LLM in LIT Rules and Regulations

Suffolk Law School's LLM in Legal Technology & Innovation (LIT) program has a number of requirements related to courses, credits, and grading, among other rules and regulations.

    I. Degree Requirements

    A candidate must have satisfactorily completed at least 24 credits in the Suffolk University Law School LLM in LIT curriculum and have been a student at SULS for at least one academic year. LLM in LIT students must satisfactorily complete all of the courses listed as required, unless exempted by the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.

    A candidate's complete LLM in LIT Law School record must show a cumulative weighted average of at least 2.00 or its equivalent under these Rules & Regulations in order to receive the degree of Master of Laws in Legal Technology & Innovation.

    Degrees are awarded by the Trustees of Suffolk University on the recommendation of the Law Faculty. Recommendations may be withheld by the Faculty for good cause.

    II. General Requirements and Rules

    1. Part time LLM students must enroll in a minimum of 4 (and a maximum of -8) credits per semester. Full-time LLM students must enroll in a minimum of 9 (and a maximum of 14) credits per semester. With the approval of the Director up to 6 credits earned in summer school may be applied to reduce these semester requirements.

    2. A Part time LLM student may not register for less than 4 credits per semester without the prior approval of the Director. A Full-time LLM student may not register for more than 14 credits in a semester without the prior approval of the Director and the Associate Deans.

    3. LLM students who wish to transfer between the Part-time and Full-time Divisions must obtain the written approval of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean. Approval must be obtained prior to registration for the semester the transfer will take effect.

    4. Full-time LLM students are required to complete one LLM Externship or Internship as approved by the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean. Part-time LLM students are strongly encouraged to complete one LLM Externship or Internship.

    5. Transfer Credits and Waivers of Certain Requirements

      1. No more than 6 credits may be accepted as Transfer Credits from another similarly accredited LLM Program or Summer School, or a JD program. Such Transfer Credits must have been earned within a reasonable period of time before acceptance into the LLM, and not already counted towards another program or degree. The award of Transfer Credits shall be at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.

      2. Full-time LLM students may petition for a waiver from the required Externship or Internship in Section II. General Requirements and Rules, Subsection D. The granting of waivers shall be at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.

    6. Admission to the LLM Program does not entail admission to any other Suffolk University degree program. Admission to any other Suffolk University degree program is a separate decision to be made by the relevant school.

    7. The LLM degree alone will not normally suffice for eligibility to sit for the Massachusetts bar exam. Bar exam requirements vary from state to state. It shall be the responsibility of each student to determine for themselves their eligibility to sit for a bar exam or gain admission to practice law in any jurisdiction.

    III. Course Requirements

    All International LLM students must satisfactorily complete a Required Course, "U.S. Law and Legal Reasoning" in the first semester of the program.

    IV. Credit Requirements

    No more than 5 credits from any ungraded activities may be counted toward the LLM degree. Ungraded activities include an LLM Externship or Directed Study.

    V. Grading and Examinations

    1. LLM students must choose between the alternative grading system (see V. B., below) or the numerical scale of 0.00 to 4.00 for every course in which they are registered, and for every semester of the program. Faculty may request a half-step grade increase for a student's class participation provided such participation was not already accounted for in the original grade submitted. Faculty must submit to the Assistant Dean of Academic Services a list of students receiving grade increases at the time of, or prior to, submission of grades.

      Reports of grades are made as follows:

      A

      4.00

      Satisfactory

      A-

      3.67

      Satisfactory

      B+

      3.33

      Satisfactory

      B

      3.00

      Satisfactory

      B-

      2.67

      Satisfactory

      C+

      2.33

      Satisfactory

      C

      2.00

      Satisfactory

      C-

      1.67

      Unsatisfactory

      D+

      1.33

      Unsatisfactory

      D

      1.00

      Unsatisfactory

      D-

      .67

      Unsatisfactory

      F

      0.00

      Fail

    2. As an alternative to the numerical grading system described above in V.A., LLM students may elect to have a grade in a course or courses for which a numerical grade is ordinarily assigned, recorded in accordance with the following alternative grading system:

      HH

      High Honors

      H

      Honors

      P

      Pass

      F

      Fail

    3. A student's election of the alternative grading system must be made prior to the examination period for the relevant semester by timely submission of the LLM Student Grade Election form to the Assistant Dean of Academic Services. The election applies to all courses in which the student is registered for that

      semester. Students are not permitted to select course by course. When an LLM student elects the alternative grading system the Assistant Dean of Academic Services will translate the assigned grade as follows:

      A, A-, B+

      High Honors

      B, B-

      Honors

      C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-

      Pass

      F

      Fail

    4. LLM students' grades will not be factored into the recommended curve for the purposes of grading in the JD program. LLM students will not be given a class rank. Cumulative and yearly grade point averages (GPAs) will be computed and recorded by a 0.00 to 4.00 system.

      A student's official transcript will also show the letter grades awarded for all courses taken and will translate those letter grades into yearly and final cumulative GPAs, unless a student has chosen the alternative grading system in all courses.

      All ungraded activities shall be graded on a Pass/Fail basis, which shall result in Credit or No Credit.

