Directed Research

Catalog description

Research and writing on significant developments in the law; analysis and definition of legal problems with emphasis on student initiative; evaluation and use of case, statutory and secondary materials for research; written presentation of the conclusion of research. No more than four hours permitted in a J.D. student's career; no more than 3 hours credit for any one project. Except under extraordinary circumstances, full-time faculty members must supervise. Ordinarily, faculty members can be expected to supervise no more than two directed research projects per semester. Ordinarily, directed research projects must meet the following requirements: (1) a series of meetings between student and directing faculty member; (2) a minimum of 15 pages of writing per credit hour; (3) a preliminary draft critiqued by the faculty member and returned prior to the preparation of the final written product; and (4) a final written product. Students must prepare a proposal for directed research and obtain written permission from the supervising faculty member and the Associate Dean prior to registration. Directed research projects are graded; however, this grade is not included in the student's cumulative grade point average.