Juris Doctor (JD) Requirements     

Course Requirements

All JD students are required to take the following courses.

1. The first-year curriculum in its entirety (Rule 3.01):

Fall Semester (15 total credits)
Law 711: Contracts (4 cr)
Law 714: Civil Procedure (4 cr)
Law 726: Criminal Law & Procedure (4 cr)
Law 722: Legal Analysis, Advocacy, & Writing I (3 cr)

Spring Semester (15 total credits)
Law 715: Torts (4 cr)
Law 724: Property (4 cr)
Law 731: Constitutional Law (4 cr)
Law 723: Legal Analysis, Advocacy, & Writing II (3 cr)

  2. One Professional Responsibilities course (Rule 3.12):

Law 850: Professional Responsibilities (3 credits) OR
Law 798: Professional Responsibility and Criminal Practice (2 credits)

Note: Students may not use a Professional Responsibilities course to meet the Upper-Level Writing or Experiential Learning Requirement in the same semester.

  3. One course that meets Rule 3.03: According to ABA Standard 303(c), “A law school shall provide education to law students on  bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism”.

Each semester, approved courses meeting this requirement will be indicated in the online Course Schedule. An approved clinical experience fulfilling Rule 3.03 may count toward the Experiential Learning requirement as well.

 4. 6 credits of Experiential Learning (Rule 3.07)

Students may complete this requirement through any combination of simulation courses (eg. Negotiations, Contract Drafting, or Lawyering Skills), clinical courses (Law 854 courses), or externships (Law 855 courses).

Note: Students may not use an Experiential Learning course to meet the Upper-Level Writing or Professional Responsibility Requirement in the same semester.

  5. Upper-Level Writing Requirement (Rule 3.11.1) – do NOT leave this requirement to your final semester

Completion of a rigorous, faculty-supervised writing experience subsequent to the completion of the 1L curriculum, to include:

• • • • • At least 20 pages (double-spaced) of written work
        • Timely submission of a draft of the paper to the faculty supervisor who will provide feedback on the writing
        • Timely submission of a final version of the paper to the faculty supervisor incorporating the feedback

Students may meet this requirement through one of the following:

• • • • • Enrolling in a course listed as “LW eligible” on the online Course Schedule. Note: students must check with the instructor on the first day of class to ensure they understand any requirements and/or deadlines necessary for satisfactory completion, OR
        • Working directly with a faculty member who has agreed to supervise the work either through an approved Directed Research project, appropriate journal material, or ad hoc   

Approval & Completion Process

Students who have turned final versions of their papers in to their faculty supervisors, should complete the Upper-Level Writing Requirement form found in their My Student Info portal on the Law School website.  The form is then routed to the faculty supervisor for their approval and then to the Registrar, who will email the student directly to confirm the requirement is complete.

Note: Students may not use an Experiential Learning course or Professional Responsibilities course to meet the Upper-Level Writing Requirement in the same semester.

Credit Requirements

To earn a JD from the University of Wisconsin Law School, students must complete 90 total credits. Of these, 64 credits must be comprised of courses with regularly scheduled class sessions or direct faculty instruction ABA Standard 311(a).

Examples of law courses that do not count toward the “64-credit rule” include law journals, externships, directed research/reading, and most Moot and Mock Trial experiences. 

Consult the online Course Schedule to confirm individual course credit totals.

Grade Point Average Requirement

No less than a 2.0 cumulative grade point average is required in order to graduate. On the Law School’s grading scale, a 2.0 translates to a C average. A student’s grade point is calculated at the conclusion of each semester and appears on the unofficial Law School transcript accessible through My Student Info.

The full grading scale is as follows:

Grade	GPA
A+	4.3
A	4.0
A-	3.7
B+	3.3
B	3.0
B-	2.7
C+	2.3
C	2.0
C-	1.7
D+	1.3
D	1.0
D-	0.7
F	0

Note: Coursework transferred in from other law schools or completed through a study abroad program, an approved non-law course, or as part of a dual degree program does not count in a student’s Law School grade point average.

Residency Requirement

According to Law School Rule 9.01(1)(c), a "minimum of 50 credits must be earned as a JD candidate in this Law School for a student to be entitled to receive a JD from Wisconsin." Students transferring to Wisconsin with a significant number of credits earned previously may need more than 90 credits total to earn a JD from Wisconsin. 

Credits that are part of a Law School study abroad exchange program are considered "in residence."

Time Limitation

According to Law School Rule 7.06, students must complete all JD degree requirements within six years from the commencement of law studies – whether at Wisconsin or another institution. Transfer students needing to complete at least 50 credits to meet the residency requirement should be aware of this limitation and plan accordingly. Extensions of time may be granted by the Retentions Committee.

Military service does not typically count against this time period.

Wisconsin Diploma Privilege Requirements

Diploma Privilege is unique to Wisconsin and allows students to practice without taking a bar exam if they successfully complete the following requirements:

1.      Earn the JD
   
   
2.       Complete Law 801: Evidence and Law 734: Trusts & Estates
   
   
3. Meet the 60-credit rule: Of the 90 credits required for the JD, 60 credits must be met by taking courses that qualify under Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule  40.03, requiring that students complete“…regular law school courses having as their primary and direct purpose the study of rules and principles of substantive and procedural law as they may arise in the courts and administrative agencies of the United States and this state.”
   