      The instructor in any non-anonymously graded course may elect to grade the course on an Honors/ Pass/Low Pass/Fail basis. The instructor must notify the students at the first meeting of the course if the instructor is going to elect the Honors/Pass/Low Pass/Fail basis of grading.

      Activities graded on a Pass/Fail; Honors/Pass/Low Pass/Fail; Credit/No Credit basis or under the alternative grading system (see V., B.) will not be calculated into a student's cumulative grade point average. For all purposes under these Regulations, the grades of Honors, Pass, Low Pass, and Credit shall be satisfactory grades.

      A student shall not be granted credit for a grade of No Credit or Fail. Grades of No Credit and Fail shall be equivalent to a grade of an F. In this instance the numerical equivalent of an F will be calculated into the student's GPA. Attendance and assignments for courses in the LLM Program shall be governed by Regulation II. B of the Rules and Regulations for the JD Program.

    5. During the first week of classes a student who has registered for an elective LLM course or courses may add or drop the course or courses. Course changes are not allowed after the close of the designated add/drop period, except with the permission of the Associate Deans. Failure to withdraw within the add/drop period may result in a grade of No Credit (F).

    6. Any paper or other project required for a final grade in a course must be submitted no later than the end of the examination period for the semester in which the course is taken. If, for compelling reasons, the instructor allows an extension of time to complete the paper or project, the extension may be for a

      period no longer than 90 days from the end of the examination period. No further extension may be granted. During any extension, the course grade will be recorded temporarily as "Incomplete." However, if by the end of the examination period or extension the paper or project has not been submitted, a grade of No credit (F) will be recorded.

    7. Regulations III. E. (Examination Numbers), F. (Failure to Take Examinations), and G. (Privacy) of the Rules and Regulations for the JD Program shall apply.

    VI. Academic Standards

    1. A single "F" grade under either the numerical or alternative grading system (see V. B. Alternative Grading System) shall result in an LLM student coming before the LLM Academic Standing Committee for a review of the student's performance. Two grades of less than "C" under the numerical grading system shall result in a student coming before the LLM Academic Standing Committee for a review of the student's performance.

      A cumulative grade point average of below 2.00 at the end of a semester shall result in an LLM student coming before the LLM Academic Standing Committee for a review of the student's performance.

    2. The Committee may impose one or more conditions for continued study upon the student, including but not limited to repeating a course, periodic meetings with a faculty advisor, an assistance program prescribed by the committee, limitations on employment or extracurricular activities, or taking a semester or year of leave prior to continuing.

      The Committee may dismiss an LLM student when in the Committee's judgment imposing conditions for continued study are not reasonably likely to lead to the student's successful completion of the program or if the student fails to satisfy previously imposed conditions.

    3. The LLM Academic Standing Committee shall be appointed by the Dean and consist of an Associate Dean and 3 members of the resident faculty one of whom shall be the Faculty Director of the LLM Program or the Faculty Director's designee. The Assistant Dean of Graduate Law Programs will serve on the Committee as an ex-officio member.

    VII. Academic Integrity

    Any violation of academic integrity shall be viewed as a serious infraction of the Rules and Regulations of the Law School. Violations of academic integrity shall include, but are not limited to, dishonesty in the examination process, harassment and plagiarism in written work, as defined in the Regulation II. F. of the Rules and Regulations for the JD Program.

    VIII. Leaves of Absence & Withdrawals

    1. Leave of Absence

      If a student is currently unable to continue in the LLM Program, an Associate Dean may grant the student a leave of absence for up to one year. The student must request a leave of absence by writing a letter to the Associate Dean specifying the reason for the requested leave and the anticipated return date. A student granted a leave of absence is entitled to return to the Law School's LLM program at the end of the term of the leave without reapplying for

      admission. A leave of absence will be granted to a student during the first semester of study in the LLM program only under extraordinary circumstances.

    2. Withdrawals

      A student who wishes to withdraw from the Law School's LLM Program must file a written request to do so and obtain permission from an Associate Dean. No student may withdraw after the examination period begins or while consideration of their academic standing is pending. A student who withdraws from the Law School's LLM Program must reapply for admission to the LLM program if they wish to return.

    IX. Student Conduct and Discipline

    Regulation XI of the Rules and Regulations for the JD Program shall apply.

    X. Changes to Rules

The Law School reserves the right to change the schedule of classes, the program of instruction, the requirements for credits or degrees, and any rule or regulation established for the government of the student body in the school. Any such change may be made applicable to students already enrolled in the Law School. Every attempt will be made to ensure that students can fulfill their programs of study in a timely manner.

Some or all instruction for all or part of Academic Year may be delivered remotely. Tuition and mandatory fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for any part of the Academic Year.

Suffolk University assumes no liability for the delay or failure in providing educational or other services or facilities due to causes beyond its reasonable control. Causes include, but are not limited to power failure, fire, strikes by University employees or others, damage by natural elements, public health crises, and acts of public authorities. The University will, however, exert reasonable efforts, when it judges them to be appropriate, to provide comparable services, facilities, or performance; but its inability or failure to do so shall not subject the University to liability.