J.D./Ph.D. in Government JOINT DEGREE STUDENT HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 J.D./Ph.D. in Government JOINT DEGREE STUDENT HANDBOOK GEORGETOWN LAW

2 September 2012 Dear J.D./Government Student: As a J.D./Government student, your experience at Georgetown Law will be shaped by the interdisciplinary nature of your program of study as well as your membership in two academic communities with distinct rules, procedures, and cultures. The academic careers of J.D./Government students are primarily administered by the policies of Georgetown Law and of the Department of Government as articulated in the Georgetown Law Bulletin, the Graduate School Bulletin and Catalog, and the Government Department Graduate Program Handbook. This handbook addresses areas in which unique policies have been developed to address the particular needs of J.D./Government and other joint degree students. Specifically, this handbook contains: (1) Georgetown Law and Main Campus academic calendars, (2) a roster of administrators in the program, (3) summaries of policies and procedures that affect J.D./Government students, and (4) a listing of program requirements. A checklist of J.D./Government requirements is included as an Appendix to assist you in planning your program of study. The nature of a joint degree program demands that students keep up with the administrative details of both programs. Both programs will communicate with you via your Georgetown e- mail account. Important Law Center deadlines are also announced in the What s Happening! newsletter which is available at The Law Center Office of Career Services (OCS) and Office of Public Interest & Community Services (OPICS) communicate information about programs, opportunities, and deadlines via the Hoya Headlines blog which you may subscribe to by visiting either office s website. Please contact me if you have any questions about the material that follows or if I can assist you in other ways. It is important to keep this handbook throughout your four-year program. Students will be informed of any policy changes by . Please contact me at (202) or gm721@law.georgetown.edu to suggest improvements or additions to this handbook. Wishing you all the best as you pursue a joint degree program! Sincerely, Gilda Mossadegh Gilda Mossadegh Director, J.D. Programs 2

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. GEORGETOWN LAW ACADEMIC CALENDAR... 5 II. MAIN CAMPUS ACADEMIC CALENDAR... 6 III. PROGRAM DIRECTORY... 8 IV. CURRICULUM/PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS A. Georgetown Law Requirements B. Government Degree Requirements Major and Minor Fields Theory and Methods Requirement Foreign Language Requirement Comprehensive Exams Thesis Ph.D. Qualifying Appraisal C. Planning Your Upper-level Curriculum D. Program Requirements Grid V. ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES A. Credit Load B. J.D. Registration C. Main Campus Registration D. Registration for Language Courses E. Exam Conflicts F. Commuting Between Campuses G. Tuition H. Financial Aid VI. PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES A. Law Journal Membership B. Mock Trial/ Moot Court/Alternative Dispute Resolution Mock Trial Moot Court Alternative Dispute Resolution

4 C. Other Activities VII. GRADES AND ACADEMIC HONORS A. Grading Scales B. Transcripts and Grade Reports C. Dean s List D. Graduation Honors E. Order of the Coif VIII. GRADUATION A. Graduation Applications B. Graduation Ceremonies Graduate School Commencement Georgetown Law Commencement C. Cap and Gown Orders APPENDIX A