   
4.      Maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in both the Mandatory Subject Matter courses and courses taken to count toward the 60-credit rule. On the Law School’s grading scale, a 2.0 translates to a C average.   

• • • • Mandatory Subject Matter courses are: Contracts, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law & Procedure, Torts, Property, Constitutional Law, Professional Responsibilities, Evidence, and Trusts & Estates

Exceptions to the 60-credit rule
Certain courses are capped at a maximum number of credits that can be counted toward the 60-credit rule. The exceptions are as follows:

Course	Credits to 90-credit rule	Credits to 64-credit rule	Credits to 60-credit rule	Credits to Experiential Learning
Clinics & Externships	All	Depends on the clinic or externship	5	All
Professional Responsibilities	All	All	1	0
Trial Advocacy	All	Instructor-led classes count; competitions do not	4	All

Distance Education

Law students are not permitted to earn more than one-third of the credits required for the JD degree through distance education courses (that is, no more than 30 credits of 90 credit total). Per ABA Standards, a 'distance education course' is one in which "students are separated from the faculty member or each other for more than one-third of the instruction and the instruction involves the use of technology to support regular and substantive interaction among the students and between the students and the faculty member, either synchronously or asynchronously." 

Currently, the Law School does not offer sufficient distance education courses for a student to exceed 30 credits; however, students who study as a 'visitor' at another law school --or who take non-law distance education courses elsewhere on campus-- should be aware of this 30-credit limitation, as it could prevent credits from being applied toward the JD degree.

Study Abroad

Students interested in study abroad should consult with the Registrar to ensure they can meet all the necessary degree requirements before committing to any program. It is not recommended for students to study abroad their final semester.

Prior to departure, it is important to provide course descriptions and syllabi to the Registrar for review. The Dean of Academic Affairs will assess courses for transfer credit so that students can better prepare for the remainder of their academic requirements upon returning.

Students are responsible for ensuring their transcript from the host school is sent to the Registrar. A grade of C or better is required in order to earn credit for each course. However, all grades will appear as either S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory) on both the campus and law school transcripts. These courses are not factored into the Law School grade point average.

For specific program details, visit the Study Abroad website.

Semester at another law school

Students interested in studying law at another ABA-approved U.S. law school should consult with the Registrar to ensure they can meet all the necessary degree requirements before committing to any program. It is not recommended for students to spend their final semester at another law school.

Prior to departure, it is important to provide course descriptions and syllabi to the Registrar for review. The Dean of Academic Affairs will assess courses for transfer credit so that students can better prepare for the remainder of their academic requirements upon returning.

Students are responsible for ensuring their transcript from the host school is sent to the Registrar. A grade of C or better is required in order to earn credit for each course. However, all grades will appear as either S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory) on both the campus and law school transcripts. These courses are not factored into the Law School grade point average. 

Applying for Diploma Privilege 

The Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) is tasked with certifying all qualified candidates for practice. Application instructions and materials are found here. The application opens in early October for the following year.

• Review the application deadlines carefully to avoid paying a higher fee to apply.
• Note that if the final deadline is missed, students forfeit the opportunity to apply for Diploma Privilege and will have to sit for the bar to practice in Wisconsin.

The application process will take time, so begin as soon as possible. Applicants are asked to provide character references, employment verification, driving abstracts, and criminal history; follow-up items may be requested as well, depending on where a person has lived or worked. Staff from the BBE visit each fall to answer questions and provide guidance, so reviewing the required material before this visit is essential.

• Applicants request their official transcripts following these instructions. These are NOT provided by the Law School.
• The Registrar will arrange for and provide the Dean's Certificate. 

4.9  Admission to the Bar of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

Information on admission to the Federal District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin is provided to graduating students shortly before the end of the spring semester. Once you have been admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin by virtue of being sworn-in before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, you can be admitted to the Western District. While the process is made easy for you, you must nevertheless complete the online application, take the oath, and pay the fee online before you can legally practice before this court. The Western District does not require an in-person swear-in; it is all done online although the Court has traditionally held a ceremonial swearing-in for May graduates on the same day as the Wisconsin Bar Admission Group Swearing-in ceremony. If you are interested in being admitted before the Western District, fill out the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin online application.

For information about admission before the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, see 4.10 below.

4.10  Admission to the Bar of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Other Federal Courts, U.S. Supreme Court

Some graduates may desire to be admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in Milwaukee instead of—or in addition to—the Western District Court in Madison. As is the case with the Western District, before you can be admitted to practice in the Eastern District, you must first be admitted before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Applications and information regarding admission before the Eastern District. You should submit the required materials directly to the court in Milwaukee. You must have an attorney already admitted to practice before the Eastern District complete the required Affidavit in support of your admission. If you have any questions regarding admission before the Eastern District, please direct them to the court clerk's office at 414-297-3372.

A brief note about other federal courts: All federal courts have their own rules for admission. Most are easily met and can be done by mail, but most also require that your admission be moved by someone who is already a member of that court. Contact the clerk of the federal court where you are interested in practicing to obtain rules and applications.  The UW Law Alumni Association and/or the Office of Career and Professional Development may be able to help you find someone in another state to move your admission.

Admission to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court requires that you practice three years before applying.

