Visiting Out, Study Abroad Policy

Visiting Out, Study Abroad, and Electives at Non-Suffolk Programs

Except as provided below, Suffolk University Law School will not accept credits for study at another law school. Students who wish to request a leave of absence to pursue temporary study at another school or participate in a study abroad program should consult with the Dean of Students Office. No credits will be accepted by Suffolk University Law School as a result of study at another law school during such a leave of absence.

The following outlines the instances where credits from another law school may be accepted:

1. Suffolk Semester Exchange Program study. Suffolk University Law School may approve a limited number of students per academic year to attend Suffolk University Law School international exchange programs (the number of students, length of exchange and other details are set by the exchange agreements.) Participants will be charged “Semester Exchange Tuition” by Suffolk University. See further information on exchange studies. Students interested in pursuing exchange study should consult with the Administrative Director of Graduate and International Programs about the specific opportunities.
   
   
2. Semester/Academic year visits to ABA-approved law schools for hardship circumstances. Semester or Academic Year visits will be approved in extraordinary circumstances in which a visit to another law school alleviates a significant hardship (examples of such situations include a student’s spouse being indefinitely transferred to another state, or a student needing medical treatment away from Boston). Students will be required to document the extraordinary circumstances on which the request to visit out is based. Visits for reasons of career exploration or personal convenience cannot be approved. If a leave of absence can address the situation, then the student will be placed on a leave of absence. Students interested in pursuing permission for a hardship visit or a leave of absence should consult with the Dean of Students Office.
   
   
3. Summer/Winter session study at non-Suffolk, ABA-approved program. Up to four credits may be accepted for participation in a non-Suffolk, ABA- approved summer or winter session program. Day students transferring credits from a non-Suffolk, ABA-approved summer or winter session program will not be permitted to take less than 10 credits in any future semester at Suffolk University Law School as a result of transferring in these credits. Evening students transferring credits from a non-Suffolk, ABA-approved summer or winter session program will not be permitted to take less than 7 credits in any future semester at Suffolk University Law School as a result of transferring in these credits. Students must be in good standing, and remain in good standing for the duration of the summer/winter session, and receive pre-approval for such study from the Dean of Students Office.  If the program is held outside the United States, students must also register with Suffolk University’s international emergency assistance plan, regardless of whether such a plan is compulsory at the school or program the student is visiting.
   
   
4. Electives not Offered at Suffolk or at Another Law School with a Reciprocity Agreement. In a situation where an upper-class student wishes to take an individual elective course not offered by Suffolk (or a school with which Suffolk has a reciprocity agreement), the student may be approved to take the elective at another local ABA-approved law school. Day students will not be permitted to take less than 10 credits at Suffolk University Law School in the semester during which they enroll in the non-Suffolk elective, nor take less than 10 credits in any future semester at Suffolk University Law School as a result of transferring in these credits. Evening students will not be permitted to take less than 7 credits at Suffolk University Law School in the semester during which they enroll in the non-Suffolk elective, nor take less than 7 credits in any future semester at Suffolk University Law School as a result of transferring in these credits. No more than one non-Suffolk course will be approved for a student. Students must be in good standing and receive pre-approval for such study from the Dean of Students Office.

If a student is given permission to transfer credits to Suffolk University Law School in accordance with one of the above exceptions, credits will transfer only for pre-approved courses in which the student receives a grade of 2.00 or better on a 4.00 scale (or its equivalent). In addition, no grades received at another school will appear on the student’s Suffolk transcript and the grades received at the other school will be recorded as “T” (transfer) and will not be calculated into the student’s Suffolk grade point average. However, the names of the courses for which credit transferred, the corresponding credit amounts, and name of the school the student visited will appear on the student’s Suffolk transcript.

Transcripts must be submitted by the visiting school in which the student is enrolled for each semester to the Assistant Dean for Academic Services. Transcripts must be submitted no later than January 15 for the fall semester and no later than the Friday prior to Commencement for students graduating in May, without prior approval from the Assistant Dean for Academic Services. Transcripts not received on time for graduating students without prior approval will postpone the student’s graduation to the next regularly scheduled graduation date. Students are encouraged to report this information to the visiting school upon acceptance as a visiting student.

Approved students must meet all other requirements and deadlines set at the time of their approval to study at another law school.

International students may be subject to limits on visiting-out due to student visa issues. Accordingly, any international student wishing to visit-out under this policy should first consult International Students Services.

Students given permission to transfer credits to Suffolk University Law School are solely responsible for determining and meeting the admission, tuition and other requirements of the school they visit.

This policy does not apply to participation in any Suffolk sponsored international program or in the Law School's International Internship Program.

Request permission to attend a non-SULS summer or semester program.