Academic Standards and Regulations

I. Good Academic Standing

Students in good academic standing are those students eligible to continue the study of law and who are not on academic probation.

II. Residence Requirement

A student must complete at least two-thirds (2/3) of the course work required for the Juris Doctor degree at Campbell Law School to receive a degree from Campbell Law School. All degree requirements must be satisfied within 84 months from the commencement of study.

III. Attendance Policy

ABA Standard 308 requires the law school to “adopt, publish, and adhere to sound academic standards, including those for regular class attendance …”

The law school believes that regular class attendance (i) is an essential component of academic success and (ii) fosters the development of punctuality, dependability, commitment, and other sound professional character traits.

Students must adhere to the attendance policy published by the professor. In the event that a professor fails to publish an attendance policy for a particular class, the policy for that class shall be that no student may miss more than 20% of the class meeting sessions regardless of the reason for the absences.

IV. Graduation Requirements

The curriculum that follows is required of all law students. All students must complete a total of 90 hours for graduation and have earned a final cumulative average of at least 75.

First-Year Required Curriculum
Course	Credit Hours	Course	Credit Hours
Civil Procedure	4	Criminal Law	3
Contracts	5	Constitutional Law I	3
Property	5	Torts	5
Legal Research/Writing I	2	Legal Research/Writing II	3

 Upper-Level Required Curriculum

Course	Credit Hours
Advanced Legal Writing*	3
Business Organizations	3
Constitutional Law II	3
Criminal Procedure	3
Evidence	3
Professional Responsibility and Ethics	2 or 3
Sales and Leases	3
Secured Transactions	3
Trial Advocacy	4
Wills and Trusts	3
Planning Course Requirement	2 or 3
Electives	25 (approximately)
* Pursuant to ABA Standard 303(a)(2), all second-year Campbell Law students are required to complete one rigorous writing experience (RWE) before commencing their third academic year of study. Students satisfy the RWE graduation requirement by passing Advance Legal Writing. Students may enroll in Advanced Legal Writing in the summer after their 1L year (if offered), anytime during their 2L year, or the summer before their 3L year (if offered).

Second-Year Required Curriculum

Second-year students must take six required courses during their second year. These must be completed by the end of the Spring semester of the student’s second year. The “second year” does not include summer school following the second year, and students must not assume that the law school will offer any particular course during summer school. Students are advised to take at least three of these second-year required courses each semester of their 2L year. The following courses are required to be completed during a student’s second year.

Course		Credit Hours
Advanced Legal Writing*		3
Business Organizations Constitutional Law II Criminal Procedure Evidence Wills and Trusts		3 3 3 3 3

All other upper-level required courses can be taken in any semester after the first year. The classes that may be taken in the 2L or 3L year are the following:

Course	Credit Hours
Professional Responsibility	2 or 3
Trial Advocacy	4
Sales & Leases	3
Planning Course	2 or 3
Secured Transactions	3

Full-Time Status; Credit Calculations

To be enrolled as a full-time student, a student must register for at least 10 credits and no more than 17 credits.  Credits to be earned during a semester for the following are included in calculating compliance:  externships, independent studies, law review service, advocacy competitions credits, and any dual degree credits to be earned during that same semester, provided that the credits are from courses the law school has previously agreed to count against its 90-credits graduation requirement. Externship and other credits earned during a summer term shall not be counted agains the maximum number of credits a student may earn in a single semester (even if the Office of Registrar Services applies those credits to a previous or future semester on a student’s transcript).

Commencement 3-Credit Rule

Candidates who are lacking no more than 3 credit hours of meeting all requirements may file a “Request to Participate in Commencement” form in addition to an “Application for Graduation.” Forms for these purposes are available in the law school’s Office of Registrar Services suite.  If approved, the candidate will be allowed to participate in only one Commencement program for the degree in question. Furthermore, if the candidate is approved for participation in a May Commencement, the candidate will not be eligible to participate in any subsequent semester’s Commencement when the candidate would have been eligible after having met all graduation requirements. Candidates participating in Commencement under the “three-hour rule” will not be ranked with students graduating at that time, but instead will be ranked with all other students who graduate thereafter through the following May (if all graduation requirements have been met). The graduating class designation (i.e. “Class of”) includes those graduating in August, December, and May, in that order. For example, those who graduate in August 2021, December 2021, and May 2022 are all considered Class of 2022.

V. Independent Study

Campbell Law School students may obtain credit for work completed for independent study under the supervision of a member of the Campbell Law faculty. To be eligible for independent study, a student must have a faculty sponsor who, together with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, must approve the student’s proposal prior to the beginning of the independent study and no later than the last day to add a course for the relevant semester. An independent study form is available in the Registrar’s suite.

Students may receive a maximum of three credit hours of independent study over the course of their study at Campbell Law School. Students and faculty sponsors shall address in the proposal whether any credit hours will be reflected on the transcript with either a numerical grade or the “pass/fail” designation. A student may receive a numerical grade for no more than two credits of independent study, unless the third credit is for an independent study that qualifies as the student’s initial rigorous writing experience.

