The Two-Year J.D. for Foreign-Trained Lawyers is for overseas students who already hold a foreign law degree and are prepared to complete a J.D. on an accelerated timetable. The program prepares attorneys who can compete in a global economy with full credentials in the United States and one or more additional jurisdictions.
While on campus, students benefit from classes taught by distinguished faculty members; enjoy life in Lawrence; and meet other highly motivated colleagues from around the country and the world. From KU Law's perspective, students with foreign law degrees bring valuable diversity and professionalism to the classroom and expand the school's global professional network of students and graduates.
Program Structure
Your route to completing the Two-Year J.D. for international attorneys depends on whether you obtained a foreign law degree in a common law jurisdiction1. Common law students do not need to follow the first-year curriculum, and will spend both of their years in the Two-Year J.D. Program taking upper-level courses.
Students who did not obtain a degree in a common law jurisdiction will begin the program with the standard first-year curriculum. During the second year of study, these students are eligible for any second- or third-year course available to all other J.D. students and will need to complete the same required coursework.
Students in the Two-Year J.D. Program are subject to the same grading system that applies to other J.D. candidates. All other law school and university rules apply, as appropriate, to students in the Two-Year J.D. Program. These include rules governing credits from outside the law school and cross-listing of courses.
The Two-Year J.D. Program is not limited to foreign citizens. American citizens who have foreign law degrees are also eligible, whether they were born or raised overseas, or elected to complete their education abroad after high school.
