Duquesne Law Academic Calendar
The Duquesne Law academic calendar serves a central function in the operation of the Duquesne University School of Law, structuring the lives and activities of students, faculty, administrators, and support personnel alike. Designed to offer a comprehensive and coherent schedule for learning, the calendar not only constitutes a helpful planning tool for the various parties utilizing its extensive array of time slots, but it also represents a highly important administrative tool for the law school as a whole.
With the academic calendar being divided into two parts, fall semester (beginning in late August) and spring semester (beginning in mid-January), and with each one being further subdivided into a number of clearly demarcated blocks of time, the calendar acts as a highly effective scheduling tool for both academic and administrative purposes. Traditionally, academic calendars for law schools are set long in advance of their implementation, and the one utilized by Duquesne Law is no different , as it stretches out as far as eight years into the future encompassing a wide variety of important events involving the entire Duquesne Law community, including complete term calendars, exam schedules and breaks. In this way, the academic calendar covers classes, exams and holidays, helping everyone within the Duquesne Law community to remain organized and avoid unpleasant surprises about important upcoming dates.
The primary element of the Duquesne Law academic calendar is the number of semesters that it covers each year, with terms currently being offered in the fall, spring and during the summer between first-year and second-year law school. Standard courses of instruction are offered in each semester, with administrative activities such as assessments, policy briefings and in-class holiday celebrations, as well as student support and development programs such as bar exam workshops, bar review courses and various bar exam prep lectures.
Key Dates and Deadlines Explained
To stay on top of your studies, it is important to be aware of the key dates and deadlines listed in Duquesne Law’s Academic Calendar. This calendar serves as a roadmap for each semester, clearly indicating when classes start and end, when exams are scheduled, and when the add/drop period begins and ends.
The academic calendar is vital for students in planning their semester, as it allows you to coordinate your study schedule with the course syllabus and prepare for exams well in advance. Additionally, the add/drop deadline is an important milestone to be aware of; this is the last day you can enroll in a class or drop a class without a withdrawal appearing on your academic record.
Understanding the academic calendar not only helps you avoid missing any important deadlines, but it allows you to stay organized throughout the semester.
Understanding the Semester System
Duquesne Law utilizes a three-semester system, which comprises two 14-week fall and spring semesters, and a 10-week summer semester. Each semester consists of three parts: a standard 13-week session to accommodate full-time students; a 14th week for possible exams; and a 15th week, referred to as Intensive Week, for intensive, concentrated courses such as summer law school courses.
To plan your schedule accordingly, a successful student must anticipate registration for summer law school courses in the fall of the previous year. Fall classes are typically divided into two sub-sessions: 1A and 1B. 1A is the first 7 weeks of the semester and 1B is the second 7 weeks. This means that you can only schedule courses that will fit within either the 1A or 1B time frames, but cannot enroll in both during the same semester. The benefit of the 1A/1B split is that, for example, if you cannot take Torts during 1A, you can sign up for it in 1B. Because of the convenience of this schedule, the seats often fill up fast.
How Holidays Affect Your Schedule
A notable feature of the Duquesne Law academic calendar is its integration of holidays into the learning and studying schedule. The calendar generally incorporates the major religious and secular holidays into the academic year, meaning that, for the vast majority of the academic year, students can plan around these breaks rather than having to work through them. This integration of holidays into the academic calendar also enables students to take advantage of these extended breaks for travel , family time and other activities—while still maintaining the flexibility to schedule both classes and study groups at opportune times during these breaks.
The incorporation of celebrated holidays into the Duquesne Law academic calendar is in line with the increasingly intellectual and secular nature of most major holidays. These contemporary holidays often have a strong cultural significance in addition to a religious significance, meaning that students of many backgrounds and faiths find these holiday breaks customary and important.
Special Events, Activities, and Academic Requirements
Various special events accompany the Duquesne Law academic calendar. The Office of Public Interest and Technology Outreach offers a number of workshops during the year, including some during Professional Development Week in early March, such as "Social Security for the Elderly" and "Bankruptcy". Additionally, they also offer a series called "Hot Topic Thursdays". The school brings in guests from various advocacy groups, scholars and judges throughout the semesters, and lists these events on their Academic Calendar.
Students must complete certain academic requirements that do not fall on the calendar, while also keeping an eye on special events. Although the course catalog does not contain a section listing the special requirements that are scheduled throughout the academic calendar, the Duquesne University School of Law outlines the following:
"Pro Bono Service Requirement: 30 hours
Students must provide a minimum of 30 hours of community services to individuals with a financial need who require legal assistance. We have a range of pro bono and public interest service opportunities available to help you satisfy this requirement.
Professional Development Requirement
Ongoing Professional Skills Series
Attendance at Professional Development Day (Spring)
Getting the Duquesne Law Academic Calendar
Students and faculty at the Duquesne University School of Law can easily access the current academic calendar from a variety of digital platforms. This ensures that all members of the Duquesne Law community are well-equipped to plan their academic schedules around important dates and deadlines. The academic calendar is readily available on Duquesne’s official website. Students and faculty can visit the site at any time to check the current academic calendar for essential dates, reminders, and updates . Online resources for the Duquesne Law academic calendar include access directly through the university’s homepage and email notifications for individuals in the law community. With these tools, students and faculty can effectively plan around important academic events, including summer and fall course registration. Whether you are a first-year law student or a tenured faculty member, knowing your way around the Duquesne Law academic calendar is essential for successful academic planning from the day you enroll.