All Policies

All students taking 9 or more credits, except those obtaining a waiver, are required to have and will be billed for health insurance. For more information about the University-administered plans, see https://www.umaryland.edu/studentinsurance/. Students taking fewer than 9 credits who wish to purchase University-administered coverage may do so and should contact Student Accounting at 410.706.2930.

If you wish to waive University-administered coverage, you must submit proof of comparable coverage to the Student Health Office by following the procedure outlined at https://www.umaryland.edu/studenthealth/.  A waiver request must be completed every fall semester by the stated deadline.

Maryland Carey Law will count credit earned at other educational institutions toward the Juris Doctor degree as follows:

1. Students transferring to Maryland Carey Law after one or more semesters as a J.D. student at another law school may be awarded up to 32 credits of advanced standing on the basis of work completed with grades of C- or higher at the prior law school. Grades will not transfer. Students who have not taken all of Maryland Carey Law’s required courses at the previous law school must take the remainder of the required courses at Maryland Carey Law.  In order to satisfy the graduation requirements for specific required courses, course descriptions of courses previously taken must be substantially similar to the course as offered at Maryland Carey Law. During the application review process, transfer applicants may be asked to provide course syllabi to demonstrate similarity of subject matter covered.  Students may not subsequently receive credit at Maryland Carey Law for courses taken elsewhere.

   Transfer credit granted for courses taken at a law school outside the United States or for courses completed in Maryland Carey Law's LL.M. Program cannot, individually or in combination, exceed 28 credits of the total required for the J.D. degree at Maryland Carey Law.
   
   Students transferring from another law school must obtain at least 53 of the 85 credits required for graduation in courses or other credit programs offered by Maryland Carey Law.

2. Students who did not transfer to Maryland Carey Law after one or more semesters at another law school and who have not been granted permission to visit at another law school for one or two semesters may be awarded up to 9 transfer credits for work completed with grades of C- or higher at another law school or completed satisfactorily at a non-law graduate school.  Student must obtain advance permission from the Director of Law Registration for each course they wish to take. Students must demonstrate that the course is not comparable to one offered regularly at Maryland Carey Law and that the course will significantly contribute to the student’s legal education by providing a unique experience specific to the student’s program of study.  The 9-credit limit encompasses both law courses and non-law graduate courses. Approval to take non-law graduate courses will not be granted for on-line courses, distance-learning courses, continuing education courses, or courses designed to meet in-service, certification, or re-certification requirements.

   Approval will be granted only for graduate-level courses eligible to be applied to Master’s level or higher degrees at the institution through which they are offered. Credit will be granted toward the JD only when the grade achieved signifies satisfactory completion of the course(s).  NB: many graduate schools do not consider “C” work satisfactory.

3. Students in approved dual degree programs may receive up to 9 credits toward the JD for non-law graduate work completed at the other school.  Students in approved dual degree programs who are receiving 9 credits toward the JD for non-law graduate work completed at the other school may in addition receive up to 6 credits for work completed with grades of C- or higher at another law school, subject to the conditions in (2), above. In other words, the total transfer credit for which a dual degree student is eligible is 15 credits.
   
   
4. Students may be given permission to visit at another law school for one or two semesters due to a compelling personal situation. Students granted permission to visit another law school must obtain advance permission for each course they wish to take.  In this case, the student may be awarded up to 17 transfer credits per semester for work completed with grades of C- or higher, but no more than 32 credits total. Grades will not transfer.

The University of Maryland School of Law's admissions policy focuses on the academic potential of applicants coupled with a flexible assessment of applicants' talents, experiences and potential to contribute to the learning of those around them. Each applicant is evaluated on the basis of all the information available in their file, including a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and resume.

We expect applicants to have different backgrounds and experiences, and to have many reasons for wanting to study law. We engage in a highly individualized, holistic review of each applicant's file, giving consideration to all the ways an applicant might contribute to a diverse educational environment. The qualities of students we seek may be reflected in their background characteristics such as geographic origin, cultural and language backgrounds; racial, social, disability and economic barriers overcome; interpersonal skills, demonstrated by extracurricular pursuits, work or service experience, and leadership activities; potential for intellectual and social growth, demonstrated by personal talents and skills, maturity and compassion; and other special circumstances and characteristics that, when combined with academic skills necessary for sound legal education, promise to make a special contribution to the community.

Our admissions policy aspires to achieve diversity that has the potential to enrich everyone's education. When students have the greatest possible variety of background, classroom discussion is livelier, more spirited, and simply more enlightened and interesting. Student body diversity better prepares all students to assume leadership roles in an increasing diverse society. Along with other diversity goals, we seek to enroll meaningful numbers of students from groups that have been historically discriminated against to ensure their ability to make unique contributions to the character of the School's educational and social environment.

In considering the academic record of any applicant, the School of Law may consider the nature and level of challenge of the applicant's academic work, including college grading practices, quality of college student body and course selection patterns; trend of college grades; graduate study; outside work or extensive extracurricular activities while in college; time interval and activities between college graduation and application to law school; and physical, social or economic hardships.

Just as lawyers are held to high ethical standards, so are University of Maryland School of Law Students. One ethical duty is to fully and accurately disclose the information sought in our applications. The failure to provide honest and accurate information in the application is a very serious matter and may result in a delay, rescission or denial of admission to the School of Law and/or a denial of admission to the bar. Applicants have a continuing duty throughout the application, admission and enrollment process to inform the Admissions Office of any changes in the information provided in the application to ensure that it remains complete and accurate.

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.