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.
Academic Requirement
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: 1) Client Interviewing and Counseling; 2) Negotiation; 3) Cultural Competence and Interpersonal Skills; and 4) Law Office Management and Professionalism.
Practice Tracks
Effective Fall 2014, all students entering Loyola will have the option to complete their skill requirement in one of four practice tracks: Civil Practice, Criminal Practice, Transactional Practice and Social Justice Practice. The practice tracks allow students to develop skills in a continuum similar to practice.
Grading and Transcript
All skills courses appear on a student's official transcript reflecting certain areas of skill development. Some skills courses require an assignment and students receive a grade. Skills grades are separate from academic grades 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, but is reflected on a student's transcript.
The "Local Rules"
Similar to a syllabus in academic courses, there are rules that govern conduct, policies and procedures for the course. 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 the policies and procedures.
Earning Skills Credit through Continuing Legal Education
On a limited basis, 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 form during the year in which they attended the presentation.
To view the Skills Calendar, Local Rules, course descriptions and relevant forms please visit www.loyno.edu/lawskills.