J.D./Ph.D.

in Government
JOINT DEGREE
STUDENT HANDBOOK

GEORGETOWN LAW
2016–2017
 January 2017

Dear J.D./Ph.D. Government Student:

As a J.D./Ph.D. Government student, your experience at Georgetown Law will be shaped by the
interdisciplinary nature of your program of study as well as your membership in two academic
communities with distinct rules, procedures, and cultures. The academic careers of J.D./Ph.D.
Government students are primarily administered by the policies of Georgetown Law and the
Department of Government as articulated in the Georgetown Law Student Handbook of
Academic Policies, the Graduate School Bulletin and Catalog, and the Government Department
Graduate Program Handbook. The handbook you are currently reading addresses areas in which
unique policies have been developed to meet the particular needs of J.D./Ph.D. Government and
other joint degree students.

Specifically, this handbook contains: (1) Georgetown Law and Main Campus academic
calendars, (2) a roster of administrators in the program, (3) summaries of policies and procedures
that affect J.D./Government students, and (4) a listing of program requirements. A checklist of
J.D./Government degree requirements is included as an Appendix to assist you with planning
your program of study.

The nature of a joint degree program demands that students keep up with the administrative
details of both programs. Both programs will communicate with you via your Georgetown e-mail
account. Important Law Center deadlines are also posted via the Master Calendar online at
http://www.law.georgetown.edu/campus-services/registrar/course-registration/Academic-
Calendars.cfm.

Please contact me if you have any questions about the material that follows or if I can be of
assistance. It is important to keep this handbook throughout your program. Students will be
informed of any policy changes by e-mail. Please contact me at (202) 662-9041 or
ew484@law.georgetown.edu to schedule an advising appointment.

Sincerely,
Emily Wack
Director, J.D. Programs
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. JOINT DEGREE 2016-2017 ACADEMIC CALENDAR ...................................................... 1

II. PROGRAM DIRECTORY ..................................................................................................... 3
III. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................. 1
A. Georgetown Law Requirements ................................................................................... 1
B. Government Degree Requirements .............................................................................. 2
1. Major and Minor Fields ............................................................................................... 2
2. Theory and Methods Requirement .............................................................................. 2
3. Foreign Language Requirement .................................................................................. 2
4. Comprehensive Exams ................................................................................................ 2
5. Thesis........................................................................................................................... 3
6. Ph.D. Qualifying Appraisal ......................................................................................... 3
C. Planning Your Upperclass Curriculum......................................................................... 4
D. Program Requirements Grid ......................................................................................... 5
IV. ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES ............................................................................................ 6
A. Credit Load ................................................................................................................... 6
B. J.D. Registration ........................................................................................................... 6
C. Main Campus Registration ........................................................................................... 7
D. Registration for Language Courses .............................................................................. 7
E. Exam Conflicts ............................................................................................................. 7
F. Commuting Between Campuses................................................................................... 7
G. Tuition .......................................................................................................................... 8
H. Financial Aid ................................................................................................................ 8
V. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ................................................................................... 9
A. Journal Membership ..................................................................................................... 9
B. Barristers’ Council........................................................................................................ 9
1. Trial Advocacy Division ........................................................................................... 10
2. Appellate Advocacy Division ................................................................................... 10
3. Alternative Dispute Resolution ................................................................................. 11
C. Other Activities........................................................................................................... 12
VI. GRADES AND ACADEMIC HONORS.............................................................................. 12
 A. Grading Scales ............................................................................................................ 12
B. Transcripts and Grade Reports ................................................................................... 12
C. Dean’s List.................................................................................................................. 13
D. Graduation Honors ..................................................................................................... 13
E. Order of the Coif......................................................................................................... 13
VII. GRADUATION .................................................................................................................... 14
A. Graduation Applications ............................................................................................. 14
B. Graduation Ceremonies .............................................................................................. 14
1. Graduate School Commencement ............................................................................. 14
2. Georgetown Law Commencement ............................................................................ 14
C. Cap and Gown Orders ................................................................................................ 15
APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................................... 16
 I. JOINT DEGREE 2016-2017 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
For the most up-to-date information, please visit http://www.law.georgetown.edu/campus-services/registrar/course-
registration/Academic-Calendars.cfm (Law) and https://registrar.georgetown.edu/academic-calendars/maincampus
(Main Campus)

