Academic Progress Program Overview

The following information is applicable to those enrolling in Fall 2024 and thereafter. 

At the end of the first semester of law school, all students whose GPAs place them in the lower 50% of the class are required to meet with a Dean’s Office designee to discuss effective strategies to maximize their learning and academic success.  

A student whose GPA is in the bottom 15% of the class at the end of any fall semester will be enrolled in the Academic Progress Program. A student may request a review of their progress at the end of any subsequent semester. The requirements of the Academic Progress Program will be posted on the UR Law website and communicated to students when they are placed in the Academic Progress Program. The requirements will be set by the Dean’s Office. The requirements may include required classes, programming, and review of academic schedules.

Requirements for Academic Year 2024-25 

  • Students in the program at the end of any fall semester will be contacted by and must consult with a Dean’s Office designee regarding course registration for the upcoming year. Consultations should be concluded by the end of February. Dean’s Office designees may include the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Associate Dean of Student Success, the Director of Academic Success, or the Director of Bar Preparation. 
  • Students who are enrolled in the Program will be encouraged to take bar-related classes. 

  • Students who are enrolled in the Program at the end of the first semester of law school must enroll in either Agency & Partnership (fall) or Legal Analysis in Practice (spring) during their second year of law school.

  • Students who are enrolled in the Program at the end of their third semester of law school must enroll in Applied Legal Concepts during the fall semester of their 3L year and either Core Legal Concepts or Selected Topics in Virginia Law during their 3L spring semester. 
  • Students who are enrolled in the Program at the end of their third semester of law school will be encouraged to participate in the Supplemental Bar Preparation Course.

  • Students in the Program may apply for an exception to these requirements. Factors to be considered in approving an application for exception will include post-graduate plans that do not require licensure; enrollment in other bar-related courses; significant scheduling conflicts; plans to participate in the Supplemental Bar Preparation Course; or other compelling reasons to be excused from participation. Applications must be submitted by the Friday of the week after Spring Break, and decisions will be communicated before course registration begins. Decisions will be made by a Committee consisting of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Dean of Student Success, Director of the Bar Preparation Program, and the Director of the Academic Success Program.

Note: All students are eligible for individual counseling and advising about course registration. Students who are not in the Program may be strongly encouraged to enroll in specific courses that are mandatory for Academic Progress Program participants and, in some cases, may be eligible for priority enrollment in such courses. 

Academic Progress Program Courses

The following courses may be required for students in the Academic Progress Program. Students may apply for an exemption.

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  • 2L Courses: Students in the Program should enroll in one of these two during 2L year

    Agency & Partnerships (2CR, Reeves) (Fall)

    Creation of agency relationships; contractual liability of principals (disclosed and undisclosed), agents and third parties; tort liability of principals; fiduciary duties of agents; partnership: creation, rights, and duties of partners, dissolution of partnerships; limited partnerships; limited liability companies (LLCs).

    Legal Analysis in Practice (2CR, Meier) (Spring)

    Provides students with the opportunity to develop and practice critical analytical and communication skills they’ll need to succeed in legal practice. Students will analyze multiple client problems focused on core doctrinal areas and create documents responsive to client needs. Students will receive feedback on their work throughout the semester and have opportunities to revise their work. We will explore additional skills relevant to successful practice, including management of time, projects, and stress.

  • 3l Courses: Students in the Program should enroll in Applied Legal Concepts in their 3L fall and either Core Legal Concepts or Selected Topics in Virginia Law in their 3L spring

    Applied Legal Concepts: (2CR, Coley) (Fall)

    Introduces students to the substantive knowledge, analytical skills, and testing methods necessary for success on the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) portion of the bar exam. The learning methodology will be iterative, consisting of substantive lectures and materials on selected multistate subjects, followed by extensive practice testing and analysis. Students will be able to quantify their progress during the semester, both individually and relative to their peers. Grading will be Pass/Fail based on timely and complete submission of weekly assignments, end-of-subject assessments, and regular attendance. The course culminates in a multiple-choice examination designed to simulate the MBE portion of the bar exam. Open to students in all jurisdictions in the fall semester of their final year of study; not Virginia-specific. 

    Selected Topics in Virginia Law: (3CR, Reeves) (Spring)

    Provides instruction in substantive law, thought processes, and writing and test-taking skills needed for success on the Virginia Bar Exam. The learning methodology will be iterative, consisting of substantive lectures and materials followed by extensive practice-testing and analysis. Students will complete weekly assignments and the course will include a midterm exam and a final exam.

    Core Legal Concepts: (3CR, Coley) (Spring)

    Provides instruction in substantive law, thought processes, and writing and test-taking skills needed for success on the Uniform Bar Exam. The learning methodology will be iterative, consisting of substantive lectures and materials followed by extensive practice-testing and analysis. Students will complete weekly assignments and the course will include a midterm exam and a final exam.

Academic Counseling and Academic Progress Policy

  1.  Consultation after 1st semester: At the end of the first semester of law school, all students whose GPAs place them in the lower 50% of the class are required to meet with a Dean’s Office designee to discuss effective strategies to maximize their learning and academic success.  

  2. Academic Progress Program: A student whose GPA is in the bottom 15% of the class at the end of any fall semester will be enrolled in the Academic Progress Program. A student may request a review of their progress at the end of any subsequent semester. The requirements of the Academic Progress Program will be posted on the UR Law website and communicated to students when they are placed in the Academic Progress Program. The requirements will be set by the Dean’s Office. The requirements may include required classes, programming, and review of academic schedules.