4.11  Diploma Privilege: Other Swearing-In Options

If you are unable to make the scheduled group swearing-in, you can be sworn in at the Wisconsin Supreme Court's next monthly admission ceremony. If you wish to be sworn-in to practice as a Wisconsin attorney but must leave the state permanently before the group swearing-in date for UW Law graduates, you can still be sworn-in to the Wisconsin Bar. There are two avenues for this, neither of which is easy—so if at all possible, it's best to get sworn-in at the group ceremony (or, alternatively, at the Supreme Court's regularly scheduled monthly swearing-in ceremony).

4.11.1  Out-of-State Swearing-In

The procedure for an out-of-state swearing-in to the Wisconsin Bar is somewhat involved. A brief explanation follows and further information  and questions can be directed to: clerk@wicourts.gov or (608) 266-1880.

Supreme Court Rule 40.02(4) provides that the oath may be administered by any person authorized by that jurisdiction to administer the attorney’s oath for bar admission. Admittees may be sworn-in by a state Supreme Court justice, Federal Judge, U.S. Supreme Court justice or other authorized person from an outside jurisdiction (ie. public notary in certain states). If you wish to have such a person administer the oath, you must provide a copy of the rule from that jurisdiction which provides authority for that person to administer an attorney’s oath, along with a letter including the proposed date and time as well as the name, title, email address of the individual administering the oath. Also include the jurisdiction of the authorized individual and the rule that allows that person to administer the oath. This should be submitted at least 10 days in advance of the scheduled date.

Along with the letter and the copy of the rule, you need to send the original Memorandum-Certificate (Board Certification) issued by the Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners, the completed Certificate Mailing Address Form (both of these items will be sent by the BBE) and proof of payment for the specified amount. The above items must be mailed or emailed to the Supreme Court Clerk's Office, P.O. Box 1688, Madison WI 53701-1688 or clerk@wicourts.gov. The street address for FedEx or Overnight Mail is: 110 E. Main St., #215, Madison, WI 53703.

Upon receipt of the above items (letter, jurisdiction rule, memo/certificate, mailing form and check), the office will send the verifications forms to you and the individual who will administer the oath .

One variation of this: if you wish to be sworn in by another state's Supreme Court Justice (or member of the highest court in another jurisdiction) or a judge in the U.S. District Court, U.S. Court of Appeals or U.S. Supreme Court, you need not send the copy of the jurisdiction's rule on oaths mentioned above. You will need to schedule a date and time to be sworn in with the Justice/judge. The clerk's office will need to receive written notice (letter including date and time as well as name and address of individual administering oath) at least 10 days in advance of the scheduled date, along with the documents (certificate/form/payment) already mentioned above.

4.11.2  Early Admission

The decision to seek Early Admission must not be approached lightly. Early Admission is granted in rare instances when the law graduate can demonstrate that extraordinary and compelling circumstances, such as medical exigency or military obligation, warrant this special consideration. Early Admission cannot occur until after the official degree conferral date.  The group swearing-in is often within two weeks of the official degree conferral date, and it generally takes a week or so after the degree conferral date for the early admission request to be processed by the Supreme Court; therefore, early admission may only be a week or so before the group swearing-in.

The first step is to submit to the Dean of the Law School (via the Law School Registrar at registrar@law.wisc.edu) a written Petition with supporting documentation outlining in detail the basis for the need. The Petition should be submitted no later than the last day of classes (this is a firm deadline: no exceptions). Of course, one's application with the BBE must also be complete. Additionally, the student MUST mark all final exams and final papers with the notice that, in addition to being a graduating 3L, the student is also seeking Early Bar Admission.

If the Petition is approved, the Dean of the Law School will write a letter to the Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court requesting permission for the graduate to be sworn-in early. The letter will include the reason and a statement that all requirements for admission have been met. That letter will be forwarded to the Chief Justice for approval or denial.

If approved by the Chief Justice, the BBE may issue your certification as soon as possible following conferral of the J.D. degree. Once certified by the BBE (applicants should contact the BBE with any questions regarding the timing of the certification itself), the graduate may schedule an appointment to be sworn in either privately or in a monthly group admission.

4.12  Bar Admission in States Other than Wisconsin

4.12.1 Introduction

Generally, graduates who intend to practice outside of Wisconsin will need to take a bar exam in the state where they intend to practice and apply for admission to the bar of that state. Almost every state except for Wisconsin also requires applicants to have received a passing score on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (the MPRE), which is administered three times a year, in March, August and November. View more information about the MPRE via National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).

Law School Career Services Bar Examination Information
Academic Enhancement Program Bar Success Skills & MPRE Information

As stated above with respect to Wisconsin, no matter where you choose to be admitted to the bar, you must fill out the appropriate forms, get records certified and forwarded to courts, and you MUST observe deadlines. Admission to the bar requires you to pay attention to details. Remember that there are fees involved, so plan ahead for these fees and for a bar review course if applicable.

While the Law School will automatically certify your degree to the Wisconsin BBE, graduates taking other states' bar exams must submit a request in writing to the Law School Registrar to have degree certification sent to states other than Wisconsin. 

The National Conference of Bar Examiners and American Bar Association publish the “Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements” (PDF).

