many of these classes are small – over one-half of upper-level courses have fewer than 25 students enrolled. For degree requirements, see J.D. curriculum requirements.

Year One

Fall

16 hours

Contracts I

2 hrs.

Torts I

3 hrs.

Civil Procedure I

3 hrs.

Property I

2 hrs.

Criminal Law

3 hrs.

Legal Research, Writing, and Advocacy I

3 hrs.

Spring

15 hours

Contracts II

3 hrs.

Torts II

2 hrs.

Civil Procedure II

2 hrs.

Property II

2 hrs.

Constitutional Law I

2 hrs.

Legal Research, Writing, and Advocacy II

3 hrs.

Years Two and Three

Upper Division Required Courses:

  • Professional Responsibility
  • Constitutional Law II
  • Edited Writing Seminar
  • General Writing Course
  • Professional Skills Course

Areas of Upper Division Electives Include:

  • Banking
  • Bankruptcy Law
  • Business/Corporate Law
  • Commercial Law
  • Constitutional Law
  • Criminal Law
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Employment/Labor Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Family Law
  • Health Care Law
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • Internet and E-Commerce Law
  • International Law
  • Litigation/Trial Advocacy
  • Oil & Gas Law
  • Real Estate Law
  • Tax Law