5 I. GEORGETOWN LAW ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2012 FALL SEMESTER Mon., July 23 Mon., Aug. 27 Mon., Aug. 27 Fri., Aug. 31 Tues., Aug. 28 Wed., Aug. 29 Wed., Aug Fri., Aug. 31 Thurs., Aug. 30 Mon., Sept. 3 Tues., Sept. 4 Tues., Sept. 4 Tues., Sept. 11 Mon., Oct. 8 Tues., Oct. 9 Wed., Nov Sun., Nov. 25 Sat., Dec. 8 Mon., Dec. 10 Tues., Dec. 11 Sat., Dec. 22 Fri., Dec SPRING SEMESTER Fri., Jan. 4 Mon., Jan. 7 Mon., Jan. 14 Mon., Jan. 14 Tues., Jan. 22 Mon., Jan. 21 Mon., Feb 18 Tues., Feb. 19 Wed., Feb. 20 Thurs., Feb. 21 Sun., Mar. 3 Sun., Mar. 10 Fri., Mar. 29 Sun., Mar. 31 Sat., Apr. 27 Mon., Apr. 29 Tues., Apr. 30 Tues., May 14 Tues., May 14 Sun., May 19 Tuition due for First-year J.D. Students Tuition due for incoming Graduate Students Registration and Orientation for incoming J.D. Transfer Students Registration and Orientation for incoming J.D. Visiting Students Registration for new Graduate Students Tuition due for all Continuing, Transfer and Visiting Students Orientation for new Graduate Students Registration for Part-time First-year J.D. Students Registration for Full-time First-year J.D. Students Orientation for First-year J.D. Students Financial Aid Transactions: All Students LABOR DAY HOLIDAY: No classes meet Classes begin for all Students Add/Drop and Wait-list activity for Fall and Spring Courses COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY: No classes meet Monday classes meet instead of Tuesday classes THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY: No classes meet Last Day of Classes Rescheduled Classes and Reading Day Final Exams All Papers Due unless other due date set by the professor Spring tuition due for all Students Week One Classes begin for First-year J.D. Students Week One Mini Courses begin for Upperclass Students Note: Mandatory attendance is required at all Week One class sessions, first-year and upperclass, Monday Friday Some clinics may require their students to begin clinic activities this week Regular, Semester-long Classes begin for all Students Add/Drop and Wait-list activity for Spring Courses MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY/INAUGURATION DAY: No classes meet PRESIDENTS DAY HOLIDAY: No classes meet Faculty Retreat: No classes meet Monday classes meet instead of Thursday classes SPRING BREAK: No classes meet EASTER BREAK: No classes meet Last Day of Classes Rescheduled Classes and Reading Day May Graduates Papers Due unless an earlier due date set by the professor Final Exams All Papers Due unless due date set by the professor Commencement 5

6 II. MAIN CAMPUS ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2012 FALL SEMESTER August 25: Arrival of New Undergraduate Students August 26, 12:00 PM: New Student Academic Convocation August 26: Arrival of Returning Students August 27: Registration (Seniors/Juniors) August 28, 12:00 PM: Mass of the Holy Spirit August 28: Registration (Sophomores/First Year Students) August 29: Classes Begin: Follow Monday Class Schedule August 29: Registration Changes Accepted September 3: Holiday: Labor Day September 7: Last Day for Registration Changes/Late Registration October 8: Mid-semester Holiday: Columbus Day October 12: Parents Weekend Begins for COL, SFS, NHS & MSB October 19: Undergraduate First-Year Student Advisory Grades Due October 19: Upperclass Student Deficiency Reports Due November 5: Pre-Registration for Following Spring Begins November 6: Undergraduates: Last Day to Withdraw from Courses November 17: Pre-Registration Ends November 20: Graduate Students: Last Day to Withdraw from Courses November 21: Thanksgiving Recess Begins After Last Class November 26: Classes Resume December 7: Classes End December 8: Registration Completion for Spring December 8: Study Days Begin December 11: Registration Completion Ends December 12: Examinations Begin December 20: Examinations End December 21: Registration Completion Continues for Spring 2013 SPRING SEMESTER January 9: Add/Drop Continues January 9: Classes Begin: Follow Monday Class Schedule January 9: Registration (New Students) January 18: Add/Drop Ends January 18: Last Day for Registration Changes/Late Registration January 21: Holiday: Martin Luther King Day February 18: Holiday: President's Day March 1: Spring Break Begins after Last Class 6

7 March 11: Classes Resume March 18: Undergraduates: Last Day to Withdraw from Courses March 27: Easter Break Begins after Last Class April 2: Classes Resume April 2: Early Registration for Fall 2013 Begins April 13: Early Registration Ends April 25: Graduate Students: Last Day to Withdraw from Courses April 29: Classes End April 30: Registration Completion for Fall 2013 April 30: Study Days Begin May 2: Registration Completion Ends May 3: Examinations Begin May 4: Exam Day May 5: Study Day May 6: Examinations Continue May 11: Examinations End May 12: Add/Drop Begins for Fall 2013 May 13, 10:00 AM: Grades Due for Graduating Students May 15, 12:00 PM: Grades Due for Undergraduate Students May 16, 2:00 PM: Senior Convocation May 17: Commencement Weekend May 20: Grades Due for Graduate Students May 20: Summer 1st 6-week Session Begins May 20: Summer Full Session Begins May 20: Summer Pre-Session Begins 7