Fall 2016
GEORGETOWN LAW MAIN CAMPUS

Mon., July 25 Tuition due for First Year J.D. Students

Mon., Aug. 22–Fri., Aug. 26 Orientation for Full-Time First Year J.D. Students
Wed., Aug. 24 Registration for Full-time First Year J.D. Students
Fri., Aug. 26 Tuition due for all Continuing Students
Mon. Aug. 29 Classes Begin for All Students Language Placement Exams

Tues., Aug. 30 Orientation for Graduate Students

Wed., Aug. 31 Classes Begin for All Students
Registration changes accepted
Monday classes meet instead of Tuesday classes
Mon., Sept. 5 ----LABOR DAY HOLIDAY: No classes meet----
Tues., Sept. 6 Add/Drop ends for Fall Courses*
Fri., Sept. 9 Add/Drop ends for Fall Courses

Mon., Oct. 10 ----COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY: No classes meet----

Tues., Oct. 11 Monday classes meet instead of Tuesday classes

Mon., Nov. 7– Sat., Nov. 19 Spring Semester preregistration

Tues., Nov. 22 Last day to withdraw from courses
Wed., Nov. 23–Sun., Nov. 27 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY: No classes meet
Thurs., Nov. 24–Sun., Nov. 27 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY: No classes meet

Sat., Dec. 3 Last Day of Classes

Sat., Dec. 3 and Mon., Dec. 5 Rescheduled Classes and Reading Day
Tues., Dec. 6 Final Exams Begin
Wed., Dec. 7 Last Day of Classes
Thurs., Dec. 8–Sun., Dec. 11 Study Days
Registration completion for Spring Semester
Mon., Dec. 12 Final Exams Begin
Fri., Dec. 16 All Papers Due†
Sat., Dec. 17 Final Exams End
Tues., Dec. 20 Final Exams End
Mon., Dec. 19; Tues., Dec. 20, Fall Exam Deferral Dates
Wed., Jan. 4; and Thurs., Jan 5

* Special Rules apply to “Mini-Courses” starting after the Add/Drop period—see course descriptions in the Curriculum Guide for details.
† Unless other due date set by the professor.

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Spring 2017
GEORGETOWN LAW MAIN CAMPUS

Mon., Jan. 9 Week One Classes and Mini Courses begin‡§

Tues., Jan. 10 Spring Tuition due for All Students
Wed., Jan. 11 Classes begin for All Students
Follow Monday class schedule
Fri., Jan. 13 Classes begin for all students
Mon., Jan. 16 ----MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY: No classes meet----
Thurs., Jan. 19 Add/Drop ends for Spring Courses
Fri., Jan. 22 ----INAUGURATION DAY: No classes meet----
Tues., Jan 24 Add/Drop ends for Spring Courses*

Mon., Feb 20 ----PRESIDENTS DAY HOLIDAY: No classes meet----

Tues., Feb. 21–Wed., Feb. 22 Faculty Retreat: No classes meet
Thurs., Feb. 23 Monday classes meet instead of Thursday classes

Sun., Mar. 5–Sun., Mar. 12 ----SPRING BREAK: No classes meet----

Mon., Apr. 3– Wed., Apr. 12 Early registration for Fall

Thurs., Apr. 13-Mon., Apr. 17 EASTER BREAK: No classes meet
Fri., Apr. 14–Sun., Apr. 16 EASTER BREAK: No classes meet
Wed., Apr. 27 Last day to withdraw from courses
Sat., Apr. 29 Last Day of Classes