4.12.2  Important Note regarding New York Bar Admission Requirements

The New York State Board of Law Examiners has specific rules applicable to students who wish to sit for the New York bar examination.  One such rule provides that Law study must be completed in no fewer than 24 months and no more than 60 months (5 years) after commencement of law study (note that this is one year less than the 6 years allowed under UW Law School Rules). There are numerous other requirements of which students who plan to sit for the New York bar exam should be aware. They can be found at www.nybarexam.org. You are urged to review these rules very carefully no later than the beginning of your second year of law school, if you plan to sit for the New York bar exam after you graduate. 

The New York bar is one of over 30 jurisdictions that now administer the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), which consists of the Multistate Bar Examination, the Multistate Performance Test, and the Multistate Essay Examination (for more details about the UBE, please see NCBE's website). The UBE is administered on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July.  An application to sit for the July New York bar exam must be filed in April.  An application to sit for the February New York bar exam must be filed in November. 

An extremely helpful resource is the New York State Board of Law Examiners' New York State Bar Exam Information Guide (PDF). 

New York's unique requirements that must be met before a person can be admitted to the New York bar are as follows:

1. You must achieve a passing score on the UBE.

2. You must complete an online course in New York-specific law, known as the New York Law Course (NYLC), an online, on demand course which reviews important and unique aspects of New York law.  It consists of approximately 15 hours of recorded lectures.  You must complete the NYLC up to one year prior to or three years after passing the UBE.

3. You must take and pass an online examination, known as the New York Law Exam (NYLE), which is a 50 item, two hour, open book, multiple choice test administered online and which tests important New York rules.  The NYLE is offered four times a year.  You must complete the NYLE up to one year prior to or three years after passing the UBE. 

4. You must take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).

5. If you commenced law school studies after August 1, 2016, you must comply with the new Skills Competency Requirement (PDF) set forth in Section 520.18 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals. You do not have to satisfy this requirement before you sit for the bar exam in New York, but it must be satisfied before you can be admitted to practice in the State of New York.

   An applicant for admission may satisfy the skills competency requirement by completing one of five pathways contained in Rule 520.18.

   • Pathway 1 allows an applicant to satisfy the skills competency and professional values requirement by submitting a certification from the applicant’s law school confirming that (1) the law school has developed a plan identifying and incorporating into its curriculum the skills and professional values that, in the school’s judgment, are required for its graduates’ basic competence and ethical participation in the legal profession, and has made this plan publicly available on the law school’s website; and (2) the applicant has acquired sufficient competency in those skills and sufficient familiarity with those values.

   • Pathway 2 permits an applicant to satisfy the skills competency and professional values requirement by submitting proof that the applicant completed 15 credits of practice-based experiential coursework designed to foster professional competency training. Up to 6 of these 15 credits can be earned in law school certified non-credit-bearing summer employment programs, provided those employment opportunities are certified by the law school and satisfy certain other criteria.

   • Pathway 3 provides that any applicant who has successfully completed the Pro Bono Scholars Program, pursuant to section 520.17 of the Court’s Rules for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law (see 22 NYCRR 520.17), will be deemed to have satisfied the skills competency and professional values requirement.

   • Pathway 4 allows an applicant to satisfy the skills competency and professional values requirement upon completion of a post-graduate, six-month apprenticeship in the United States, or in a commonwealth or territory of the United States, or in a foreign country, under the supervision of an attorney authorized to practice in the jurisdiction where the work is performed. The apprenticeship can be paid or unpaid. The supervising attorney is responsible for certifying that the apprenticeship satisfied certain criteria.

   • Pathway 5 provides that an applicant who has been authorized to practice law in another state, or in a U.S. territory or commonwealth or a country outside the United States, and has practiced in that jurisdiction full-time for one year, or part-time for two years, will meet the skills competency and professional values requirement.

6. You must comply with the 50-hour pro bono service requirement. Pursuant to 520.16 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals, applicants who successfully pass the bar examination in New York State must demonstrate that they have performed 50 hours of qualifying pro bono service before applying for admission to practice. Based on successful passage of the bar examination, any applicant who seeks admission to practice in New York after January 1, 2015, must satisfy the 50-hour requirement. Further information about the NY Courts pro bono requirement.

If you have participated in a clinical course, externship or judicial clerkship as a law student, you may have already satisfied the 50-hour requirement. (See “What Sort of Work Qualifies as Pro Bono Work” below). If you want to use one or more of those courses to satisfy the 50-hour requirement, you and your supervising attorney must complete two affidavits: One that is called a “Form Affidavit as to Applicant’s Compliance with the Pro Bono Requirements, Including Certification by Supervisor;” and a second called “Form Affidavit as to Applicant’s Law Related Employment and/or Solo Practice.” There is no reason to wait until you are applying for admission to the New York State Bar to complete these affidavits – we recommend that you have your supervisor(s) complete these forms at the end of your externship or clerkship. This will avoid your having to search for supervisors who may have forgotten you or who have left their jobs. Here are links to the two forms:

1. Affidavit of law-related employment to the NY State Bar (PDF)
2. Affidavit as to compliance with pro bono requirements (PDF)

Do not fill in the Department to which you are seeking admission yet, unless you know for sure the area of the State in which you will be working or living. Also, you may not have your “BOLE” number yet (your number for the bar exam), so leave that blank as well.

Keep these affidavits in a file so that you have them when you need to fill out the forms necessary for bar admission after you have taken the bar exam – you will not be using them until after the bar exam, but it’s a good idea to get them now so you don’t have track down supervisors at some point in the future.