8 III. PROGRAM DIRECTORY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT Paula Evans, MA and Graduate Program Officer Georgetown University Government Department 681 Intercultural Center 37th & O Streets, N.W. Washington, DC Phone: (202) / pde@georgetown.edu Illeana Aguilar, Chief Administrative Officer Georgetown University Government Department 676A Intercultural Center 37th & O Streets, N.W. Washington, DC Phone: (202) / ima2@georgetown.edu Mike Bailey, Department Chair Georgetown University Government Department 681 Intercultural Center 37th & O Streets, N.W. Washington, DC Phone: (202) / baileyma@georgetown.edu Prof. Daniel Nexon, Director of Admissions and Fellowship Committee Georgetown University Government Department 680 Intercultural Center 37th & O Streets, N.W. Washington, DC Phone: (202) / dhn2@georgetown.edu 8

9 GEORGETOWN LAW Gilda Mossadegh, Director, J.D. Programs (Joint Degree Programs Administrator) Georgetown Law 600 New Jersey Ave., N.W. (McDonough 352) Washington, DC Phone: (202) / Fax: (202) / Georgetown Law Office of Admissions 600 New Jersey Ave., N.W. (McDonough 589) Washington, DC Phone: (202) / Fax: (202) / Marcia Pennington Shannon, Assistant Dean Georgetown Law Career Services 600 New Jersey Ave., N.W. (McDonough 328) Washington, DC Phone: (202) / Barbara Moulton, Assistant Dean Office of Public Interest and Community Service Georgetown Law 600 New Jersey Ave., N.W. (McDonough 212) Washington, DC Phone: (202) /Fax: (202) / Simone Woung, Senior Associate Registrar (Joint Degree contact) Georgetown Law 600 New Jersey Ave., N.W. (McDonough 315) Washington, DC Phone: (202) / Fax: (202) / LaToya Parnell, Assistant Director Financial Aid Office Georgetown Law 600 New Jersey Ave., N.W. (McDonough 335) Washington, DC Phone: (202) / Fax: (866) / 9

10 IV. CURRICULUM/PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS J.D./Government students must complete all required courses and the total number of academic credits for graduation (76 in law and 48 in Government for the M.A. (with 9 credits of Government coursework counted toward the J.D. degree), plus an additional 15 credits for the Ph.D. in the fields of Comparative Government, International Relations, or Political Theory or an additional 18 credits for the Ph.D. in American Government). Approximately 21 J.D. credits will count toward the Ph.D. degree. Therefore, students must take about 27 credits unique to the Ph.D. degree; perform satisfactorily on a written foreign language examination; satisfy the Government major and minor field requirements; submit a dissertation proposal; successfully complete and defend a dissertation in Government; take a Professional Responsibility course and upperclass legal writing requirement course; and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00/4.00 in the Government Program and the required minimum cumulative GPA for the J.D. program. The Government program waives the minor comprehensive examination requirement for students who earn a B+ or better in three law courses. A typical distribution of course requirements appears under Section D, Program Requirements Grid. A. Georgetown Law Requirements J.D./Government students matriculating in August 2008 and thereafter must earn 85 Georgetown Law credits to graduate. As a joint J.D./Government student, 9 credits of Government coursework count toward the 85 credits needed to earn the J.D. degree. Therefore, J.D./Government students must complete 76 Georgetown Law credits for the J.D. portion of this joint degree. J.D./Government students must complete the following requirements of the J.D. program: (1) 31 credits of first-year required coursework; (2) a professional responsibility course (3) the upperclass legal writing requirement; and (4) the residency requirement. Students who entered the program prior to August 2008 must earn 84 Georgetown Law credits to graduate (75 in law and 9 credits of Government coursework counted toward the J.D. degree). All graduation requirements are described in detail in the Georgetown Law Bulletin at B. Government Degree Requirements 1. Major and Minor Fields Ph.D. students must complete six courses in a major field (American Government, Comparative Government, International Relations, or Political Theory). In addition, students fulfill their minor requirement by earning a B+ or better in three law courses. 10