Mon., May 1 Rescheduled Classes and Reading Day Last Day of Classes
May Graduates’ Papers Due**
Tues., May. 2 Final Exams Begin Registration completion begins

Fri., May 5 Final Exams Begin

Sun., May 7 Study Day
Sat., May 13 Final Exams End
Sun., May 14 Add/Drop begins for Fall courses
Tues., May 16 All Papers Due††
Final Exams End
Fri., May 19 Graduate School/G.S.F.S. Graduation
Sun., May 21 Commencement
Tues., May 23-Thurs., May 25 Spring Exam Deferral Dates

‡ Mandatory attendance is required at all Week One class sessions, first-year and upperclass, Monday–Friday.
§ Some clinics may require their students to begin clinic activities this week.
** Unless earlier due date set by the professor.
†† Unless other due date set by professor.

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 II. PROGRAM DIRECTORY

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT GEORGETOWN LAW

Paula Evans, Graduate Program Officer Emily Wack, Director, J.D. Programs
Georgetown University Georgetown Law
Government Department 600 New Jersey Ave. N.W., McDonough Hall #352
Intercultural Center - 681 Washington, D.C. 20001
37th & O Streets, N.W. Phone: (202) 662-9041/ Fax: (202) 662-9489
Washington, D.C. 20057 ew484@law.georgetown.edu
Phone: (202) 687-6130
pde5@georgetown.edu Office of Admissions
Georgetown Law
Ileana Aguilar, Chief Administrative Officer 600 New Jersey Ave. N.W., McDonough Hall #589
Georgetown University Washington, D.C. 20001
Government Department Phone: (202) 662-9015/ Fax: (202) 662-9439
Intercultural Center - 681 admis@law.georgetown.edu
37th & O Streets, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20057 Marcia Pennington Shannon, Assistant Dean
Phone: (202) 687-6130 Office of Career Services
ima2@georgetown.edu Georgetown Law
600 New Jersey Ave. N.W., McDonough Hall #328
Charles King, Department Chair Washington, D.C. 20001
Georgetown University Phone: (202) 662-9300
Government Department mps4@law.georgetown.edu
Intercultural Center - 658
37th & O Streets, N.W. Barbara Moulton, Assistant Dean
Washington, D.C. 20057 Office of Public Interest and Community Service
Phone: (202) 687-5907 Georgetown Law
kingch@georgetown.edu 600 New Jersey Ave. N.W., McDonough Hall #212
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: (202) 662-9655/Fax: (202) 662-9656
moultonb@law.georgetown.edu

Office of the Registrar

Georgetown Law
600 New Jersey Ave. N.W., McDonough Hall #315
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: (202) 662-9220/ Fax: (202) 662-9235
lawreg@law.georgetown.edu

LaToya Parnell, Assistant Director

Office of Financial Aid
Georgetown Law
600 New Jersey Ave. N.W., McDonough Hall #335
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: (202) 662-9215/ Fax: (866) 264-9378
lkp5@law.georgetown.edu

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 III. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The J.D./Ph.D. Government program awards the Juris Doctor and a Doctorate in Government
(with an M.A. en passant). Students may enroll in the J.D./Ph.D. Government joint degree
program on a full-time or part-time basis. The program allows students to specialize in American
Government, Comparative Government, International Relations, or Political Theory. J.D./Ph.D.
students must satisfactorily complete requirements for both the J.D. and the Ph.D. degrees.
Separate diplomas will be awarded, and upon satisfactory completion of the program, a Joint
Degree Certificate will also be awarded. A Masters degree is awarded en passant to students
enrolled in the Ph.D. program upon completion of 48 academic credits, the course distribution
requirements in the Government program, and at least 6 credits of upperclass J.D. coursework.

