JD Program Overview & FAQ

Five students study and talk while seated at tables in front of an Arizona Law sign

 

For 100 years, the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law — Arizona Law — has graduated lawyers who have become leaders in law practice, government, public interest, and business. We are accredited by the American Bar Association and offer a rigorous and challenging curriculum with an emphasis on experiential learning and exceptional employment outcomes.

Our core program is a three-year course of study towards the Juris Doctor degree (JD). You will receive intensive and individualized support in small sections for core courses and in your research and skills classes. More than 90 percent of law classes have fewer than 25 students, making your classes highly interactive and your professors readily accessible.

Like at other law schools, much of the first-year curriculum is required. In your second and third years you can select from a wide range of courses, seminars, clinics, internships and externships. With careful planning, you may also pursue a dual degree and interdisciplinary study with the vast offerings of the University of Arizona, a premier research institution and the state’s only member of the esteemed Association of American Universities.

University of Arizona Law's TechLaw Fellowship for high-achieving students with a STEM background offers unparalleled financial support (including full-tuition scholarships), career opportunities, exclusive networking events, faculty connections and unique curricular options. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Our small size promotes a spirit of collegiality and allows personalized interaction between students and faculty.

This community spirit is further advanced by our small section program for first-year students, in which each student is assigned to a section of 28 to 30 students. Unlike many law schools, where mandatory first-year classes are no smaller than 50 or 60 students, at Arizona Law, the cornerstone of our education is in a much more intimate setting.

Our Career Development Office has achieved remarkable success in helping students find employment, beginning with summer placements for 1Ls, which is regularly close to 100 percent. 

The Career Office also offers:

  • A 1L mentoring program, in which students are matched with attorneys in Tucson who help them become better acquainted with the legal community in Arizona
  • Career programs especially for 1Ls, where topics may include advice on resumes, cover letters, and interviewing techniques
  • Access to job fairs specifically designed for 1Ls

Arizona Law students are encouraged to take a number of elective and required courses that form a core curriculum. The purpose of the core curriculum is to provide students with a fundamental grounding in basic legal principles, theories, and areas that provide the foundation for practice in any area of specialization.

In addition to our core curriculum, we field a number of areas of study that offer students opportunities for in-depth study and exploration in areas of distinctive strength, including:

  • Environmental law
  • Criminal law
  • International and comparative law
  • Indian law
  • Trial advocacy
  • Tax, corporate, and securities law
  • Entrepreneurship and innovation
  • Family law 

We offer a wide selection of in-house clinics, in which students have the opportunity to represent actual clients. We guarantee clinical placement for every student who wants it.

The College of Law offers the following dual degrees:

  • JD/PhD in Philosophy
  • JD/PhD in Psychology
  • JD/MA and PhD in Economics
  • JD/Masters in Public Administration
  • JD/Masters in Business Administration
  • JD/MA in American Indian Studies
  • JD/MA in Latin American Studies
  • JD/MA in Women's Studies
  • JD/Masters in Public Health
  • JD/MS in Management/Finance

Students have the opportunity to get involved in a number of organizations, including the Student Bar Association (SBA), which is a member of the American Bar Student Division, the student affiliate of the American Bar Association.

In addition to the SBA, students at Arizona Law are typically active in the following student organizations:

  • American Bar Association Law Student Division
  • American Civil Liberties Union; American Constitution Society
  • Asian American Law Students Association
  • Association for Family and Child Advocacy
  • Black Law Students Association
  • Christian Legal Society
  • Environmental Law Society
  • The Federalist Society
  • International Law Society
  • Jewish Law Students Association
  • Just Democracy
  • La Raza/HNBA
  • Law Women's Association
  • National Lawyers Guild
  • Native American Law Student Association
  • Phi Alpha Delta
  • Phi Delta Phi
  • Pride Law Alliance
  • Public Interest Law Organization
  • Student Animal Legal Defense Fund
  • Volunteer Lawyers

Arizona Law is proud to provide an outstanding legal education at a cost lower than private law schools and many public university law schools, particularly those of comparable quality.

The Admissions Committee administers a robust scholarship program that assists students in managing the costs of their legal educations, and all admitted applicants are automatically considered for scholarship support.

Arizona Law also offers two competitive fellowships that offer full-tuition scholarships plus an additional stipend and unique academic and career opportunities.

See program costs

Because we are a land-grant university, serving Arizona residents is critical to our mission. As such, we do maintain a slight preference for state residents when considering applications. 

However, regardless of where applicants live, admission to Arizona Law is highly selective.

Our over-arching goal is to admit the most qualified and deserving applicants from all applications received.

Ultimately, we admit those students we believe will not only thrive at Arizona Law themselves but also enrich the environment for their peers and succeed in their chosen fields.

Yes.

Arizona Law accepts both the GRE and the LSAT (Law School Admission Test)Applicants to the general JD program must submit either an LSAT or GRE score earned within five years of the expected date of entry into law school.

Eligible candidates seeking admission via Advanced Admissions for Non-U.S. Lawyers do not need to submit an LSAT or GRE score to apply. 

Click here for complete application details.

Yes.

If you are considering applying to Arizona Law, we encourage you to attend one of our information sessions, which include a general overview of our school and the admissions process, as well as a group tour.

If you are unable to attend an Information Session or would prefer to schedule a personal visit, please fill out a tour request form.

The James E. Rogers College of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738.