VI. Grading Information

Campbell Law School has a numerical grading system for most courses and a descriptive grading system for some courses.

A. Numerical Grading System

93 to 100: Demonstrates a superior level of competence.
84 to 92: Demonstrates an above average level of competence.
75 to 83: Demonstrates the level of competence expected within the profession.
65 to 74: Demonstrates an unsatisfactory level of performance but sufficient potential to provide a foundation for competence.
55 to 64: Requires repetition of the course for receipt of academic credit.

The numerical grades described above do not represent percentages of correct answers to examination questions; rather, they are designed to allow professors to reflect differences of achievement within levels of competence. Unless otherwise announced by a professor, a written examination will be given at the end of each course.

B. Descriptive Grading System

Honors: Demonstrates a superior level of competence and distinctively superior level of achievement.

Satisfactory: Demonstrates a good to an above-average level of competence.

Unsatisfactory/Passing: Demonstrates an unsatisfactory level of performance in the course, but demonstrates sufficient potential to provide a foundation for competence. Academic credit is awarded for the course.

Unsatisfactory/Failing: Demonstrates an unsatisfactory level of performance in the course and requires repetition of the course for receipt of academic credit.

The above-listed descriptive grades will be posted on each student’s transcript. They are not used for the calculation of semester or cumulative grade point averages; rather, grade point average and class rank are based solely on the cumulative average of numerically graded courses.

The grade of “Honors” will be earned only when, in the professional opinion of the faculty member, a student’s performance has met the standard set forth above. It is therefore possible for there to be no “Honors” grades in some courses in some years. In no event shall an “Honors” grade be given to any student who does not rank in the top 1/3 of students taking the course. This rule is intended to preserve the integrity and meaningfulness of the “Honors” designation.

Students may elect to take a maximum of two numerically-graded classes for a descriptive grade rather than for a numerical grade.  To exercise this option, the student must receive timely approval from the professor teaching the course and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, using the form available in the Registrar’s suite. The student must get approval no later than the last day to add a course for the relevant semester.

C. Grading Policy and Mandatory Medians

The median grade range for required courses is 81-83. The median grade range for elective courses is 83-85.

If a class has an enrollment of 12 or fewer students, a faculty member may deviate from the median range. If a class has an enrollment of more than 12 students, a faculty member may deviate from the median range with written justification and the explicit approval of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

A professor is not bound by the foregoing mandated median ranges in a course in which a final exam (including, without limitation, a take-home exam) is not administered. The preceding sentence is not applicable to any first-year course.

D. Incomplete

A student may receive a temporary grade placeholder of “incomplete” in a course in the event of serious personal injury, illness, or emergency to the student, or the same or death of a family member, with the prior, written approval of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs (ADAA).  An “incomplete” is available only if a student has otherwise met all course requirements for the semester, including minimum attendance, with the exception only of the final, summative course assessment (e.g., exam, written paper).  Except as provided below, an “incomplete” may serve as a placeholder only for a grade between the end of a semester and the date all grade submissions are due for that semester and may not extend into the next semester.

All requests for an “incomplete” must be made in writing by the student directly to the ADAA, not the course professor, to maintain grading anonymity.  Requests must be submitted before the date and time that the final assessment in the course occurs or is due.  The ADAA will then determine whether the student qualifies to receive an “incomplete” based on the required exigent criteria and completion of the course requirements.  The ADAA’s decision is final and shall be communicated from the ADAA to both the student and course professor.

If the ADAA grants the “incomplete,” the student must coordinate with the ADAA the date by which the final course assessment must be completed or submitted.  That date may be no later than three business days before all grades are due for the semester in which the “incomplete” is requested.  If the student fails to submit the final assessment by the date required and does not make a request to withdraw from the class, the student will receive the lowest failing grade of “55.”  An “incomplete” will not be available to a student who has commenced taking the final assessment or, if the final assessment is not an exam, has submitted it.  The approval of a request for a grade of “incomplete” must be documented on an “incomplete” grade form submitted to the ADAA and registrar via lawregistrar@campbell.edu.

If significant extenuating exigent circumstances remain ongoing, the ADAA may, at the ADAA’s sole discretion, extend an “incomplete” for a period of not more than an additional 30 days after the original date for completing the course, provided that the student would not be at risk of academic exclusion if the student were to receive the lowest failing grade of 55 in the course.  A student seeking an extension must make the request not less than three business days before the semester grade submission deadline and, if approved, must have documented the extension on an “incomplete” grade form submitted to the ADAA and registrar via lawregistrar@campbell.edu.  The ADAA’s decision to grant or deny a request for an “incomplete,” or any extension, is final and not appealable.

