Rules & Regulations

A candidate must have satisfactorily completed at least 30 credits in the Suffolk University Law School (SULS) MSLL curriculum and have been a student at SULS for at least one academic year. MSLL 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 MSLL 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 Science in Law: Life Sciences.

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.

A. Part-time MSLL students must enroll in a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 9 credits per semester. Full-time MSLL students must enroll in a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 15 credits per semester. With the approval of the Faculty Director up to 6 credits earned in summer school may be applied to reduce these semester requirements.

B. A Part-time MSLL student may not register for less than 6 credits or for more than 9 credits per semester without the prior approval of the Faculty Director. A Full-time MSLL student may not register for fewer than 12 credits per semester or for more than 15 credits in a semester without the prior approval of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.

C. MSLL 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.

D. Full-time MSLL students are required to complete one MSLL Externship or Internship as approved by the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean. Part-time MSLL students are strongly encouraged to complete one MSLL Externship, unless the student is currently working in a professional capacity in the life sciences sector.

E. Transfer Credits and Waivers of Certain Requirements

1. No more than 9 credits may be accepted as Transfer Credits from another similarly accredited MSLL Program or Summer School, a J.D. program, or an advanced degree program in one of the relevant scientific fields towards the MSLL at Suffolk University Law School. Such Transfer Credits must have been earned within a reasonable period of time before acceptance into the MSLL, 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. MSLL students may petition for a waiver of up to and including 9 credits of required MSLL course work upon demonstration of completion of the required subject matter in an undergraduate program at an accredited institution in a relevant scientific field. Such study must have been completed within a reasonable period of time before acceptance into the MSLL, and not already counted towards another program or degree. The granting of waivers shall be at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.
3. Full-time MSLL 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.

F. Admission to the MSLL 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.

1. All International MSLL students must satisfactorily complete a Required Course, "Introduction to U.S. Law, Legal Reasoning and Writing" in the first semester of the program.
2. MSLL students may be required to complete additional courses or satisfy additional requirements at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean, taking into consideration the educational backgrounds and experience of the MSLL students.

No more than 6 credits from any ungraded activities may be counted toward the MSLL degree. Ungraded activities include an MSLL Externship or Directed Study.

1. MSLL 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., MSLL 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

   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 MSLL 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 MSLL 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

3. MSLL students' grades will not be factored into the recommended curve for the purposes of grading in the J.D. program. MSLL 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 MSLL Program shall be governed by Regulation II. B of the Rules and Regulations for the J.D. Program.
4. During the first week of classes a student who has registered for an elective MSLL 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).
5. 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.
6. Regulations III. D. (Examination Numbers), E. (Failure to Take Examinations), and H. (Privacy) of the Rules and Regulations for the J.D. Program shall apply.

1. A single "F" grade under either the numerical or alternative grading system (see V. B. Alternative Grading System) shall result in an MSLL student coming before the MSLL 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 MSLL 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 MSLL student coming before the MSLL 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, reexamination in accordance with Regulation II.F. of the J.D. Rules and Regulations governing reexamination, an assistance program prescribed by the Committee, limitations on employment or extracurricular activities, or taking a semester or year's leave of absence prior to continuing.
   The Committee may dismiss an MSLL 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 MSLL 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 MSLL Program or the Faculty Director’s designee. The Assistant Dean of Graduate Law Programs will serve on the Committee as an ex-officio member.

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 J.D. Program.

1. Leave of Absence
   If a student is currently unable to continue in the MSLL 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 MSLL 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 MSLL program only under extraordinary circumstances.
2. Withdrawals
   A student who wishes to withdraw from the Law School's MSLL 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 MSLL Program must reapply for admission to the MSLL program if they wish to return.

Regulation X of the Rules and Regulations for the J.D. Program shall apply.

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

The Law Faculty 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.