11 2. Theory and Methods Requirement All students must complete five courses in Theory and Methods. These courses must include: GOVT-780, Fundamentals of Political Theory GOVT-701, Analysis of Political Data GOVT-702, Advanced Political Analysis And two additional courses in political theory or methods 3. Foreign Language Requirement Some major fields require competence in a foreign language. Students should consult the Government Department s Graduate Program Handbook for field-specific language requirements. 4. Comprehensive Exams Most Ph.D. students are required to take comprehensive examinations in one major and one minor field. J.D./Government students fulfill their minor requirement by earning a B+ or better in three law courses, in which case no separate comprehensive exam is required. J.D./Government students must take the comprehensive exam in their major field when they have completed the relevant coursework. 5. Thesis Please see the Government Department s Graduate Program Handbook for details about Dissertation Proposal, Committees, and Defenses. 6. Ph.D. Qualifying Appraisal After completing 12 credit hours of Ph.D. coursework, Ph.D. students are evaluated by a qualifying appraisal, with the purpose of deciding whether a student should continue in the Ph.D. program as determined by the student s intellectual potential and scholarly performance. The appraisal is conducted by a meeting of the field committee in the student s major field. Appraisal materials should be prepared by the student in consultation with his or her advisor and the Field Committee Chair. The materials should include a transcript showing course grades, two letters of evaluation and a paper written for a Georgetown graduate course in the student s major field. 11

12 C. Planning Your Upper level Curriculum J.D./Government students are encouraged to take advantage of the vast course offerings at Georgetown Law that supplement their study of American Government, International Relations, Comparative Government, or Political Theory. Upperclass offerings likely to be of interest to J.D./Government students include courses that explore the legal constraints on governmental powers, administrative and regulatory law, jurisprudence and legal history, international law, comparative law, and courses that focus on legal issues surrounding specific policy questions. Students course selection should be driven by their major field in the Ph.D. program, specific research interests, or career aspirations. Students planning an academic career in political science may focus on incorporating legal analysis into their political science scholarship. These students should also take advantage of research assistantships at Georgetown Law, which provide the opportunity to participate in faculty scholarship in areas of interest. For information about the Georgetown Law Research Fellowship program, which is designed to support emerging scholars who seek to pursue a law teaching career, visit Likewise, a Ph.D. in government, one or more publications, strong grades, and an area of demonstrated excellence will stand you in good stead in the law teaching market. Additional guidance can be found at: Students planning legal practice in international law or regulatory and administrative law may take a core of courses in these areas to supplement their broader understanding of the political context in which law is interpreted and administered. J.D./Government students should consult the online Curriculum Guide available at for informative essays [under the Curriculum tab, search the drop down menu under J.D. courses] about the major areas of the law curriculum. These essays provide an in-depth discussion of the course offerings in the several fields that draw from the disciplines of law and government. 12

13 D. Program Requirements Grid Degrees/certificates awarded Degree Requirements J.D. Ph.D. in one of the following: American Government (AG), Comparative Government (CG), International Relations (IR), or Political Theory (PT) M.A. degree en passant for students enrolled in the Ph.D. program (upon completion of 48 academic credits and course distribution requirements in the Government program and at least 6 credits of upperclass J.D. coursework) Joint Program Certificate J.D. credits will vary depending on Government major field 48 credits in Government for the Ph.D. (includes 9 J.D. credits that count for the Government Department s minor field requirement) Satisfactory performance on the written foreign language examination for CG, IR, and PT majors (this requirement can be waived for IR majors and with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies) First-Year Workshop Major Field Comprehensive Examination Dissertation Thesis Defense Typical Credit Distribution First Year Second Year Third Year 31* J.D. credits 24 Ph.D. credits 24 J.D. credits 3 Ph.D. credits J.D. Requirements Curriculum/Course Requirements First year of law school as an intact block either immediately prior to or after completing one year of government coursework, but no earlier or later. Satisfactory completion of the upperclass legal writing requirement Professional Responsibility course** Residency requirement Fourth Year Fifth Year Sixth Year 21 J.D. credits 6 Ph.D. credits 6 Ph.D. credits (CG, IR, or PT Majors) OR 9 Ph.D. (AG Major) Dissertation Ph.D. Requirements Theory and Methods Requirements (15 credits) GOVT-780, Fundamentals of Political Theory (3 credits) GOVT-701, Analysis of Political Data (3 credits) GOVT-702, Advanced Political Analysis (3 credits) Elective (Political Theory Graduate Level Course) (3 credits) Elective (Political Theory or Methods Course) (3 credits) Major Field Requirements (18 credits) Refer to the Government Department's Web site or the Graduate Program Handbook for specific field requirements for American Government (AG), Comparative Government (CG), International Relations (IR), or Political Theory (PT) Students are required to take 6 courses in their major field of study (18 credits) Minor Field Requirements (9 credits) Three J.D. courses with a grade of B+ or better fulfill this requirement (9 credits) 13