What Sort of Work Qualifies as “Pro Bono Work” Under Rule 520.16?

Eligible pro bono work can be performed any time after you commenced your legal education, and can be performed anywhere that is convenient for you. The work must be law related (i.e., the work must involve the use of legal skills and law-related activities that are appropriate for lawyers-in-training not yet admitted to practice, and you must avoid the unauthorized practice of law).

Your pro bono work must be performed under the supervision of:

1. a member of the law school faculty, including adjunct faculty, or an instructor employed by a law school;
2. an attorney admitted to practice and in good standing in the jurisdiction in which the work is performed; or
3. in the case of a clerkship or externship in a court system, by a judge or an attorney employed by the court system.

Finally, the types of projects that meet the requirement are:

1. work performed in the service of low-income or disadvantaged individuals who cannot afford counsel and whose unmet legal needs prevent their access to justice; OR
2. work that involves the use of legal skills for an organization that qualifies as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3); OR
3. work that involves the use of legal skills for the court system or federal, state or local government agencies or legislative bodies.

It seems clear, therefore, that students who complete 50 hours of work through externships such as the Judicial Intern Clinical Program; the Wisconsin DOJ Clinical Program; LAIP; the Innocence Project; the Family Court Clinic; the Immigrant Justice Clinic; the Prosecution Program; the Defender Program; an externship at any U.S. Attorney’s Office; and a large number of other placements will be deemed to have satisfied the requirement of 50 pro bono hours. See, in particular, Question 12 on page 9 of the “Frequently Asked Questions” about the Pro Bono Requirement (PDF) to determine whether any clinical or externship courses you have completed, or are contemplating, will satisfy the requirement. The fact that you received academic credit or a stipend or grant in connection with your participation in a law school clinic or externship does not disqualify the work.

Please also see the Current Pro Bono Opportunities available through the UW Law Pro Bono Program, or contact the Pro Bono Program directly at probonoprogram@law.wisc.edu, for additional information about other pro bono activities that may satisfy the New York requirements. 

Students who are considering pursuing admission to the New York bar are strongly urged to plan with the above requirements in mind. If you have questions about the New York requirements and your UW Law School curriculum, you should consult with the Law School Registrar, Toni Landis; Academic Advisor Angela Nash; or one of the lawyers in the Office of Career and Professional Development.

4.12.3  Early Registration: States Other than Wisconsin

Some states require registration as a law student in order to expedite sitting for the bar examination in that jurisdiction. If you definitely plan to practice in some other state, you are urged to check with the licensing authority in that state to see if you can reduce the costs associated with admission in that state by registering as a law student.

4.12.4  Timeliness

As with the Wisconsin Bar, if you plan to seek bar admission in another state, you must file forms for that state in a timely manner. You may request the appropriate bar admission packet by writing or calling that bar, or going to their website.

4.12.5  Certification of Law Degree

The state bar to which you are applying will probably require, as part of the application process or as a prerequisite to sit for the bar exam, some manner of certification from the UW Law School that you have indeed received your J.D. degree. You should carefully research what is required by the state to which you are applying.

Some states will provide, as part of their bar application materials, forms or certificates which the Law School must complete and forward on to the relevant bar admission authority. Some states do not provide such forms or certificates, but do require a letter from the Law School; usually the letter must contain particular information.

• Forms or Certificates. You must provide, either directly or by email, the relevant form or certificate to the Law School Registrar (registrar@law.wisc.edu) who will complete it, obtain the Dean's signature, if necessary, and then forward it as appropriate. Usually what is being sought is a certification of the J.D. degree; therefore, the Law School does not complete the form/certificate until all grades (temporary or final) are received. You need to provide the Law School Registrar with the required materials long enough in advance to allow for their completion and to obtain the necessary signature.
• Letters. If your state requires a letter, you should email the Law School Registrar (registrar@law.wisc.edu). Indicate precisely the recipient's name and address, what information should be in the letter, and when it is due. The Law School Registrar will produce the letter on behalf of the Law School and forward as appropriate.
• Transcripts. If the bar to which you are applying requires a transcript, you must submit a request to the University Registrar's Office. The Law School is unable to obtain either official or unofficial transcripts on your behalf. Order your transcript through your Student Center or at UW Registrar's Transcripts. If the transcript must accompany the certification letter/form, contact the Law School Registrar (registrar@law.wisc.edu) to make the necessary arrangements. Some states expect the J.D. degree to appear on the transcript. If you are taking the bar exam immediately following your graduation you are unlikely to have the degree appear on your transcript in time to submit to the state bar examiner. Contact the Registrar to determine the best course of action in that situation.

4.13 Graduation Information

For detailed information on graduation degree requirements, please refer to the Graduation & Bar Admission sections above. Careful completion of the JD/Diploma Privilege Graduation Credit Evaluation Worksheet (available at the end of this section) tracks the requirements for graduation and eligibility for diploma privilege. Contact the Law School Registrar (registrar@law.wisc.edu) with questions or concerns.

Graduation information is available on the Law School’s Commencement page and the UW Commencement page.

Students carrying old incompletes should finish their work for these classes well before the end of the semester in which they plan to graduate. This is necessary so the work can be graded and the proper paperwork completed before the end of the semester.

