46 credits from…
Students will earn a minimum of 46 credits after completing the core-course, skills, and statutory-course requirements.
36 Required Course Credits
Ten required courses taken during the first & second years
5+ Statutory Course Credits
Take two of these statutory courses
5+ Skills Course Credits
All students take the three-credit Advocacy course that focuses on client representation, negotiation and advocacy skills. Students must also take at least one required skills course. Advocacy is a prerequisite or co-requisite for some skills courses.
Remaining credits
The remaining credits are earned through elective, clinic or independent study/clinic work.
- Elective courses (listing of all courses)
- Clinics
- Externships
- Advanced Research & Writing (long paper)
Participation/Attendance Requirement
Perspectives on the Legal Profession (PLP)
Bar Courses
A list of subject areas and the Mitchell courses that address bar exam subjects (for your information only)
86 credits to earn a JD
Earning a juris doctor degree at William Mitchell requires students to successfully complete 86 credits. You will earn a minimum of 46 credits by meeting core-course, skills, and statutory-course requirements. The remaining credits are earned through elective, clinic or independent study/clinic work. There also are several work and residency standards that the American Bar Association requires law school students to follow throughout the course of their education.
Total Credits
Minimum: 86 Credits
Maximum: 89 Credits
Visualize the curriculum with Pathways
Work Requirement
ABA accreditation standard 304(c) provides that “A law school shall not award full-time residence credit to a student who … engages in employment for more than 20 hours per week, whether outside or inside law school.”
Work Certification Form PDF, 208 Kb