Professional Development Program

All students are required to fulfill a Professional Development Requirement in order to graduate.  Students will satisfy the requirement by:

  • Attending at least one individual meeting with a counselor from the Center for Career and Professional Development (“CCPD”) during the first semester of their first year at the Law School,
  • Attending at least one in-office meeting with a CCPD counselor during their final year in law school, and
  • Earning six (6) professional development (“PD”) credits, in addition to their academic credits, before graduating from law school. For students entering in Fall 2022 and thereafter, at least one of the 6 PD credits must be diversity-based (as designated by the CCPD). 
  • Completing the post-graduation employment form before graduation, as requested by the CCPD. 

Information for Student Organizations Looking to Have a PD Event

STUDENT GROUP PD CREDIT EVENT APPROVAL PROCESS AND PROCEDURES

I.  Student Group PD Credit Event Requirements

     (a)   Student group events may qualify for PD Credit if the event meets the following requirements:

            (i)  The PD Credit event must take place on the law school campus; AND

            (ii)  The PD Credit event must relate to law practice in a particular substantive area of law; AND

            (iii)  The PD Credit event must provide one of the following:

                    (a)  The event must provide significant opportunities to network with practicing attorneys or members of the judiciary in that area of law, OR

                    (b)  The event must provide interactive training in a particular skill (or skills) highly relevant to the practice of law, OR

                    (c)   The event must include members of the Bar as participants and provide continuing legal education (CLE) credits for student and/or attorney participants.

       (b)  Student group events may also qualify for PD Credit if the Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development determines that the program would otherwise enhance students’ connections to the profession and/or facilitate the development of professionalism and a professional identity.

       (c)   Student group events may qualify for Diversity-Based Learning (DBL) PD Credit if they meet the following guidelines:

               (i)   The event addresses one or more challenges faced by groups underrepresented in or by the legal profession.  Appropriate topics include, but are not limited to, eliminating bias; increasing sensitivity to cultural and other differences; access to justice; increasing representation; reducing harassment; and barriers to hiring, retention, promotion, professional development, and full participation of underrepresented groups in the legal profession and society.

               (ii)   The event offers possible solutions and suggestions for moving forward.

               (iii)  The event includes time for interaction between attendees and speaker(s).

                       The above guidelines for DBL PD Credits are for planning purposes and do not constitute strict requirements.  Each proposal will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

     (d)   Each student group may only offer one PD Credit Event per academic year. 

II.  Process for Approval of Student Group PD Credit Events

     (a)   Student groups that wish to offer PD credit at an event must schedule a meeting with the Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development to discuss the structure and content of the event at least 3 weeks prior to the event date.  The meeting can take place over the phone, on Zoom, or in person.

     (b)   Student groups should submit a PD Credit Event Approval Request Form to the Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development at least 2 weeks prior to the event date (through the online PD Credit Event Approval Request Form).

      (c)  Students seeking approval for a DBL PD credit will require the approval of the Law School’s Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Student groups must schedule a meeting with the DEI Director to discuss the structure and content of the event at least 3 weeks prior to the event date.  The meeting can take place over the phone, on Zoom, or in person.  Student groups should submit a PD Credit Event Approval Request Form to the Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development and the DEI Director at least 2 weeks prior to the event date (through the online PD Credit Event Approval Request Form). Specify in the “Other Relevant Information” section that you are seeking a Diversity Based Learning PD credit. 

III.  Process for Obtaining PD Credits at Event

      (a)  All students attending a PD Credit Event MUST sign in and sign out using the Sign In/Sign Out Attendance Sheet and include the student’s time in and time out.  If any signatures or times are missing from the Sign In/Sign Out Attendance Sheet, the student(s) will NOT receive PD Credits.

       (b)   All students must attend the ENTIRE PD Credit Event in person in order to receive PD Credits.  PD Credits will not be given for partial attendance.

IV.   Process for Issuing PD Credits to Students

        (a)  Moderators of a PD Credit Event must provide the completed Sign In/Sign Out Attendance Sheets to the Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development within 48 hours of the date of the PD Credit Event.

        (b)  Upon receipt of the Sign In/Sign Out Attendance Sheet, CCPD records will be updated and students will receive PD Credits as applicable.

Should you have any questions, please contact Kapila Juthani in the CCPD.

 

 

PD Accredited Programs