VII. Academic Standards

The law school will place students on academic probation, or exclude them from further study, when their academic performance, as measured by the grades they receive in their coursework, fails to meet the standards described in this section.  For the purpose of academic probation, the law school assesses students’ performance both cumulatively and each semester.   For the purpose of academic exclusion, the law school assesses students’ performance only cumulatively.  The law school applies academic probation standards based on semester grade point average (GPA) twice each academic year: once after the fall semester and once after the spring semester.  The law school applies academic exclusion standards based on cumulative performance three times each academic year: once after the summer session, once after the fall semester, and once after the spring semester. 

1. Academic Probation

A student will enter academic probation if the student’s cumulative or semester-based GPA falls below 75 and the student is not otherwise excluded under the Academic Exclusion policy.

A student on academic probation:

• Is subject to the supervision of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (ADSA) and must follow the performance improvement plan as directed by the law school’s academic support office;
• May not hold any office or leadership position in any student organization, SBA, or pro bono project;
• May not serve as a teaching scholar, teaching assistant, or research assistant; and
• May not enroll in or participate in any co-curricular activities, including advocacy competitions and law review.

A student on academic probation due to a low semester-based GPA (but not a low cumulative GPA) may petition the Academic Dean of Student Affairs (ADSA) in writing for an exception to one or more of these restrictions.  The ADSA’s decision to deny a request is final.  If the ADSA recommends an exception, the matter then goes to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA), who has sole discretion to approve or deny the request.  The ADAA’s decision is final.

2. Academic Exclusion

The School of Law will exclude a student from further study if:

1. The student has accumulated two grades below 65 within the completion* of the first 12 credit hours in law school;
2. The student’s cumulative GPA is below 70.0 after completion of 12 credit hours in law school;
3. The student’s cumulative GPA is below 73.5 after the completion of 24 credit hours in law school;
4. The student’s cumulative GPA is below 74.25 after the completion of 40 credit hours in law school;
5. The student’s cumulative GPA is below 75 at any time after the completion of 56 credit hours in law school;
6. The student has accumulated three or more grades below 65; a grade of UF is below 65 for purposes of this rule.

*Completion, for purposes of this section, is the receipt of a numerical or descriptive grade other than a “W” or “I” for the credit hours.

Probation/Exclusion Status

Any student whose grades require probation or exclusion shall enter that status as of the first day of the semester following the semester in which the student earned the unsatisfactory grades, regardless of the actual reporting date of those grades.

Academic Impact of Summer Session Credits

Summer school course offerings do not constitute a separate “semester” for the purpose of these Academic Standards.  Summer session course grades affect cumulative academic progress and count toward a student’s cumulative performance as well as limits on the permitted number of failing grades.

3. Appeals from Academic Exclusion from the Study of Law

1. Except as provided in paragraph 2 immediately following, there is no right to appeal an exclusion from further study in the School of Law. 
2. Anyone excluded after earning more than 60 hours of academic credit in the School of Law shall have the right to appeal once to the faculty Academic Appeals Committee for a waiver of the exclusion rule(s) applicable to that person’s exclusion.  Appeals shall be governed by the rules set forth in paragraph 3. immediately following.
3. Anyone permitted to petition the faculty Academic Appeals Committee for a waiver of the exclusion rule under paragraph 2 must present a written petition requesting a waiver of the exclusion rules. The petition must be delivered to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at least 72 hours before the scheduled meeting of the Committee.  It is presumed that the Petitioner’s unsatisfactory academic performance in the School of Law’s academic program is the best indication of how the Petitioner would perform in the future.  The Petitioner has the burden of overcoming this presumption by clear and convincing evidence.  This clear and convincing evidence shall include evidence as to why the Petitioner’s future studies will be successful.  The petition for a waiver of the exclusion rule shall be denied unless the burden of proof is clearly met.  While there is no right to appear in person before the Committee, a student may file a request to appear with reasons therefor stated in the petition.  The decision of the Committee shall be final.

4. Flex Time Program Academic Exclusion Rules

A student enrolled in the Flex Time Program is subject to the same rules set forth above under the heading of “Academic Exclusion” except that a “semester” (as reference above) for a student enrolled in the Flex Time Program is the completion of two semesters in the Flex Time Program.

5. Reapplication Rules for Students Academically Excluded from Further Study in the School of Law

Anyone academically excluded from further study in the School of Law may not petition or apply for admission as a law student through the normal application process established by  the School of Law’s Office of Admissions until two calendar years have elapsed. 

6. Repetition of Courses and Re-Examination

A grade below 65 is a failing grade and requires repetition of the course for receipt of academic credit. Re-examinations are not offered or permitted.

The faculty may decide that a student with a grade of 65 to 74 in a course needs to repeat that course or take a specified elective or group of electives to ensure a sufficient foundation for competence. A student with a pattern of grades in the 65 to 74 range may be required at the discretion of the faculty to repeat an entire semester or academic year in order to ensure competence in core courses. In the event the faculty decides that repetition of courses is necessary, the student will be notified in advance and will be entitled to be heard before the Academic Appeals Committee on the matter. To the extent courses are repeated, both grades will be included in the calculation of the student’s cumulative average.