14 Minor Field Examination: can be waived Two General Electives (6 credits) Electives (in any field) (6 credits) *One fewer credit is required for students who completed the first-year law curriculum prior to August **Students typically schedule Professional Responsibility in a semester in which they plan to take the M.P.R.E. exam (Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination). It is a good idea to check on the rules regarding admission to the bar in the state where you are interested in taking the bar exam. Some states may have special timing rules on when you must take the M.P.R.E. exam (e.g. Illinois will NOT accept an M.P.R.E. score if the test was taken before the student completes 60 law credits). A. Credit Load V. ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES Students may enroll in up to 16 credits university-wide (i.e. J.D. and Government) in an academic semester. Permission from Gilda Mossadegh, Director of J.D. Programs, or another Academic Advisor, is required to enroll in 17 credits. At the end of the Law Center add/drop period, students who have not been granted permission to carry an overload will be withdrawn from the last course which was added to their course schedule. B. J.D. Registration Georgetown Law students pre-register for the following academic year (fall and spring semesters) in Spring, typically in May. Main Campus pre-registration occurs each semester. The Main Campus course offerings for the following spring are not yet available in April/May when J.D./ Government students select their J.D. courses for both Fall and Spring semesters. J.D./Government students are nonetheless encouraged to pre-register for spring classes at Georgetown Law and make any necessary adjustments during the add/drop period. In order to plan for possible alternative schedules on the Main Campus, some J.D./Government students register for more law courses than they will actually take. Joint degree students may hold 22 credits university-wide (J.D. and Government credits combined) per semester through the Law Center s add/drop period, but must drop to credits per semester by the end of the Law Center s add/drop period for the respective semester (unless approval to overload has been granted by the Director of J.D. Programs, or another Academic Advisor). Gilda Mossadegh, Director of J.D. Programs, is available to assist students in their academic planning. She can be reached at (202) or by at gm721@law.georgetown.edu. 14

15 C. Main Campus Registration J.D./Government students are notified of the Main Campus registration dates by the Department of Government. Registration is completed online and the Government course offerings can be obtained online through the schedule of classes search tool on MyAccess at D. Registration for Language Courses Students must register for all language courses during add/drop week at the Main Campus. Language courses are not applied to the government degree credit requirements. E. Exam Conflicts Students are encouraged to work with their Main Campus faculty members to resolve exam conflicts because the Main Campus exam schedule is generally the more flexible. If this is not possible, Georgetown Law exams can be rescheduled if certain criteria are met. Under Georgetown Law rules, no student is required to take two exams that begin within 25 hours. In addition, a student may seek relief if his/her exam schedule produces three exams within four consecutive days or four exams within five consecutive days, or for extraordinary cause. Generally, the exam for the class carrying the fewest number of credits will be rescheduled. Please note that Georgetown Law exams are blind graded and you should not contact your law professors regarding exam conflicts. Check your exam schedule early in the semester and contact the Georgetown Law Registrar s Office if you need to reschedule your exams. The exam deferral policy is found in the Georgetown Law Bulletin at F. Commuting Between Campuses Students may use the GUTS shuttle to get back and forth between campuses. Students with a valid GoCard may ride any GUTS route at no charge. The shuttle between Georgetown Law and the Main Campus runs every hour to hour and a half. In addition, the university runs more frequent shuttles to the metro stations at Dupont Circle (Metro s Red line) and Rosslyn (Metro s Blue and Orange lines). The GUTS schedule and Next-Bus tool is available at Another popular and inexpensive commuting option is the DC Circulator bus system. For route maps, fare information, and Next-Bus information for the DC Circulator and other Metro bus routes, please visit 15

