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Policy on Outside Study and Transient Status

The following policy may be found in Chapter 4 of the J.D. Manual of Policies & Procedures.

4.3 Policy on Outside Study and Transient Status

4.3.01 Policy on Outside Study and Transient Status during the Final 24 Credit Hours

A student who is a candidate for the degree of Juris Doctor is not permitted to take work in any other school, college, or course of instruction while attending Capital University Law School unless they first obtain the permission of the Dean or Dean’s delegate. Students must complete their final 24 hours of credit at Capital University Law School except as noted below.

A. Students enrolled in Capital University Law School can petition the Dean or Dean’s delegate for permission to take up to six (6) semester hours of credit at another law school. Criteria used in deciding whether or not to grant permission include:

  1. the uniqueness of the educational experience desired by the student; e.g., study abroad.
  2. the availability at Capital University Law School of course that the student desires to take elsewhere.
  3. the overall educational value of study at another law school.
  4. whether the student has transferred to Capital University Law School from another law school and completed courses at a different institution.

B. Students enrolled in Capital University Law School will be permitted to earn more than six (6) semester hours of credit at another law school only in exceptional circumstances, such as:

  1. where a job transfer is mandated by the student’s employer (this applies only to part-time students who work full-time)
  2. where a job transfer is mandated by the employer of the student’s spouse.
  3. where the student must live elsewhere because of the serious long-range illness of a close family member.
  4. participation in a study abroad program

Permission to earn more than six (6) semester hours of credit at another institution will not be granted for the reason that the student desires to complete their law studies closer to home or in the geographic area where they intend to practice following graduation.

C. In all cases, the Dean or Dean’s delegate must approve the school at which the student desires to earn credit.

D. The Dean or Dean’s delegate must approve the individual course schedule to avoid course duplication.

E. No courses required for graduation from Capital University Law School may be taken while in transient status at another law school unless in exceptional circumstances and with the Dean or Dean’s delegate approval. Specifically, this includes the upper-class writing requirement and the perspective requirement.

F. A transient fee may be charged to all Capital University Law School students who are permitted to enroll as transient students in other law schools and transfer the academic credit back to Capital University Law School. The fee will be the difference between the other school’s tuition and Capital University Law School’s tuition if the other schools tuition is lower. If the other schools tuition is higher, the fee will be a fixed dollar amount per credit hour.

4.3.02 Bar Exam Courses Prior to Degree Completion

A student is prohibited from attending any course designed as a review for the Bar examination unless they has completed all course requirements for the degree of Juris Doctor.

4.3.03 Request for Transcript and/or Letter of Good Standing by a Capital University Law School Student

If a student requests a transcript and/or letter of good standing from Capital University Law School for any reason, such transcript and/or letter of good standing will be provided to the student upon the following conditions.

A. In the case of a request for transcript:

  1. the student has met the conditions set forth in Section 5.1.01 regarding transcript fee, and
  2.  the student does not have any outstanding obligation to the Law School.

B. In the case of a request for letter of good standing,

  1. the student has a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better at the time of request, and
  2. the student is unconditionally eligible to return and enroll in courses at the Law School. 

If a student has a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better, but has conditions or limitations upon their eligibility to return to or enroll in courses at Capital University Law School, the letter will contain statements and information reflecting those conditions or limitations (e.g., Honor Code violations, administrative probation, and other disciplinary matters). The student will be informed of such disclosures.

When a student requests a letter of good standing that request constitutes the authorization of the student for the disclosure of information consistent with the provisions of paragraph B(2).