Students in the joint degree program are required to take the first year of law school as an intact
block. This school year may be taken prior to or after completing one year of Government
coursework as an intact block, but no earlier or later. A typical distribution of course
requirements appears under Section IV. D, the Program Requirements Grid, of this handbook.

J.D./Ph.D. Government students must complete all required courses and the total number of
academic credits for graduation (76 credits in law and 48 credits in Government for the M.A.,
with 9 credits of Government coursework counted toward the J.D., and an additional 15 credits
for the Ph.D. in the fields of Comparative Government, International Relations, or Political
Theory, or an additional 18 credits for the Ph.D. in American Government). Approximately 21
J.D. credits will count toward the Ph.D. degree. Therefore, 27 credits are unique to the Ph.D.
program. J.D./Ph.D. Government students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point
average of 3.00/4.00 in their Government program and the required minimum cumulative grade
point average for the J.D. program. Additional degree requirements can be found below.

Note: This joint-degree program is offered to part-time as well as full-time J.D. students. Part-
time students should schedule a meeting with Emily Wack in the Office of J.D. Academic
Services to discuss their academic schedule, as they may require more time to complete both
degrees than is specified in this Handbook.

A. Georgetown Law Requirements

Georgetown Law students must earn at least 85 credits to graduate with the J.D. degree. As a
joint J.D./Ph.D. Government student, 9 credits of Government coursework will count towards the
85 credits needed to earn the J.D. degree. Therefore, J.D./Ph.D. Government students must
complete 76 Georgetown Law credits for the J.D. portion of this joint degree.

J.D./Ph.D. Government students must complete the following requirements of the J.D. program:
(1) the required first-year program; (2) a professional responsibility course; (3) the upperclass
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legal writing requirement; and (4) for students matriculating in Fall 2016 or later, 6 credits of
experiential coursework. All graduation requirements are described in detail in the Georgetown
Law Student Handbook of Academic Policies at http://www.law.georgetown.edu/go/handbook.

B. Government Degree Requirements

1. Major and Minor Fields

Ph.D. students must complete six courses in a major field (American Government,
Comparative Government, International Relations, or Political Theory). In addition, the
Government program waives the minor comprehensive exam requirement for students
who earn a B+ or better in three law courses.

2. Theory and Methods Requirement

All students must complete five courses in “Theory and Methods.” These courses must
include:

 GOVT-780, Fundamentals of Political Theory

 GOVT-701, Analysis of Political Data
 GOVT-702, Advanced Political Analysis
 And two additional courses in political theory or methods

3. Foreign Language Requirement

The Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory major fields
typically require competence in a foreign language. Students should consult the
Government Department’s Graduate Program Handbook (available on their webpage at
https://government.georgetown.edu/phd) for field-specific language requirements.

4. Comprehensive Exams

Most Ph.D. students are required to take comprehensive examinations in one major and
one minor field. J.D./Ph.D. Government students fulfill their minor requirement by
earning a B+ or better in three law courses, in which case no separate comprehensive
exam is required. J.D./Ph.D. Government students must take the comprehensive exam in
their major field once they have completed the relevant coursework.

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 5. Thesis

Please see the Government Department’s Graduate Program Handbook for details about
Dissertation Proposal, Committees, and Defenses.

6. Ph.D. Qualifying Appraisal

After completing 12 credit hours of Ph.D. coursework, Ph.D. students are evaluated by a
qualifying appraisal, with the purpose of deciding whether a student should continue in
the Ph.D. program as determined by the student’s intellectual potential and scholarly
performance. The appraisal is conducted by a meeting of the field committee in the
student’s major field. Appraisal materials should be prepared by the student in
consultation with his or her advisor and the Field Committee Chair. The materials should
include a transcript showing course grades, two letters of evaluation, and a paper written
for a Georgetown graduate course in the student’s major field.