7. Academic Appeals (all other academic matters)³

Academic appeals are handled within Campbell Law School. A student with a grievance relating to an academic matter shall first discuss the matter with the appropriate faculty member. The student and the faculty member shall make every reasonable effort to resolve the matter. If the grievance cannot be resolved with the faculty member and the student wishes to pursue the grievance, the student shall discuss the matter with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA). The ADAA shall review all grievances on an abuse of discretion standard by evidence sufficient to demonstrate that the academic outcome was arbitrary, capricious, or not in accordance with the mandatory academic standards set forth herein. The student has the burden of proof at all times throughout the grievance process. The decision of the ADAA in all academic grievance matters is final and not appealable. If the academic grievance concerns a course taught by the ADAA, or if the ADAA identifies a conflict preventing the ADAA’s involvement in resolving the grievance, the student may submit and discuss the grievance with the Chair of the Academic Standards & Support Committee. The decision of the Chair is final and not appealable.

3. This paragraph does not apply to academic exclusions.

VII. Flex Time Program

A. OBJECTIVE

The objective of the Flex Time program is to enable entering law students to earn a Juris Doctor degree by taking fewer hours each semester than required by the full-time program. The program is most ideally suited for students who have some degree of flexibility in the scheduling of their outside obligations.

B. ADMISSION

1. The admissions standards applicable to students applying to study under the Flex Time program shall be the same as the admissions standards applicable to students applying for full time study.
2. A student who chooses to enroll in the Flex Time program shall communicate that choice to the Admissions Committee in a manner to be determined by the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid.
3. The Flex Time program of study is available to applicants who have not previously enrolled as full-time students at Campbell Law School or at any other law school, absent consent of the Dean.

C. CURRICULUM

During the first two years of study, students enrolled in the Flex Time program shall complete the courses listed in subsection C.1. and C.2. below. It is highly recommended that students complete the courses in the order provided. However, upon approval by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, a student may alter the recommended schedule provided that sequential courses are taken in consecutive semesters. By way of example, a student may opt, with approval, to take Property I rather than Civil Procedure I in the fall semester of the first year. The student must then take Property II in the spring semester of the first year. The same requirement for taking sequential courses in consecutive semesters applies to Civil Procedure I and II, Contracts I and II and Torts I and II. However, both Legal Research and Writing courses must be taken during the first year, and (unless (i) previously taken as a summer course or (ii) deferred for the reason stated in Section C.1. below) Criminal Law must be taken during the first semester of the second year and Constitutional Law I must be taken during the second semester of the second year.

The curriculum subsequent to the first two years of study is addressed at subsection 3 below.

1. FIRST-YEAR CURRICULUM

FALL SEMESTER		SPRING SEMESTER
Course	Credit Hrs.	Course	Credit Hrs.
Civil Procedure I	2	Civil Procedure II	2
Contracts I	3	Contracts II	2
Legal Research/Writing I	2	Legal Research/Writing II	3

 

A student who receives a grade lower than 65 in Civil Procedure I, Contracts I, or Legal Research and Writing I (i) must retake that course during the student’s second Fall semester and (ii) may not take Criminal Law during the student’s second Fall semester. Instead, the student must take Criminal Law during the student’s third Fall semester (unless the student has taken Criminal Law during a previous summer term).

A student who receives a grade lower than 65 in Civil Procedure II, Contracts II, or Legal Research and Writing II (i) must retake that course during the student’s second Spring semester and (ii) may not take Constitutional Law I during the student’s second Spring semester. Instead, the student must take Constitutional Law I during the student’s third Spring semester (unless the student has taken Constitutional Law I during a previous summer term).

2. SECOND-YEAR CURRICULUM

FALL SEMESTER		SPRING SEMESTER
Course	Credit Hrs.	Course	Credit Hrs.
Criminal Law	3	Constitutional Law I	3
Property I	2	Property II	3
Torts I	3	Torts II	2

3. SUBSEQUENT CURRICULUM

Upon the completion of the first two years of study, students enrolled in the Flex Time program must complete the same course work required of full-time students. While it is recommended that Flex Time students complete their studies by the end of the spring semester of the fifth year of study, students may extend their studies beyond the fifth year in order to complete the requirements for the Juris Doctor degree. However, a Flex Time student must complete all degree requirements within 84 months of the commencement of study.

Students must take at least five credit hours in each fall and spring semester and may take no more than nine credit hours in each fall and spring semester to maintain Flex Time status. A student may at any time, subsequent to the first two years of study, elect to become a full-time student by enrolling in more than nine credit hours of study in a single semester. Such a student will be subject to the academic regulations and standards applicable to full time students and will be assessed full time tuition. A Flex Time student who chooses to become a full-time student in a given semester may again return to Flex Time status in any subsequent semester by taking nine or fewer credit hours in that semester.

The graduation requirements for all students are stated supra Section IV.

Courses in the Flex Time program are subject to the same prerequisites applicable to the full-time program. Course prerequisites and a description of courses are available at the law school’s intranet website under the Academic Affairs tab.