16 Parking at Georgetown Law is very limited so J.D./Government students, like all law students, may not always find a space. Law Center students may pay to park in the McDonough garage on level P2 on a space available basis, if they have registered their car with and obtained a hangtag from the Law Center s parking office. GoCards issued by the Law Center are automatically programmed to allow them access to the garage, and to deduct the per entry parking fee of $8.00. Parking for students at the Law Center garage tends to fill up on weekdays during the semester by 9:30 AM. Students may access the garage for free after 5:00 PM. When you register your car with the Law Center Parking Office, please confirm that your GoCard has been programmed to allow you access to the McDonough garage. The Law Center s Parking Office is located in McDonough 154 (facilitiesmgmt@law.georgetown.edu, (202) ). The Main Campus does not permit student parking. Students may however pay (in cash) to park in their garages as a visitor if space is available. G. Tuition Full-time J.D./Government students are charged Georgetown Law tuition for three years of the program (the year when only first-year J.D. courses are taken and the two years when a combination of J.D. and Government courses are taken). Students are charged Graduate School tuition for the other years in the program (the second and fifth years when only Government courses are taken). Part-time J.D./Government students are charged the Georgetown Law part-time rate for all J.D. coursework and the first 9 credits in Government. For the remaining Government coursework (after the first 9 credits), part-time students are charged the Graduate School part-time rate. Full-time law tuition for is $48,835. The Law Center s per credit rate for part-time students is $1,730 per credit hour. H. Financial Aid Students starting the joint degree program while attending the Law Center will have their federal and other loan aid administered by the Law Center Financial Aid Office for the duration of the program. Students starting the joint degree program while attending the Government program will have their financial aid administered by Main Campus for the first year and the Law Center Financial Aid office for the subsequent three years. After completion of the J.D. degree, a student s financial aid will be administered by the Main Campus. 16

17 Any aid granted by the Main Campus should be reported to the Law Center Financial Aid Office so that it can be factored into the calculation of the student s eligibility for additional aid. Similarly, any aid granted by the Law Center to a student beginning the joint degree on Main Campus should be reported to the Main Campus financial aid office. Any student who enrolls in fewer than 12 credits in any given semester should report this fact to the Law Center s Financial Aid Office, as their standard practice is to calculate aid for full-time tuition. LaToya Parnell, Assistant Director, Law Center Financial Aid, will be the primary contact for joint degree students. Ms. Parnell can be reached at (202) or lkp5@law.georgetown.edu. VI. PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES A. Law Journal Membership J.D./Government students are eligible for membership on the law journals on the same basis as all other J.D. students. Joint degree students must participate in the write-on competition at the end of their first year at Georgetown Law. However, it is not uncommon for joint degree students to defer journal service for one year. Each journal has its own policy regarding deferral of service, so interested students should contact the editor-in-chief of the journal to discuss this issue. B. Mock Trial/ Moot Court/Alternative Dispute Resolution Participating in Georgetown Law s Mock Trial, Moot Court, or Alternative Dispute Resolution competition is an excellent way to develop real world litigation skills. The Barristers Council oversees the Mock Trial, Moot Court, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs at Georgetown Law. Additional information can be found at 1. Mock Trial Mock trials involve trial advocacy. Competitors are lawyers in hypothetical cases held before judges and juries who score advocates based on their skills. The trials are 17

18 simulated to be as realistic as possible. Participants present evidence, examine witnesses, and give opening and closing statements. The William H. Greenhalgh Mock Trial Competition: The Greenhalgh Competition is held in the spring for all students who will return to Georgetown Law as students the following year. Started in 1991 to give students at Georgetown Law an opportunity to gain trial experience, it is named in honor of the late Director of the Criminal Justice Clinic who distinguished himself as an advocate and teacher. The competition involves opening and closing statements, direct and cross examination, and full trials in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals. Competitors, who reach the quarter-finals, (typically between 16 and 20 students) are offered positions on Georgetown Law s national mock trial teams. J.D./Government Participation: First-year J.D./Government students may compete in the Greenhalgh Competition. J.D./Government students who are offered a position on Georgetown s national mock trial teams may choose to compete on the team while they are on the Main Campus during their second year. Finally, J.D./Government students could compete in the Greenhalgh Competition during their third year and if selected for a national team, compete nationally during their fourth and final year of the joint degree program. 2. Moot Court Moot court involves appellate advocacy. Competitors write a brief and argue their case before a panel of judges who score them based on their skills. It is similar to the oral advocacy exercise completed in all first-year legal research and writing courses. Robert J. Beaudry Moot Court Competition: This competition is only open to firstyear students, and is generally held from mid-march through mid-april (including spring break). As a closed packet competition, students are provided all materials necessary to submit a brief and argue the case. Competitors are assigned one side in the case-- either respondent or petitioner. Competitors advance to subsequent rounds based on a combination of brief and oral argument scores, and must be prepared to argue both on and off brief (for and against the side for which you wrote your brief). The final round is scored based solely on oral argument. All semi-finalists are guaranteed a spot as an advocate on one of Georgetown Law s moot court teams (which will compete the following academic year). A few of the competitors who advance but are not offered advocate positions will be chosen for alternate or assistant coaching positions. The winner s name is inscribed on the Beaudry Cup, which is on display outside the moot court room (Hart Auditorium Lobby). 18