4.13.1 Preparing for Graduation Checklist

View the UW's Graduation Checklist for all UW students.

This is the Law School Graduation Checklist:

• Complete the JD/Diploma Privilege Graduation Credit Evaluation Worksheet to ensure you have met the requirements for graduation. (Available at the end of this section).
• Notify the Law School of your graduation plans by submitting the "Graduation Intentions" survey. (Usually done in September of 3L year).
• Apply to graduate via your MyUW Student Center. Verify that your name is as you want it to appear on your diploma (see 4.13.2 below).
• Apply for diploma privilege with the Board of Bar Examiners (see 4.6 above). If interested, apply for admission to the Federal District Court (see 4.9 and 4.10 above). If interested, apply for other states' bar exams (see 4.12 above).
• Decide which commencement ceremony or ceremonies to attend (see 4.13.3 below).
• Rent cap and gown through the University Book Store (see 4.13.6 below).
• Order invitations, if desired, from University Book Store. Mail them early (see 4.13.4 below).
• Make hotel accommodations for family and friends.
• Take exit photo.
• Update your permanent (post-graduate) address in your MyUW Student Center.
• Complete an Employment Survey or see an Office of Career and Professional Development counselor. Update your post-graduation email address with OCPD.
• Credit & Loans:
  • Check federal loan amounts and status through Federal Student Aid.
  • Stay on top of credit through Annual Credit Report.
  • Review repayment options and calculators through the Federal Student Aid's Loan Simulator.
  • Consult with the Admissions & Financial Aid Office if you are confused about repayment options and processes.
• Clean out your hang file and locker.

4.13.2 Applying to Graduate

1. Informing the University of your Graduation Intentions: The graduation application is available in the Student Center via MyUW. To apply for graduation, indicate the term (semester and year) in which you will complete all degree requirements and indicate attendance/no attendance at a university commencement ceremony (which is separate from the Law School Hooding ceremony). Commencement preferences can be selected from the drop-down menu on the "Apply for Graduation" page. For help applying for graduation or selecting a commencement ceremony, see the Applying for Graduation instruction page.
2. Name Verification: Verify that your name, as indicated in your Student Center, appears exactly as you want it to read in the commencement program and on your diploma. If you have designated a 'preferred name' you may select it as the name to appear in the UW commencement program. To change any aspect of your official name (use of middle name, etc.) follow the instructions for updating Personal Information in UW Records.
   1. The University Registrar can add accents, tildes, and other “special characters” to a “degree name” in SIS that will be used on the diploma. You are welcome to email the University Registrar at registrar@em.wisc.edu with the request and they will enter the corrected name as your degree name. It must still match your primary/legal name in the student record system in other ways (e.g., the University Registrar can’t add a middle name that isn’t already part of your primary name), but it can include the appropriate letters so that your name displays accurately on the diploma. If you have questions about diplomas or the student record system, please contact the University Registrar directly at registrar@em.wisc.edu.
3. Informing the Law School of your Graduation Intentions: The Law School’s Graduation Intentions form is emailed to 3Ls in September. Complete this form and return it to the Law School Registrar (Room 5107 or registrar@law.wisc.edu).  This informs the Law School of your intent to graduate, so that the Registrar can ensure your graduation eligibility and send you important information regarding graduation, commencement, and admission to the bar. The list is generated from the returned Graduation Intentions form is also used as a release by the Board of Bar Examiners for required file checks of character and fitness.

4.13.3 Commencement Ceremony Options

Students have several options with regard to participation in commencement ceremonies and may participate in the ceremony(ies) that best suit(s) them, or no ceremony at all.

Graduates may choose to attend any or all of the ceremonies listed below under their graduation month. It is important that students notify the Law School Registrar (registrar@law.wisc.edu) of commencement ceremony intentions so their names are included in the appropriate commencement program(s). Keep in mind that each ceremony requires a cap and gown rental (the Law School Hooding Ceremony and the UW Student Commencement in May use the same academic attire rental). Specific dates of the ceremonies are available on the Law School’s Commencement page and the UW Commencement page.

Commencement Ceremony Options for:

• December Graduates
  • UW Winter Commencement Ceremony (December)
  • Law School Hooding Ceremony (May)
  • UW Spring Commencement Ceremony (May)
• May Graduates
  • Law School Hooding Ceremony (May)
  • UW Spring Commencement Ceremony (May)
• August Graduates
  • Law School Hooding Ceremony (May)
  • UW Spring Commencement Ceremony (May)
  • UW Winter Commencement Ceremony (December)

4.13.4 Graduation Invitations

We encourage students to celebrate these special graduation events with family and friends. There is no limit to the number of guests graduates may invite to commencement events. Law School graduation invitations can be ordered online from C.B. Announcements, Jostens, and Herff Jones, through The University Book Store's Graduation page.

