Juris Doctor
Elective Credit
Joint Degree Programs
Concurrent Enrollment
Master of Laws

Juris Doctor
The Juris Doctor is conferred upon the successful completion of the three-year, full-time program of legal study at Georgia Law. On average, greater than 95 percent of the members of each entering class graduate. The J.D. graduate must earn a minimum of 88 semester credit hours, satisfy an advanced writing requirement, and complete the required course in Legal Profession and a skills-based curricular offering..

Because obtaining a legal education is a challenging and time-consuming task, you should be prepared to devote substantially all working hours during the academic year to the study of law. The University of Georgia does not offer a part-time law program. Therefore, first-year students are urged to refrain from taking jobs when classes are in session, and no law student is allowed to work in a paid position that requires more than 20 hours per week during the academic year. 

Despite the rigorous demands of legal education, many law students want to further expand their educational horizons by gaining specialized training in other fields while earning their law degrees.  The University of Georgia offers three ways to do this:  elective credit, joint degree programs, and concurrent enrollment.

Elective Credit
With permission, students can take courses in other academic disciplines and apply the hours toward the 88 credit hours required for the Juris Doctor.  For example, those interested in foreign affairs or public policy might take graduate courses in the School of Public and International Affairs.  Courses in the Terry College of Business are available for those intrigued by economics or banking.

Joint Degree Programs
The University of Georgia School of Law offers joint degree programs that enable students to earn both the law and graduate degrees in four academic years rather than the five it would take to obtain them individually.  Applicants must apply separately to both programs, preferably at the same time, and once accepted, can opt to begin studies in either discipline.  For instance, J.D./M.B.A. students who choose to start with law dedicate the first year exclusively to legal study and the second year to the business curriculum.  Courses in both subject areas are taken in the third and fourth years.  A first-year student in one of the degree programs (law, business, etc.) who did not apply to the other program may apply for the joint degree by making a timely application for admission to the new program during the first year of law or graduate study.  Joint degree programs are not open to transfer students. 

J.D./M.B.A.
The J.D./M.B.A. provides excellent preparation for students interested in careers combining law and banking, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, or other business and commercial interests.  Applicants should have two years of work experience in business and have taken the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). 

J.D./M.H.P.
The J.D./M.H.P. program, which includes an internship and thesis, is ideal for students interested in the historic preservation field.  Students with wide varieties of academic backgrounds and experiences are accepted for the program.  Applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

J.D./M.P.A.
The J.D./M.P.A. is attractive to students who desire careers in public administration, including not-for-profit sectors.  Graduates may have careers as attorneys in local, state, or federal agencies and/or be administrators in the agencies.  The program accepts students from various academic and experiential backgrounds.  Applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

J.D./M.Ed. in Sports Studies
This joint degree gives the theoretical and practical background to pursue career opportunities as a lawyer concentrating on sports issues.  It is restricted to students in the Sports Management program. Applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

J.D./M.S.W.
Many individuals interested in promoting constructive social change will find this joint degree will meet their needs.  Graduates of the J.D./M.S.W. program will be better prepared for careers as social service administrators, juvenile court representatives, family court judicial personnel, mediators, public policy officials, guardian ad litems, family law attorneys and child support enforcement administrators.  Students will participate in both legal and social work internships.  Applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

For more information on the joint degree programs, please contact the corresponding school in addition to the School of Law. 

J.D./M.B.A. 
Terry College of Business Administration
R. Preston Brooks Hall
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-6264
(706) 542-5671
E-mail:  terrymba@terry.uga.edu
Web:  www.terry.uga.edu/mba

J.D./M.H.P.
School of Environmental Design
Caldwell Hall
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1845
(706) 542-1845 
E-mail:  donnag@uga.edu
Web:  www.sed.uga.edu

J.D./M.P.A.
Department of Public Administration and Policy
School of Public and International Affairs
Baldwin Hall
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1615
(706) 542-9583
E-mail:  sperling@uga.edu
Web:  www.uga.edu/padp

J.D./M.Ed. in Sports Studies
Department of Kinesiology
School of Health and Human Performance
115 Ramsey Center
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-6554
(706) 542-4378
Web:  www.coe.uga.edu/kinesiology
 

J.D./M.S.W.
School of Social Work
Tucker Hall
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-7016
(706) 542-3364
E-mail:  erisler@uga.edu
Web:  www.ssw.uga.edu/social

Concurrent Enrollment
Students who wish to complement their law degrees with advanced degrees in other fields will find numerous opportunities at the University of Georgia.  With 15 other schools and colleges at the university, advanced degree opportunities abound.  An interest in international relations may lead to a master's in international affairs.  Students with accounting backgrounds may pursue a M.Acc. in the School of Accounting.

While the first year of study at Georgia Law consists of required courses and does not permit students to take additional offerings, the second and third-year curriculum is highly flexible with only two courses required remaining.  In some instances, students have already completed a year of study in another degree program before enrolling in the law school.  Then, after finishing the first year od law school, both degrees are completed over the next two or three years.  Some common concurrent degree areas pursued with a J.D. are:

International Affairs (Department of International Affairs in the School of Public and International Affairs)

Accounting (J.M. Tull School of Accounting in the Terry College of Business)

Psychology (Department of Psychology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences)

Environmental Science (College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)

Students interested in concurrent degree programs should contact the graduate coordinator in the department, school of college offering the degree, in addition to the law school.  Further information about graduate studies is available from the Graduate School.

Graduate School Admissions
Boyd Graduate Studies Building
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-7402
(706) 542-1739
E-mail:  gradam@uga.edu
Web:  www.grad.uga.edu
 

Master of Laws
Students holding a Juris Doctor may pursue the Master of Laws degree at the University of Georgia. This one-year, full-time study program provides students with an individually fashioned program in various areas of law. The LL.M. degree is awarded upon the successful completion of 24 semester hours of coursework and research.