Accelerated JD program
In United States legal education, an accelerated JD Program may refer to one of the following:
- A "3+3 JD program" or "BA to JD program" is a program in which students combine certain requirements of a bachelor's degree with the requirements of the Juris Doctor degree. Students thus usually receive their bachelor's degree after completing the first year of law school. Typically, students complete the two degrees in six years rather than the usual seven. The undergraduate college and law school may either be independent institutions, or part of a single large university. Accelerated JD programs differ from most dual degree programs in that the degrees are of different levels, and are obtained sequentially rather than concurrently. Requirements for admission of undergraduates to such programs are typically higher than for general enrollment. Some programs further restrict enrollment to students in a specific prelaw major.
- A "2-year JD program" is a Juris Doctor degree that is offered independently of a bachelor's degree. Typically, students are required to complete the same number of credit hours as traditional three-year JD students, but in a more condensed period.
List of 3+3 accelerated JD programs
List of 2-year accelerated JD programs
Unless otherwise indicated, all students enter the accelerated JD program at the start of the school's summer term. At Southwestern Law, the summer term starts in June; at the other listed schools, the summer term starts in May.The May/June start of most accelerated programs is compatible with the bar examination schedule of all U.S. jurisdictions. Bar exams throughout the U.S. take place during the week containing the last Wednesday in July; almost all jurisdictions also offer an exam during the week containing the last Wednesday in February. Washburn's January starting date is compatible with February examinations.
| State | Law school | Link | Remarks |
| Arizona | James E. Rogers College of Law | "The Advanced JD Program for non-US lawyers is for those who have studied law outside the US, but now wish to expand their professional opportunities by earning a US law degree." | |
| Arizona | Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law | "Allows individuals to earn their J.D. in 24 months." | |
| California | Southwestern Law School | The first accelerated 2-year program in the U.S., operating since 1974. | |
| California | Pepperdine University School of Law | "After an initial summer session beginning in May, the Accelerated Option students will enroll in the regular first year JD classes and continue to matriculate in the regular JD program." | |
| Florida | Stetson University College of Law | "Stetson Law will allow qualified foreign-educated attorneys the opportunity to apply as transfer applicants for fall entry and complete the J.D. in an accelerated manner, typically two years if attending on a full-time basis. Candidates may also apply for part-time consideration. Following graduation, candidates may sit for the Bar Examination in any state." | |
| Florida | Florida Coastal School of Law | "Only ABA fast-track program in state of Florida. May to May. Ranked Tier 4 by US News." | |
| Florida | Western Michigan University Cooley Law School | ] | Campus in Tampa Bay, FL. Additional campuses in Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids, and Lansing, MI. |
| Hawai'i | University of Hawai'i William S. Richardson School of Law | Hawai'i's only law school offers a 2-year Advanced JD Program for graduates of non-US law schools. Students admitted to the accelerated JD program receive the same degree as other JD students and are eligible to take the bar examination in all U.S. jurisdictions, if they meet the other requirements for admission. | |
| Illinois | Northwestern University School of Law | Northwestern Law was the first and only top tier law school to offer a 2-year accelerated JD program. This program has since been replaced with a 2-year JD for foreign-educated attorneys. | |
| Kansas | Washburn University School of Law | Students can begin the program in either August or January. | |
| Kansas | University of Kansas School of Law | Students begin the program in May. Can also still participate in a wide range of Study Abroad options in 2nd year. | |
| Michigan | Western Michigan University Cooley Law School | ] | Campuses in Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids, and Lansing, MI. Additional campus in Tampa Bay, FL. |
| Nebraska | Creighton University School of Law | "Students in the program can participate in summer study-abroad program "From Nuremberg to The Hague," in which students travel to Germany and The Netherlands to study international law, the impact of the Holocaust on the law, and the prosecution of war criminals and perpetrators of genocide and crimes against humanity." | |
| New Jersey | Rutgers Law School | ] | "The Foreign Lawyer Program creates an opportunity for those who have earned a law degree abroad and practiced law outside the United States to receive up to 28 advance standing credits and earn an accelerated J.D. degree upon the completion of 56 credits at Rutgers Law School." |
| New York | Albany Law School | Eliminates tuition costs for the third year. Students will have the option of starting in January or May, and after 24 months of intensive study will be ready to sit for the February or July bar exam, respectively. | |
| New York | Brooklyn Law School | "Brooklyn Law School Creates the First Accelerated 2-Year J.D. Program in New York Metro Area" | |
| New York | Touro Law Center | "Touro Law Center’s new accelerated degree program is an extraordinary opportunity for a select group of qualified applicants to complete all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree during a concentrated and rigorous 24-month period and to sit for a Bar Examination only 26 months after they begin their law school studies." | |
| Ohio | University of Dayton School of Law | ||
| Pennsylvania | Thomas R. Kline School of Law | Students in the Fast Forward accelerated JD program take up to 17 credits per semester for six consecutive semesters over two years. | |
| Rhode Island | Roger Williams University | ||
| Virginia | Regent University School of Law | Program began in 2013. It allows students to attend over the summer, instead of getting internships, to finish in only 2 years. | |
| Virginia | University of Richmond School of Law | ||
| Vermont | Vermont Law School | ||
| Washington | Gonzaga University School of Law | Program will start again in 2017 after previously starting in 2014 and being discontinued after one year. |