4. TUITION

During the first two years of study, a student enrolled in the Flex Time program shall pay one-half the tuition assessed full time students. Thereafter, a student taking nine or fewer credit hours in a single semester shall pay a prorated “per hour” tuition. If a student enrolled in the Flex Time program becomes a full-time student by taking more than nine hours in a fall or spring semester, the student will be assessed full time tuition.

5. SUMMER SESSION

1. Most, if not all, courses offered during summer sessions are upper level required and elective courses. Since the first two years of Flex Time study are intended to provide students with the proper foundation for upper level courses, students enrolled in the Flex Time program are not eligible to attend the summer session between their first and second years of study (with the exception of taking Criminal Law or Constitutional Law I, if either or both are offered as summer courses). Upon completion of the first two years of study, students enrolled in the Flex Time program may attend summer sessions.
2. The minimum credit hours (five) and maximum credit hours (nine) applicable to the Flex Time program do not apply to summer session. Subject to law school restrictions, students enrolled in summer session may take as few or as many hours as convenient to complete their studies. Summer session tuition for Flex Time students will be assessed on the same per-hour basis as applicable to full time students.

6. GRADE POINT AVERAGE AND CLASS RANK

The semester and cumulative grade point averages for Flex Time students shall be calculated at the end of each semester in the same manner applicable to full time students.

Flex Time students will be ranked upon the completion of thirty, sixty and ninety hours of study, and will be ranked with the “then current” first year, second year and third year classes respectively. At interim periods, the law school Registrar may provide a Flex Time student with his or her class rank stated as consistent with a ranking in the top 5%, 10%, 25%, 33%, or 50% of the comparative class of full time students at such time.

7. STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Upon the completion of the first two years of study (or, if earlier, as otherwise provided in the bylaws of the Campbell Law Review), Flex Time students will be eligible to participate in all student activities, organizations, offices and competitions to the same extent as full time students.

8. EMPLOYMENT

Students enrolled in the Flex Time program and taking nine or fewer credit hours in any given semester may engage in outside employment as they deem necessary and prudent. However, any Flex Time student who elects to become a full time student by enrolling in more than nine credit hours in a given semester, other than summer session, shall be limited to twenty hours per week of outside employment.

9. SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID

Flex Time students are eligible for scholarships, on a pro rata basis, to the same extent and under the same conditions applicable to full time students.

Subject to applicable financial aid regulations, Flex Time students may be eligible for financial aid.

10. ACADEMIC STANDARDS – FLEX TIME STUDENTS

Current Flex Time students who started in or after August 2015 are subject to the academic standards stated supra section VII.

11. ACADEMIC REGULATIONS – FLEX TIME STUDENTS

A. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Degree Awarded: The degree awarded by the School of Law is the Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
2. Course Requirements: The School of Law requires the successful completion of 90 credit hours of work for awarding of the JD degree.

B. RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS

To earn the Juris Doctor degree, it is highly recommended that a Flex Time student complete the required 90 credit hours of course work by the spring semester of the fifth year of study. However, if necessary to complete the work required for the Juris Doctor degree, Flex Time students may extend their time of study provided that all degree requirements are satisfied within 84 months from the commencement of study. It is recommended that Flex Time students extend their studies beyond the spring semester of the fifth year only after consultation with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

C. MINIMUM CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE

Candidates for the Juris Doctor degree must have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 75 at the time of graduation. 

D. GOOD STANDING

Students in good standing are those students eligible to continue the study of law and who are not on academic probation.

E. GRADING SYSTEM

The grading system described supra Section VI applies to all Flex Time students.

IX. Distance Education Policy

“Distance education” means courses taught through online or hybrid content delivery.  “External distance education” means distance education courses taken through an institution other than Campbell Law School.

Course credits earned in distance education courses will be posted to the student’s law school transcript in the same manner as any traditional course.  Course credits earned in approved external distance education courses will be posted to the student’s law school transcript bearing a descriptive grade of “TR” (for “Transfer” Credit) and will have no impact on the student’s semester or cumulative grade point average.  If the external distance course is graded numerically, or if a letter grade is assigned to the credits, then a student must earn at least a 75 (or at least a straight “C”) for the credits to be posted to the student’s law school transcript. If the external distance education course is graded descriptively, a student must earn at least an “S” (for “Satisfactory”) or its equivalent for the credits to be posted to the student’s Campbell Law transcript.

Unless the student timely elects to take an internal or external distance education course for a descriptive grade (when a numerical or letter grade is expected to be awarded by the professor), the course itself does not impact the student’s ability to elect to take two eligible non-distance education courses for a descriptive grade.

XI. Transfer students

A student from another ABA-approved law school may be admitted to advanced standing as a candidate for a Campbell Law degree. A transfer student must complete two-thirds (2/3) of the course work required for the Juris Doctor degree at Campbell Law school. Credit for work done at other law schools is given at the discretion of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and must have been completed with at least a grade of “C” or its equivalent.

Students seeking to transfer must have completed most of the following first-year classes before they will be allowed to transfer: Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, Torts, and Legal Research and Writing.

