7.01 Eligibility to Continue at the End of First Two Semesters

1. A student whose weighted average on completion of the first two semesters of Law School work is 2.0 or more (on the 4.3 scale) is eligible to continue unless dropped for reasons other than grade average; a student whose weighted average is less than 2.0 (on the 4.3 scale) on completion of the first two semesters is ineligible to continue unless the Retentions Committee permits continuation. Any student who is ineligible to continue may petition the Retentions Committee for permission to continue and may have a faculty member or other person assist in presenting the case to the Committee. The Committee may grant permission to continue or start over upon such conditions as it deems appropriate to the individual case or may deny permission.
2. For the purposes of Rule 7.01 and Rule 7.02, a student attending Law School on a part-time basis is considered to have completed the first two semesters of Law School work at the end of the term in which the student will have completed all the courses specified in Rule 3.02(1)(a), and the grade-point average accumulated in those courses (and in none other) will be used in determining whether the student is eligible to continue.

Note: This rule formerly also included provisions pertaining to the Law School's previous grading scale indicating that a weighted average of 77 or more (on that 65-95 scale) was required to continue.

7.02 Eligibility to Continue At End of Third or Succeeding Semester

Upon completion of any semester or summer session after the first two semesters:

1. A student whose weighted average is  2.0 or more (on the 4.3 scale) is eligible to continue unless dropped for reasons other than grade average.
2. A student whose weighted average is less than 2.0 (on the 4.3 scale) is eligible to continue but must raise his or her weighted average 2.0 or more by the end of the semester in which he or she is next enrolled in the Law School, and unless the average is so raised the student may not continue thereafter.

Note: This rule formerly also included provisions pertaining to the Law School's previous grading scale indicating that a weighted average of 77 or more (on that 65-95 scale) was required to continue.

7.03 Limitation on Use of Rules 7.01 and 7.02

1. Except as stated in (3) below, a student who has received from the Retentions Committee permission to continue under Rule 7.01 may not use Rule 7.02(2); that is, the student may not continue in school unless the student's weighted average at the end of each semester or summer session following the second semester is 2.0 or more (on the 4.3 scale);
2. Except as stated in (3) below, a student who has once continued under Rule 7.02(2) may not continue under Rule 7.02(2) a second time.
3. A student whose weighted average is below 2.0 (on the 4.3 scale) on completion of the semester in which the student has satisfied the residence and credit requirements for graduation may, in order to obtain a graduating average of 2.0 (on the 4.3 scale), continue for one additional semester (and no longer) even though the student had previously been permitted to continue under Rule 7.01 or continued under Rule 7.02(2).

Note: This rule formerly also included provisions pertaining to the Law School's previous grading scale indicating that a weighted average of 77 or more (on that 65-95 scale) was required to continue.

7.04 Requirement of a Minimum of 10 Credits

Ordinarily, legal study should be a reasonably intensive intellectual experience. Therefore, no law student shall be permitted to carry a load of less than 10 credits, except during the summer sessions, without the special permission of the Dean. First year students are also subject to Rule 3.01 and Rule 3.02. Rule 7.04 shall apply to all law students as of September 1, 1968.

7.05 Waiver

The rules contained in sections 7.01, 7.02 and 7.03 may not be waived except by the Retentions Committee. A student whose request for special leave to continue has been denied by the Retentions Committee under these rules shall be advised in writing of the Committee's action and of the vote by which it was taken. Except as provided in Rule 12.03(1)(b), any decision reached unanimously by all members of the Retentions Committee present at the meeting at which a given case is decided (provided a quorum of at least three voting Committee members is present) shall be final, with no further right of review. If the decision was other than unanimous, the student may file with the Dean a petition for review of the Retentions Committee's decision by the full faculty, stating the facts and arguments on which the student bases his or her request for special leave to continue. The student may, but need not, appear personally before the faculty. The petition and the relevant record shall be distributed to the faculty in advance of the meeting at which the faculty reviews the Committee's decision. In such review, the faculty shall consider all relevant facts and arguments.

7.06 Completion of Degree Work Within Six Years

1. Except as otherwise provided in this rule, a student who has not completed the requirements for the J.D. degree within 6 years from the date of matriculation is ineligible to continue without permission from the Retentions Committee. In addition, a student who has not completed the courses specified in Rule 3.02(1)(a) within 2 years from the date of matriculation is ineligible to continue without permission from the Retentions Committee.
2. A period of time not in excess of 3 years during which a student has performed military service will not be counted in computing the time periods in subsection (1).
3. A student who has failed to meet or does not expect to be able to meet the requirements of subsection (1) may petition the Retentions Committee for permission to continue in Law School. The Committee may waive the requirements of subsection (1) in special cases in which the goal of a reasonably intensive and sustained period of legal study can be achieved nonetheless or in which special circumstances suggest that this goal may be sacrificed. In granting such a waiver the Committee may impose any reasonable conditions, including a time for final completion of requirements, the repetition of certain courses, and the satisfactory completion of courses or credits beyond those normally required. The actions of the Committee under this rule are reviewable in the manner prescribed in Rule 7.05.
4. The time limitations stated in subsection (1) apply only to students who enter law school in fall 1979 or thereafter. Other students continue to be subject to the prior 5-year limitation on completion of work for the J.D. degree.

7.07 Computation of Weighted Average.

A student's weighted average shall be computed on the basis of all work completed at the time of computation.

7.08 (Reserved)