Student note:
I would recommend starting at the graduate school and then beginning law school so that you do not lose
the momentum that you gain after 1L year. The skills that are required to be successful in law school and
a Ph.D. program are very different, so there is a learning curve associated with switching back and forth
between programs. I think that either way could be done successfully, but taking a year off of law school
and doing something completely academically different then switching back is difficult. Graduate school
is more like undergrad, since you have numerous graded assignments due throughout the semester, so it
makes sense to have continuity in that style of learning and then head to law school for the different
approach to grading and testing.

Long-term academic planning would involve choosing law courses that have a connection with the
graduate program, so that you can possibly receive advanced standing credit and fulfill as many
graduate program requirements with law classes as possible (unless you're just interested in taking a lot
of graduate classes). Being in section 3 [Curriculum B] was also advantageous in my program, since the
philosophical underpinnings of the section 3 [Curriculum B] curriculum provided helpful background
information and overlapped somewhat with political theory and other areas of government. All of these
decisions would also depend on your end goal. An intention to practice law vs. entering into academia,
going to a think tank, or something less legal will impact any decision on how to navigate the two
programs, since you may need to put more emphasis on one degree over the other. For example, I chose
to pursue a lot of legal internships instead of presenting academic papers at conferences, but someone
who is on the academia track would likely approach things differently.

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General advice (for my program and probably life in general): Plan your timeline as early as possible for
as far out as possible so that you're choosing coursework in the most efficient way possible. Ask lots of
questions of multiple people and make sure that you follow up on any inconsistencies. Keep any and all
documentation related to decisions that have been made regarding your program/progress, especially
emails, and get everything in writing (people will forget what they've told you or what you've worked out
with them before).

C. Planning Your Upperclass Curriculum

J.D./Ph.D. Government students are encouraged to take advantage of the vast course offerings at
Georgetown Law to supplement their study of American Government, Comparative
Government, International Relations, or Political Theory. Upperclass offerings likely to be of
interest to J.D./Ph.D. Government students include courses that explore the legal constraints on
governmental powers, administrative and regulatory law, jurisprudence and legal history,
international law, comparative law, and courses that focus on legal issues surrounding specific
policy questions.

Students’ course selection should be driven by their major field in the Ph.D. program, specific
research interests, and/or career aspirations. Students planning an academic career in political
science may focus on incorporating legal analysis into their political science scholarship. These
students should also take advantage of research assistantships at Georgetown Law, which
provide the opportunity to participate in faculty scholarship in areas of interest. For information
about the Georgetown Law Research Fellowship program, which is designed to support
emerging scholars who seek to pursue a law teaching career, visit
http://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/ academic-programs/fellowships/research-
fellowships/index.cfm. Likewise, a Ph.D. in Government, one or more publications, strong
grades, and an area of demonstrated excellence will stand you in good stead in the law teaching
market. Additional guidance can be found in the Law Teaching and Scholarship Guide at
http://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/teachingscholarship.

Students planning legal practice in international law or regulatory and administrative law may
take core courses in these areas to supplement their broader understanding of the political context
in which law is interpreted and administered.

J.D./Ph.D. Government students should consult the online Curriculum Guide available at
http://apps.law.georgetown.edu/curriculum/ for informative essays (under the “Curriculum” tab,
search the drop down menu under J.D. courses) about the various course clusters within the Law
Center’s curriculum.

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 D. Program Requirements Grid
Degrees/Certificates awarded Degree Requirements

J.D.  J.D. credits will vary depending on Government major field

Ph.D. in one of the following: American  48 credits in Government for the Ph.D. (includes 9 J.D. credits that
Government (AG), Comparative count for the Government Department’s minor field requirement)
Government (CG), International Relations
(IR), or Political Theory (PT)  Satisfactory performance on the written foreign language examination
for CG, IR, and PT majors (this requirement can be waived for IR
M.A. degree en passant for students majors with approval from the Director of Graduate Studies)
enrolled in the Ph.D. program (upon
completion of 48 academic credits and  First-Year Workshop
course distribution requirements in the
 Major Field Comprehensive Examination
Government program and at least 6 credits
of upperclass J.D. coursework)  Dissertation
Joint Program Certificate  Thesis Defense
Typical Credit Distribution Curriculum/Course Requirements
J.D. Requirements
First Year 31 J.D. credits*
 First year of law school as an intact block either immediately prior to
or after completing one year of government coursework.