In addition to the Campbell Law application, transfer students are required to provide a $50 application fee, a Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report, a letter of good standing from your current law school, your most recent transcript showing completion of the required first-year courses, and law school class rank. Applications should be timely submitted to the Director of Admissions.

Tuition is by semester, NOT by credit hour. A minimum of 10 credit hours per semester is required, even by transfer and visiting students. The Campbell FLEX program is only available to entering 1L students who intend to complete their entire JD program at Campbell Law.

XII. Visiting students

With the approval of the Admissions Committee, it is possible for students from other law schools to matriculate at Campbell Law for up to one year as visiting students. Visiting students must have the permission of their home law school and be in good academic standing. They will receive their law degrees from their home law school and will not be eligible for a Campbell Law School degree.

Visiting applicants must complete an application to Campbell Law School. In addition, a $50 application fee is required along with a Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report, a letter of good standing from the visitor’s current law school, a law school transcript, and law school class rank. Applications should be timely submitted to the Director of Admissions.

Tuition is by semester, NOT by credit hour. A minimum of 10 credit hours per semester is required, even by transfer and visiting students. The Campbell FLEX program is only available to entering 1L students who intend to complete their entire JD program at Campbell Law.

XIII. Transfer of Law Credits

Students may transfer law credits earned at other law school institutions, including, for example, summer study abroad programs. Eligible transfer credits must be awarded by an ABA-accredited law school. Students who have already earned thirty credit hours may transfer up to six credit hours for courses offered in the post-1L years.

A student cannot receive credit toward a law degree for a course involving significant overlap with a course already taken (or to be taken) for credit at Campbell Law School. The determination of whether a course involves significant overlap is within the sole discretion of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

A. Transfer of credits earned by a student in a dual-degree program.

Campbell Law School has agreed to count against its 90-credits graduation requirement the following credits from its dual-degree programs. The student must earn a 3.0 (or “B” equivalent) in the course in order for the credits to transfer to the JD transcript. A student is responsible for timely obtaining an official transcript from the host institution and then timely delivering it to the Registrar for the posting of course credits to the student’s Campbell JD transcript.

• Campbell MBA: Maximum of six credits, from the following:
  • BADM 710 Accounting for Decision Making
  • BADM 720 Applied Economics for Business Leaders
  • BADM 730 Finance and Capital Management
  • BADM 732 Management of Financial Institutions
  • BADM 750 Organizational Culture in a Changing Environment
  • BADM 790 Strategic Management “Live Case” Seminar
• Campbell MSPH:
  • Statistical Methods I
  • Health Policy and Management
• Campbell MDiv: Maximum of nine credits, from the following:
  • Theology and Culture
  • Introduction to Urban and Social Ministry
  • Any two of the following:
    • Christian Ethics
    • Special Topics in Ethics – Virtues and Vices
    • Ethics, Spirituality, and Religion in the Helping Professions
  • Any two of the following:
    • Counseling and Christian Ministry
    • Counseling Theories and Techniques
    • Marriage and Family Counseling
    • Advanced Theology elective (subject to prior written approval of law school’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs)
    • Directed Readings (subject to prior written approval of law school’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs)
  • Campbell MTWM: Maximum of six credits, from the following:
    • TRST 620 Financial Planning Seminar
    • TRST 630 Investment Analysis
    • TRST 631 Advanced Investment Analysis
    • TRST 750 Advanced Retirement Planning
    • TRST 780 Legal/Regulatory Issues
  • North Carolina State Univ. MBA: Maximum of nine credits (no specific courses)
  • North Carolina State Univ. MPA: Maximum of nine credits (no specific courses)
  • North Carolina State Univ. MAcc: Maximum of six credits (no specific courses)

B. Transfer of credits earned by a Campbell law student who is a “visiting” student at another ABA-accredited law school. 

A Campbell law student who seeks to be a “visiting” student at another ABA-accredited law school for an academic semester (or academic year) must inform the Associate Dean for Student Affairs of this desire at least thirty days before the first day of class of the visit.  Decisions regarding which courses the student must (or may) take at the host law school, and the conditions under which credits for those courses will transfer to the Campbell JD transcript, are made on a case-by-case basis.  At least two-thirds of all Campbell Law required credit hours must be completed at Campbell University School of Law and not at the visiting institution. 

XIV. Employment During Law School

Campbell Law full-time students are not permitted to work during the first year of school. Students are permitted to work during winter break and summer breaks. During the second and third years of law school, ABA standards dictate that students enrolled full-time may not work more than 20 hours per week.

There are no employment restrictions placed on students enrolled in the Campbell FLEX program.

XV. Disability Policy

Please refer to the policy at this link: ____________________________.

XVI. Auditing a Course

Campbell Law School allows any member of the Bar to audit a course at the law school, with the permission of the professor, for a flat fee of $1,000. Anyone wishing to audit a course should contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

XVII. Procedures for Student Complaints concerning Campbell Law School’s Program of Legal Education

A. Suggestions

The Law School welcomes suggestions from students. Written and signed suggestions may be submitted to the Dean, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, or the Director of Student Life and Pro Bono Opportunities. Students can also submit suggestions through the digital “suggestion box” on the law school intranet.