19 The William E. Leahy Moot Court Competition: The Leahy Moot Court Competition takes place in the fall semester in early October. Leahy is open to all upperclass law students. The competition rules are similar to those of Beaudry. Semi-finalists and competitors who advance far enough will compete on national moot court teams that same academic year. The name of the Leahy Competition winner is inscribed permanently on the Roll of Best Advocates on the wall outside the moot court room (Hart Auditorium Lobby). J.D./Government Participation: As a first-year student, J.D./Government students may compete in the Beaudry Competition. However, if they earn a spot on a team for the following year, they must compete on this team during their year on the Main Campus. J.D./Government students may compete in the Leahy Competition at any point after their first year. 3. Alternative Dispute Resolution Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) involves participating in a mock negotiation, arbitration, mediation or client counseling exercise before a panel of judges who assess team and individual effectiveness. The Everett Bellamy ADR Competition: Held in the spring, this competition is open to all Georgetown Law students. Competitors are asked to negotiate a problem in teams, based on a closed packet. Those who advance to a certain level are invited to join the Barristers Council and represent Georgetown Law in a national or international ADR competition. Finalists argue before well-known ADR practitioners. J.D./Government Participation: First-year J.D./Government students may compete in the Everett Bellamy ADR Competition. J.D./Government students who are offered a position on Georgetown s ADR teams may choose to compete on the team while they are in residence at Main Campus during their second year. Finally, J.D./Government students could compete in the Bellamy Competition during their third year and if selected for a national team, compete nationally during their fourth and final year of the joint program. C. Other Activities J.D./Government students may participate in other Law Center extracurricular activities while they are on the Main Campus. Students should contact student organizations directly to ensure they receive information about events that interest them and with questions about participation. 19

20 Many activities are announced in Georgetown Law s newsletter, What s Happening!, which is available on the website at A. Grading Scales VII. GRADES AND ACADEMIC HONORS Students are graded on a 4-point scale carried to 2 decimal points at Georgetown Law; the Graduate School also operates on a 4-point system. However, a student s academic averages at the two schools are not combined for the purpose of honors. B. Transcripts and Grade Reports Your Law courses will be reflected on your law transcript. Your Government courses will be reflected on a separate transcript. If you are completing coursework in the main campus program during a semester or year, the break in your Law transcript will be recorded as JD/Government Registration. If you are approved to have a specific main campus course count toward your Law program but not your Government program, the main campus course will be recorded on your Law transcript. If you request an official transcript from the Law Center Registrar s Office, you will receive both your Law and main campus transcripts for a $5.00 fee. If you request an official transcript from the University Registrar s Office (main campus), you will receive both your main campus transcript and your Law transcript at no charge. Main campus students are charged a one-time transcript fee which covers the cost of your transcripts. Graduate School grades are typically available earlier than Georgetown Law grades. Grade reports for courses in both programs are available on the web through MyAccess. NOTE: Students should be aware of the need to represent Georgetown Law and Government averages accurately to potential employers. Attempts to combine or equate the two averages can be misleading. Students are encouraged to list both averages on resumes and to indicate which average belongs to which school along with the appropriate grading scales for comparison. C. Dean s List J.D./Government students are eligible for Georgetown Law Dean s List in any year of the program during which at least 16 hours of Georgetown Law course work are completed with an 20

