The Law School proudly announces its new criminal law certificate program. The certificate is aimed at those students wishing to focus on criminal law during law school to prepare themselves for the practice of criminal law or policy. The program will require students to develop litigation skills through at least one criminal law clinic as well as skills courses while also providing a strong framework in the fundamentals of criminal law and procedure through coursework.

This certificate seeks to make its graduates far more prepared to step into criminal law practice, whether at public agencies such as prosecution or public defender offices, or at firms or even in solo practice. The program will seek, through minimum requirements, to ensure qualified candidates graduate ready for a practice in criminal law. For non-law students, it will help provide a strong foundation for policy work or other criminal justice fields.

Summary of Requirements

JD students must declare their intention to complete the program in the spring of their 2L year by notifying the associate dean for academic affairs (Prof. Will Foster - wfoster@uark.edu). They must have an overall GPA of 2.75 and a GPA of 3.0 in certificate courses at the time they declare. In order to earn the certificate, they must complete the course requirements below, and earn a GPA of 3.2 in those courses plus an overall GPA of 2.75 and B+ or above in the criminal law clinic.

The program is also available to non-JD students as detailed below.

Detailed Requirements

Admission requirements: The student must satisfy one of the following requirements: (1) be currently enrolled in the J.D. program at the School of Law or be admitted as a visiting J.D. student at the School of Law; (2) hold a JD degree from an accredited law school; (3) be enrolled in the LL.M. program at the School of Law; or (4) be admitted by the associate dean for academic affairs or that dean’s designee as otherwise qualified to complete the certificate requirements successfully. The associate dean for academic affairs, or designee, may limit the number of students eligible to pursue the certificate at any one time.

Course requirements

Required*

Both of the following:

• Trial Advocacy (LAWW 6203) (3 Credits)
• Criminal Law Clinic (LAWW 6963) (3 Credits) or other experiential capstone course approved as a substitute by the associate dean for academic affairs, or that dean’s designee.

*It is assumed that all students seeking the certificate will enter the program having already successfully completed, as part of their J.D. degree program or other qualifying studies, the following basic law courses (or equivalents): Criminal Law (LAWW 4073) (3 Credits); Criminal Procedure (LAWW 4173) (3 Credits); Basic Evidence (LAWW 6093) (3 Credits); Professional Responsibility (LAWW 5013) (3 Credits). Students who have not already completed one or more of these courses before entering the program may, however, do so during the time they are also pursuing the certificate.

Electives

Four of the following (at least three must be non-externships):

• Criminal Procedure II (LAWW 6633) (3 Credits)
• Advanced Criminal Law Clinic (LAWW 500V) (2-3 Credits)
• Capital Punishment (LAWW 500V) (3 credits)
• Crime and the Supreme Court (ULW) (LAWW 406V) (3 Credits)
• Federal Criminal Law (LAWW 500V) (3 Credits)
• International Criminal Law (LAWW 500V) 3 Credits)
• Juvenile Justice (LAWW 7012) (2 Credits)
• Police Discretion Seminar (ULW) (LAWW 406V) (2 Credits)
• Prisoners’ Rights Seminar (ULW)(LAWW 500V) (2 Credits)
• (Externships)
  • Criminal Defense Externship (LAWW 6733) (3 Credits)
  • Criminal Prosecution Externship (LAWW 6833 (3 Credits)

Other Requirements

JD candidates

Our JD students must declare their intention to complete the program in the spring of their 2L year by notifying the associate dean for academic affairs or that dean’s designee. (For the first class only, the law school will accept applications by summer 2014 for 3Ls).

The student must have an overall law school GPA of 2.75 and a GPA of 3.0 in certificate courses at the time he or she declares. In order to successfully receive the certificate upon graduation, the student must successfully complete the required courses, earn a GPA of 3.2 in certificate courses, an overall GPA of 2.75, and a B+ or above in the criminal law clinic or other approved experiential capstone course (if graded).

JD visitors

Those currently earning a JD at another ABA accredited law school but visiting here may earn the criminal law certificate. They must apply to the associate dean for academic affairs, or designee, by spring of their 2L year. These students can satisfy certificate course credits with courses taken at their own law school, but must take at least 12 credits in certificate courses here. Also, they must complete the criminal clinic program or other approved experiential capstone course here.

The student must have an overall law school GPA of 2.75 and a GPA of 3.0 in certificate courses at the time he or she applies. In order to successfully receive the certificate, the student must successfully complete the required courses, earn a GPA of 3.2 in certificate courses, and a B+ or above in the criminal law clinic or other approved experiential capstone course (if graded).

Post-JD candidates

Those who have already earned a JD degree from an accredited law school in the United States may also earn a certificate. They must apply to the associate dean for academic affairs, or designee, before commencing the program.

For the purposes of this program, post-JD candidates can determine their GPA within the program based in part on courses completed elsewhere. These candidates must satisfy all the required courses, at least 12 credits of which must be taken here, and they must complete the criminal clinic program or other approved experiential capstone course here.

Post-JD candidates must have at least an overall GPA of 3.0 from the school that conferred their law degree. To complete the program, they must earn a GPA of 3.2 in certificate courses and a B+ or above in the criminal law clinic or other approved experiential capstone course (if graded).

LLM candidates

Our LLM candidates must notify the associate dean for academic affairs one month before enrollment in the LLM program of their intention to complete the program and must have the approval of the director of the LLM program.

For the purposes of this program, LLM candidates can determine their GPA within the program based in part on courses completed elsewhere. LLM candidates must satisfy all the required courses, at least 12 credits of which must be taken here, and must take the criminal law clinic or other approved experiential capstone course here.

To declare, an LLM candidate must have at least an overall GPA of 3.0 from the school that conferred their law degree. To complete the program, they must earn a GPA of 3.2 in certificate courses, an overall GPA of 2.75, and a B+ or above in the criminal law clinic or other approved experiential capstone course (if graded).

General Requirements (Non-JD / Non-LLM Candidates)

Post-baccalaureate students who are not enrolled as JD or LLM students at the law school (and do not have a JD degree) may also earn a certificate. They must apply to the associate dean for academic affairs, or designee, before commencing the program. If they have taken at least 12 credits of the required certificate courses at another ABA accredited law school, their GPA in those courses must be at least 3.0 to apply. If they have not, their undergraduate cumulative GPA must be at least 3.5. For the purposes of this program, these students can determine their GPA within the program based in part on courses completed elsewhere.

To earn the certificate, these students must complete all the required courses, at least 12 credits of which must be taken here, and they must complete the approved experiential capstone course here. To complete the program, they must also earn a GPA of 3.2 in certificate courses and a B+ or above in the approved experiential capstone course (if graded).

Minor or other program component: None, except that current JD students and LLM. students will concurrently be seeking their respective degrees along with the certificate.