Suggestions, whether signed or anonymous, can also be communicated to the president of the Student Bar association, who will convey those suggestions to the Dean.

The appropriate law school administrator will respond in writing to law students submitting signed suggestions. The response will indicate what action, if any, will be taken by the Law School. Where the suggestion has been communicated to the Dean by the SBA president, the Dean will respond either orally or in writing to the SBA president.

B. Formal Complaints

As an ABA-accredited law school, Campbell Law School is subject to the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools.[7]

Any Campbell Law student who wishes to bring to the attention of Campbell Law School a significant problem that directly implicates its program of legal of education and its compliance with the ABA Standards should take the following steps:

1. The student shall file a complaint with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The complaint must (a) be in writing, (b) identify the problem and the particular ABA Standard(s) implicated, in sufficient detail to permit an investigation of the matter, and (c) be signed and dated by the student, and include the student’s official law school email address, telephone number, and current mailing address.
2. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or his or her designee) will acknowledge receipt of the written complaint within five business days after receiving the complaint. This acknowledgment may be in written or electronic form
3. Within thirty business days after receiving the complaint, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or his or her designee) will investigate the matter identified by the complaint and will respond to the student, in written or electronic form, indicating what steps, if any, are being (or will be) taken by Campbell Law School to address the matter.
4. 4. The student may timely appeal this response to the Dean of the Law School. An appeal must include the original complaint, the response of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and an explanation of why the Associate Dean’s response is in error. The appeal is timely if it is received by the Dean no later than the tenth business day following the date on which the Associate Dean responded to the complaint. Within ten business days following the date on which the Dean receives the appeal, the Dean will respond to the student in written or electronic form. The Dean’s decision is final.
5. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will maintain a copy of the complaint, together with a summary of the process and its resolution, in his or her office for a period of eight years from the date of the Associate Dean’s response (or, if applicable, the date of the Dean’s response to any appeal).
6. 6. This complaint process applies only to significant problems that directly implicate Campbell Law School’s program of legal education and its compliance with the ABA Standards. It is not intended to be an alternative or additional process to address matters governed by other law school or university rules, policies, or procedures.

XVIII. Dropping a Course

Dropping a course is a student-initiated act that takes place during the drop period.  The drop period begins when registration opens for an upcoming semester and ends on the date published in the academic calendar.  Dropping a course does not require consultation with or approval from academic advisors, faculty members, or administrators, and it does not require completing a drop/add form.  Dropping a course does not result in transcript notations, but it may implicate a student’s “full-time” status.  The failure to maintain “full-time” status triggers federal laws and university policies, which may result in adverse financial consequences.  Students may wish to consult with a financial affairs officer before dropping a course. 

 So long as the action is consistent with curricular requirements, a student may drop a course prior to the deadline for the last day to drop a course and may do so through the self-service portal. 

XIX. Withdrawing from a Course

Withdrawing from a course is a student-initiated, faculty-initiated, or administrator-initiated act that takes place after the “drop” period.  It may implicate University policies or federal law or a student’s full-time status.  The “withdrawal” period begins on the first day after the expiration of the drop period.  

A.  Student-Initiated Withdrawals 

A student who wishes to withdraw from a course between the end of the drop period and the end of 20% of the course must complete and submit to the law school’s Director of Registrar Services a WITHDRAWAL form, which is available on the law school’s intranet or in the Office of Registrar Services’ suite.  Withdrawing from a course during this period results in no transcript notation and no tuition refund. 

A student who wishes to withdraw from a course in the period beyond 20% of the course and the end of 60% of the course must complete and submit to the law school’s Director of Registrar Services a WITHDRAWAL form, which is available on the law school’s intranet or in the Office of Registrar Services’ suite.  A student’s request to withdraw from a course during this period triggers the Associate Dean for Student Affairs’ (ADSA) request for a progress report from the faculty member documenting the student’s performance with respect to, inter alia, attendance, participation, submission of assignments, and compliance with course policies.  Withdrawing from a course during this period results in a transcript notation of W and no tuition refund. 

A student who wishes to withdraw from a course in the period beyond 60% of the course and the last day of the course must complete and submit to the law school’s Director of Registrar Services a WITHDRAWAL form, which is available on the law school’s intranet or in the Office of Registrar Services’ suite.  A student’s request to withdraw from a course during this period triggers the ADSA’s request for a progress report from the faculty member documenting the student’s performance with respect to, inter alia, attendance, participation, submission of assignments, and compliance with course policies.  Withdrawing from a course during this period results in a transcript grade of 55 and no tuition refund.  A student may not withdraw from one, some, or all courses in order to avoid one or more failing grades. 

