9.01 J.D. Degree

1. The degree of Doctor of Law (J.D.) will be conferred upon all candidates who have complied with the following conditions:
   1. The candidate, in the judgment of the faculty, possesses satisfactory legal attainments.
   2. The candidate has completed courses totaling not less than 90 credits, including all the required courses, with a weighted final average of not less than 2.0 (on the 4.3 scale). For purposes of this section and for students who commenced law studies prior to 2005, a student's final average is based upon all the courses for which the student has received final numerical grades at this Law School, including grades recorded in accordance with Rule 4.03. For purposes of this section and for students who commenced law studies in 2005 and thereafter, a student's final average is based upon all the courses for which the student has received final letter grades at this Law School on the 4.3 scale.
   3.  A minimum of 50 credits must be earned as a J.D. candidate in this Law School for a student to be entitled to receive a J.D. from Wisconsin.
2. [Reserved] 
3. With the prior approval of the Dean, students may be granted up to 30 credits toward the Wisconsin J.D. degree for work done at another ABA accredited law school. Advanced standing credits granted by the Dean to students transferring from another law school count against the 30 credits allowed by this section (so that a student transferring to Wisconsin from another law school who is granted 30 or more credits of advanced standing has no further right to credits from another law school). In granting or denying requests for credit, the Dean shall consider the reasons the student wishes to earn credits at the other law school, the number of credits requested, the number of non-Wisconsin credits already approved, the quality of the student's program at the other law school, and the student's academic record at this Law School.

[Modified by faculty action 12 Sept 2025]

9.02 Bar Admission Certificate

For the purpose of admission to the Wisconsin Bar, the Dean will issue a Certification of Completion of the Required Courses to the holder of a law degree from the University of Wisconsin who has satisfactorily completed the requirements for admission to the bar under the diploma privilege.