4.13.5 Honors & Dean’s Academic Achievement Award

1. Dean's Academic Achievement Award: Students graduating in May 2024 who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.45 at the end of their penultimate semester receive a Dean’s Academic Achievement Award, which allows them to wear the honors stole at the commencement ceremony. (Students graduating in May 2025, and subsequent May graduates, who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 at the end of their penultimate semester receive a Dean’s Academic Achievement Award.) Once the Law School Registrar has determined eligibility for the Dean’s Academic Achievement Awards, students are notified and the list is sent to the University Book Store. The store allows those students to rent the red honors stole to wear at commencement. Stoles are picked up at the same time as the cap and gown. Please note that receiving a Dean's Academic Achievement Award is not the same as graduating "with honors." The Law School does not calculate final grade point averages to determine honors until well after the commencement ceremonies. [Students graduating in May 2023, and earlier May graduates, who had a cumulative grade point average of 3.35 at the end of their penultimate semester received a Dean’s Academic Achievement Award.] 
2. Graduation Honors: Many students who receive a Dean’s Academic Achievement Award also receive cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude honors after calculation of final grade point averages. Those who graduate with honors receive a Law School certificate that recognizes their honors status. These certificates are mailed two months after graduation, so MyUW accounts should include post-graduation addresses. Graduation honors appear on the official transcript but not on the diploma. For more information on graduation honors, see Section 9.7.

4.13.6 Academic Regalia for Graduation Ceremonies (Attire)

Candidates must wear the academic attire appropriate to the degree to be conferred. Doctor of Laws/Juris Doctor is a doctorate degree. The gown for UW Law School graduates is called the doctor-of-law or juris doctorate gown and the hood is purple. Learn more at UW Campus Commencement: About the Attire.

Rental Agency: The University Book Store (711 State St., 608-257-3784) handles all arrangements for tams, gowns, hoods, and honors stoles. Order your commencement attire by phone, in-store or online. Orders for academic attire should be made as early as possible through The University Book Store. Academic attire ordering deadlines are on the University Book Store website.

4.13.7 Diploma and Degree Posting Information

1. Diploma Information: All diplomas are handled by the Office of the Registrar, 333 East Campus Mall #10101, 608-262-3811. The office is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Email: registrar@em.wisc.edu. Your official graduation date is not the date of the commencement or hooding ceremony but the university's degree conferral date. The official graduation date may be found at the UW Registrar's Graduation, commencement, and conferral date page. This official degree conferral date will be on the diploma and on your transcript.
   • Domestic First Class: Diplomas will be mailed out approximately 12 to 14 weeks after graduation at no charge. Diplomas will be mailed to the graduate's home address, with the exception of international addresses (see below). Students should be sure that their home address is up-to-date through their Student Center in MyUW and will be accurate after graduation.
   • International Airmail: Graduates who wish to have their diploma mailed outside of North America at no charge must provide a Diploma address in order for the diploma to be mailed. You can add or edit a diploma address via your Student Center (The Diploma address can be the same as your home address). Questions of any kind regarding diploma mailing can be sent to degreeaudit@em.wisc.edu.
   • Holds: Students who have holds placed on their records will not receive their diplomas until those holds are cleared. Information on how to clear holds is available on UW Registrar's Fines and Holds.
   • Diploma Cover: May graduates receive the red diploma covers at the Open House or from the front desk.   December graduates receive their diploma covers when they cross the stage at the UW Winter Commencement Ceremony. Graduates not participating in a commencement ceremony can pick up a diploma cover from the Office of the Registrar, Student Services, 333 E. Campus Mall, Room 10101. The office is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
2. Posting of Degrees: Once your degree is posted it will show under the Degree Summary link in the Student Center on MyUW. At that point the degree will also appear on your transcript.

4.13.8 Ordering Transcripts

Order official transcripts through the UW Registrar's Transcripts. There is no charge for transcripts sent electronically or by U.S. Postal Service. Official transcripts will not include Law School GPA or rank. If you have a financial or other record hold you will not be able to request a transcript until holds are cleared. A hold can only be cleared/removed by the department that placed it. Information on record holds can be checked through your Student Center.  For more information on transcripts, see Section 9.6.

4.13.9 Graduation Class Rank

December and May graduates are combined into one graduating class for the purposes of ranking. The graduation class rank is computed once per year after all grades for spring semester have been processed and final GPAs calculated (usually early July). August graduates do not receive a graduation class rank but may rely on the law school ranking tables. 

To obtain a statement of class rank, graduates should make a request in writing to the Law School Registrar, Room 5107 Law School, 975 Bascom Mall, Madison, WI 53706, or at registrar@law.wisc.edu.

4.13.10 The Order of the Coif

Elections to the Order of the Coif are made once a year, combining December, May and August graduates into one election. Notifications of election to the Order of the Coif are usually sent in late fall, so December graduates wait almost a full year to learn whether or not they have been elected to the Order. Graduates must keep email and mailing addresses current on MyUW in order to receive notification of election and Coif certificates. For more information on the Order of the Coif, please see Section 9.7 Honors and Awards.

4.13.11 Bar Admission

Wisconsin Bar admission via diploma privilege requires that the Application for Character and Fitness Certification be filed with the Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners. As a rule, for May graduates the application early filing date is December 15, with applications accepted until the final deadline of July 1; for December graduates the early filing date is July 15, applications accepted until the final deadline of February 1; for August graduates the early filing date is March 15, applications are accepted until the final deadline of October 1. (If the final deadline falls on a weekend the BBE may choose to extend the deadline). If you miss the final deadline altogether, you will have forfeited the opportunity to apply for Diploma Privilege and will have to sit for the Wisconsin Bar Examination.