21 academic average that places the student in the top third of his or her section. Dean s List determination is based on a student s annual average for the academic year, not the cumulative average. The academic year consists of, in order, the Summer, Fall, and Spring sessions. D. Graduation Honors Georgetown Law Graduation Honors are based on the student s cumulative grade point average for Georgetown Law courses only. Summa cum laude honors are granted at the discretion of the faculty, and there is no academic average which automatically entitles a student to this honor. To be eligible for consideration for this honor, a graduate must have completed 71 academic credits at the Law Center and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of Magna cum laude honors go to the top 10% of the graduation class and cum laude to the top third of the class. Government grades are not included in computation of averages for Georgetown Law honors. The minimum grade point averages for graduation with honors from the Law Center in May 2012 were: Magna cum laude 3.74 Cum laude 3.55 E. Order of the Coif Graduating students whose cumulative average places them in the top 10% of their class and who have completed at least 64 academic credits at Georgetown Law are elected to membership in the Order of the Coif. The Order of the Coif is the national law school honor society for the encouragement of scholarship and advancement of ethical standards in the legal profession. Government grades are not included in computation of averages for the Order of the Coif. A. Graduation Applications VIII. GRADUATION J.D./Government students typically complete the J.D. portion of the joint degree prior to completing the Ph.D. degree. When all J.D. requirements have been met and at least 24 credits in the Government program have been completed, J.D./Government students may apply to graduate at Georgetown Law and participate in Georgetown Law s graduation ceremony. When a student has met all Ph.D. requirements, he/she will apply for graduation through the Graduate School. The joint degree certificate is awarded following completion of both programs. For the 21

22 exact graduation application deadlines, refer to the Georgetown Law Registrar s website and the Main Campus Registrar s website. The approximate deadlines are: October 12, 2012 Georgetown Law deadline for February 2013 graduation January 25, 2013 Georgetown Law deadline for May 2013 graduation April 12, 2013 Georgetown Law deadline for October 2013 graduation B. Graduation Ceremonies J.D./Government graduates may participate in two graduation ceremonies, which will be held the weekend of May 17-19, Friday afternoon: Sunday afternoon: Graduate School Commencement Georgetown Law Commencement 1. Graduate School Commencement The Graduate School commencement is held on Healy Lawn, weather permitting, on Georgetown University s Main Campus. J.D./Government students graduating from both programs in a given year should wear the J.D. tam and gown with the Government hood. Students who have already received their J.D. in a previous ceremony should contact the Graduate School for instructions on their regalia. 2. Georgetown Law Commencement The J.D. commencement ceremony is held on Healy Lawn, weather permitting, on Georgetown University s Main Campus on Sunday, May 19, Degrees are awarded in course and diplomas are presented individually after the general commencement ceremony. The students are divided into groups based on their first-year section assignments; each section has a different location, and the diplomas are distributed by faculty members who taught that section the first year. Joint degree graduates typically are grouped together in one section. The Office of Student Life sends expected graduates updates on commencement activities including: photos, graduation regalia, and tickets. For additional information, please contact the Office of Student Life at (202) or studentlife@law.georgetown.edu. C. Cap and Gown Orders J.D./Government students order the J.D. graduation regalia through the Jostens website at The cost of the J.D. regalia rental in 2012 was $70.00 (plus tax and shipping). More information about the Law Center s graduation ceremony, including cap and gown orders 22

23 can be found online at The Government hoods are borrowed and there is no cost. J.D./Government students need to order a Government gown through the Graduate School. 23

24 Date: APPENDIX A J.D./PH.D. in GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST Name Expected Graduation Date SEMESTER COURSE/CREDITS J.D. degree requirements Required first-year curriculum (31 credits) Upperclass Legal Writing requirement Professional Responsibility course Residency Requirement Ph.D. in Government requirements Theory and Methods Requirement (15 credits) GOVT 780, Fundamentals of Political Theory GOVT 701, Analysis of Political Data GOVT 702, Advanced Political Analysis Elective (Political Theory Graduate Level Course) Elective (Political Theory or Methods) Major Field (circle one): American Government (AG), Comparative Government (CG), International Relations (IR), or Political Theory (PT) Major Field Requirement (6 courses - 18 credits) Minor Field Requirement (9 credits): Courses taken for the J.D. degree fulfill this requirement 24

25 Minor Field Examination: waived for J.D. students who earn a B+ or better in three law courses Two General Electives (6 credits) Foreign Language Requirements Written Foreign Language Examination Other Ph.D. Requirements First Year Workshop Minor Comprehensive Exam Major Comprehensive Exam Ph.D. Qualifying Appraisal Dissertation Proposal Colloquium Dissertation Defense Date CREDIT REQUIREMENTS Georgetown Law credits 76 Government credits 48 TOTAL