Skills Curriculum Courses
The skills curriculum requires students to obtain training in essential lawyering skills before graduation. Skills instructors include judges, practitioners and professors who provide practical training; and the courses are designed to provide students with an opportunity to experiment, assess and develop certain skills necessary for the practice of law in related areas of interest.
All students upon graduation must complete eight skill courses. Effective Fall 2014, all students entering Loyola Law must also successfully complete the following required skill courses:
Students may satisfy in a variety of formats as indicated by the course calendar.
Effective Fall 2014, all students entering Loyola will have the option to complete their skill requirement in one of four practice tracks: Civil, Criminal, Transactional and Social Justice. The practice tracks allow students to develop skills related to a practice area.
All skills courses appear on a student's official transcript reflecting certain areas of skill development. Most skills courses are ungraded; however, some skills courses may require an assignment and the instructor may provide a “skills grade.” A “skills grade” is separate from an academic grade and will not
impact a students cumulative GPA. Skills grades include "HS" - highly skilled; "S" - satisfactorily skilled; and "DS"- deficiently skilled. A "DS" grade will not receive skill credit.
In the skills curriculum, “Local Rules” govern the procedure for enrollment, registration, attendance, withdrawal, grading, assignments and expectations. The "Local Rules" are designed to train students to understand procedural protocols similar to practice. Students are presumed to have read the “Local Rules” and understand all policies and procedures related to skill courses.
Earning Skills Credit through Continuing Legal Education
Students are able to earn skill credit by attending a professional Continuing Legal Education presentation. To receive skill credit for attending a CLE students must submit the proper application form during the year in which they attended the CLE presentation.
Earning Skills Credit in Academic Courses
Students are able to earn a skill credit in some academic courses. The courses that earn skill credit have been approved by a faculty committee and are published in an inventory on the skills website.
Earning Skills Credit in Clinic
Students who successfully complete clinic for one semester earn three skills credits for that semester. To view the Skills Calendar, Local Rules, course descriptions and relevant forms please visit www.loyno.edu/lawskills.