There is a significant financial incentive to file an application by the early filing date. An application is considered filed when all three of the following items have been received:

1. Application form;
2. Authorization and release form; and
3. Filing fee

Students who have been cleared for Wisconsin Bar admission via diploma privilege have up to one year from the date of graduation to be admitted. There are no exceptions to this rule. Information and filing instructions along with the application packet are available at the Wisconsin Supreme Court Board of Bar Examiners website.

For detailed information on the diploma privilege, please refer to 4.7 above.

December and May graduates who have been cleared for Wisconsin Bar admission under the diploma privilege and for whom all grades (temporary or final) are received may take part in the respective group bar-admission ceremonies (see below, and also 4.8 above).

Federal Bar admission for the Western District of Wisconsin takes place on the same day as the Wisconsin Bar admission for May graduates. See Section 4.9 Admission to the Bar of U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. Graduates who will be practicing in Milwaukee will be in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Admission is purely voluntary and may be handled by mail at a later time. See 4.10 above, Admission to the Bar of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Other Federal Courts, U.S. Supreme Court.

Applying for Bar Exams in States other than Wisconsin, see 4.12 above, Bar Admission in States Other than Wisconsin. All forms and certificates that are to be completed by the Law School should be sent to the Law School Registrar (registrar@law.wisc.edu).

4.13.12 Swearing-In Ceremonies

The swearing-in ceremonies are not part of the graduation events and not held on the same day as the graduation ceremonies.

The swearing-in ceremonies for admission to the Wisconsin and federal courts, held a few weeks after graduation, are important events for graduates. The courts set the date and notify graduates. These are formal ceremonies and professional business attire is required. There are group swearing-in ceremonies for the Wisconsin state courts for May and December graduates. August graduates receive information about scheduling swearing-in ceremonies after submitting their applications to the Board of Bar Examiners. There is a group swearing-in for U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin for May graduates.

1. Group Swearing-In for May Graduates: These ceremonies are under the authority of the courts and not the Law School. Please direct questions to the particular court.

   • State of Wisconsin:To participate in the group swearing-in ceremony, students must file their Application for Character and Fitness Certification to the Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners according to a schedule set by the board and their applications must be deemed complete by the board staff. Those unable to complete their files in time for the group swearing-in will receive information from the board about scheduling their swearing-in once they complete their application files. The Dean's Certificate is automatically sent to the BBE for all graduates.  You do not need to request this document for admissison to the Wisconsin Bar. 

     The group swearing-in ceremonies for the Wisconsin state courts take place in the Wisconsin Supreme Court chambers at the State Capitol and last approximately one hour. Graduates are divided into groups of approximately 30-35. Final group assignments are not set until the week before the ceremony. The Board of Bar Examiners notifies participants of the time of their ceremony.

     After being sworn in at the Supreme Court, participants must sign the Supreme Court’s Roll of Attorneys and turn in a completed enrollment form. Afterward, there is a reception for the graduates, families and friends, usually at the Madison Club, sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin.

     Those unable to make the group swearing-in for admission of diploma-privilege students should contact the Board of Bar Examiners at 608-266-9760 and see  4.11 above, Diploma Privilege: Other Swearing-in Options.

   • U.S. District Court: The group swearing-in ceremony for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin is held at the Robert W. Kastenmeier U.S. Courthouse, 120 North Henry St., Madison, and usually takes place a few hours after the state court ceremony. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the ceremony to allow time to go through the security check and get to the second floor. You must have been already admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin by being sworn-in before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in order to be admitted to the Western District.

     Those not planning to participate in the U.S. District Court group swearing-in ceremony who wish to be admitted later can make arrangements with the District Court. See 4.9 above, Admission to the Bar of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. Those wishing to be admitted to the Eastern District should contact the Milwaukee office directly. See 4.10 above, Admission to the Bar of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Other Federal Courts, U.S. Supreme Court.

   • Other Options: For other swearing-in options, including early admission and out-of-state swearing-in, see 4.11 above, Diploma Privilege: Other Swearing-in Options.

2. Group Swearing-In for December Graduates: This ceremony is under the authority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, not the Law School. Usually the ceremony is combined with the swearing-in of the Marquette University December graduates. To participate in the group swearing-in ceremony, students must file their Application for Character and Fitness Certification to the Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners according to the schedule set by the board, and the applicant files must be deemed complete by board staff. Students unable to complete their files in time for the group swearing-in will receive information from the board about scheduling their swearing-in once they complete their application files.

   The group swearing-in ceremony for the Wisconsin state courts takes place in the Wisconsin Supreme Court chambers at the State Capitol. The Board of Bar Examiners will notify participants about the time of the ceremony. After the Supreme Court swearing-in, participants must sign the Supreme Court’s Roll of Attorneys and turn in their completed enrollment form. Those unable to make the group swearing-in time should contact the Board of Bar Examiners at 608-266-9760 or see the other swearing-in options.

   For other swearing-in options, including early admission and out-of-state swearing-in, see 4.11 above.

   There is no group swearing-in for the U.S. District Court for December graduates. See 4.9 above.

4.13.13 Office of Career & Professional Development Graduation Information

Visit the Office of Career & Professional Development for more information.

4.13.14 Financial Information for Graduates

View the Law School's Financial Aid Information for graduating law students, including information on loan repayment and understanding your rights and responsibilities as a borrower.

4.14  JD/Diploma Privilege Worksheets

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