A student who wishes to withdraw from every course in which he or she is registered may do so only in the case of (1) military deployment, (2) a full medical withdrawal; or (3) the serious illness or death of the student’s parent, spouse, or child.  The student must provide to the ADSA the military orders or the medical documentation demonstrating the medical exigency.  Even if this military or full medical withdrawal happens beyond 60% of the course, the withdrawal results in a transcript notation of W for each course.  If the student does not return to the study of law by the end of one academic year after the withdrawal and thereafter wishes to resume the study of law, the student must re-apply for admission to the law school and earn academic credits anew; no academic credits carry over.  

A student is encouraged to consult with the law school’s ADSA and his or her academic advisor to discuss any possible adverse academic impact (including, without limitation, transcript notation) triggered by withdrawing from a course. 

B.  Faculty-Initiated and Administrator-Initiated Withdrawals 

A faculty member may initiate an involuntary withdrawal of a student from a course after the first two weeks of class if the student fails to attend class on a regular basis or fails to submit assignments or engages in conduct forbidden by the course syllabus. 

 A faculty member may request that an administrator initiate an involuntary withdrawal of a student from a course if the student engages in conduct that creates a risk of harm to himself or herself or to others. 

 An administrator may initiate an involuntary withdrawal of a student from one or more courses in the event that the student engages in conduct that creates a risk of harm to himself or herself or to others. 

Depending on how much of a course the student has attempted prior to the involuntary withdrawal, the withdrawal results in a transcript notation of W or a failing grade, including a 55.  An administrator may not withdraw a student from one, some, or all courses to avoid one or more failing grades. 

If an administrator initiates an involuntary withdrawal from all courses and the student does not return to the study of law by the end of one academic year after the withdrawal and thereafter wishes to resume the study of law, the student must re-apply for admission to the law school and earn academic credits anew; no academic credits carry over. 

XX. Withdrawing from Law School

A student who wishes to withdraw from the law school on a permanent basis must meet with the law school’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The student must submit a WITHDRAWAL form and must return all Campbell property, including locker key, ID badge, and parking pass, to the ADAA.

Withdrawing from law school may have adverse financial and academic impacts, including but not limited to acceleration of student loan repayments and negative transcript notations. A student who wishes to withdraw from the law school should review the University’s tuition refund policy and meet with the law school’s Office of Financial Aid. A student seeking to withdraw from the law school who believes that medical, military, or other circumstances warrant an exception from the University’s tuition refund policy must appeal to the Vice President of Business of Campbell University.

A student who permanently withdraws from the law school and who thereafter desires to return to the study of law must re-apply for admission to the law school, receive an offer of admission, and earn academic credits anew; no academic credits carry over.

XXI. Temporary Leave of Absence from Law School

A temporary leave of absence from the law school differs from a withdrawal from all courses in that the student does not return to the study of law at the beginning of the next semester. A student may take a temporary leave of absence for a period of not more than one academic year, upon the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (“ADAA”). A student initiates a temporary leave of absence by meeting with the ADAA; completing a Temporary Leave of Absence form providing a brief explanation for the request and a notation regarding the intended return semester; submitting the completed form to the Director of Registrar Services; and returning all Campbell property, including but not limited to locker key, ID badge, and parking pass, to the ADAA.

Taking a temporary leave of absence from law school may have adverse academic and/or financial impacts, including but not limited to negative transcript notations and the acceleration of student loan repayments. A student interested in taking a temporary leave of absence should review the University’s tuition refund policy and meet with the law school’s Office of Financial Aid. A student seeking a temporary leave of absence who believes that medical, military, or other circumstances warrant an exception from the University’s tuition refund policy must appeal to the Vice President of Business of Campbell University.

A temporary leave of absence does not toll the requirement that a student must satisfy all Juris Doctor degree requirements within 84 months of the commencement of study.

A student may not take or audit classes during a temporary leave of absence and must register as a guest when on the law school campus.

A student may not take a temporary leave of absence in lieu of academic exclusion or after receiving notice of academic exclusion.

A student who takes an approved temporary leave of absence may return to the study of law without re-applying for admission unless the temporary leave of absence extends beyond one academic year. If a student’s temporary leave of absence extends beyond one academic year, or if a student leaves the study of law without first receiving the approval of the ADAA, the law school will administratively withdraw the student from law school, and the student must surrender all Campbell property, including but not limited to locker key, ID badge, and parking pass, to the ADAA. A student whose temporary leave of absence extends beyond one academic year and who thereafter desires to return to the study of law must re-apply for admission to the law school, receive an offer of admission, and earn academic credits anew; no academic credits carry over.

[1] Revised May 2025

[5] An “elective course” is any course other than (i) a first-year course, (ii) Advanced Legal Writing, Business Organizations, Constitutional Law II, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Professional Responsibility, Sales and Leases, Secured Transactions, Trial Advocacy, and Wills and Trusts, and (iii) an extracurricular activity, such as any moot court or mock trial event.

[6] Independent study credits earned for one rigorous writing experience will be reflected on the student’s law school transcript with a numerical grade.

[7] https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/standards.html.