Second Year 24 Ph.D. credits  Satisfactory completion of the upperclass legal writing requirement
 Professional Responsibility course**

Third Year 24 J.D. credits  6 credits of experiential coursework (students matriculating Fall 2016
and later)
3 Ph.D. credits
Ph.D. Requirements

Fourth Year 21 J.D. credits Theory and Methods Requirements (15 credits)
6 Ph.D. credits  GOVT-780, Fundamentals of Political Theory (3 credits)
 GOVT-701, Analysis of Political Data (3 credits)
Fifth Year 6 Ph.D. credits (CG,  GOVT-702, Advanced Political Analysis (3 credits)
IR, or PT Majors)
 Elective (Political Theory Graduate Level Course) (3 credits)

OR  Elective (Political Theory or Methods Course) (3 credits)

Major Field Requirements (18 credits)
9 Ph.D. (AG Major)
 Refer to the Graduate Program Handbook for specific requirements
for American Government (AG), Comparative Government (CG),
Sixth Year Dissertation International Relations (IR), or Political Theory (PT)

 Students are required to take 6 courses in their major field of study

Minor Field Requirements (9 credits)
 Three J.D. courses with a grade of B+ or better fulfill this requirement
 Minor Field Examination: can be waived
Two General Electives (6 credits)
 Electives (in any field)

* Students matriculating in Fall 2015 or later complete their 1L year with either 30 or 31 credits, depending on whether they take the optional first-
year Week One course. Remaining credit requirements should be adjusted accordingly.
**Students often enroll in Professional Responsibility during the same semester as when they plan to take the M.P.R.E. (Multistate Professional
Responsibility Examination). Detailed information about the M.P.R.E. is available online at http://ncbex.org/exams/mpre/.

5
 IV. ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES

A. Credit Load

Full-time joint degree students must enroll in 10 to 16 credits of Law Center courses in each
semester to meet the Law Center’s per-semester credit minimum requirement. A full-time joint
degree student may be approved to enroll in fewer than 10 Law Center credits in a given
semester if: (1) the combined University-wide (i.e., Law Center and Main Campus) credits total
at least 10 credits; and (2) the student receives permission from an advisor in the Office of J.D.
Academic Services prior to the end of the Law Center’s add/drop period. If a full-time joint
degree J.D. student fails to successfully complete at least 10 University-wide credits in a
semester, the student will not have successfully completed that full-time semester and must meet
with an academic advisor to discuss how they will meet their graduation requirements and
request a waiver to maintain their expected J.D. graduation date.

Full-time joint degree students will be approved to enroll in up to 22 University-wide credits (no
more than 17 of which may be Law Center credits) during the Fall or Spring semester. Students
should discuss their plans for completing their degree requirements with the Director of J.D.
Programs, Emily Wack, particularly when considering enrolling in the maximum number of
credits in a semester. Ms. Wack can be reached at (202) 662-9041 or by e-mail at
ew484@law.georgetown.edu.

Part-time joint degree students should consult with Ms. Wack regarding their credit load each
semester.

B. J.D. Registration

Georgetown Law students typically pre-register for the following academic year (both fall and
spring semesters) in late May/early June. Main Campus pre-registration occurs each semester.
Therefore, the Main Campus course offerings for the following spring semester will not be
available when J.D./Ph.D. Government students pre-register for their J.D. courses. Nonetheless,
J.D./Ph.D. Government students are strongly encouraged to pre-register for spring classes at the
Law Center and make any necessary adjustments during the appropriate add/drop period.

In order to plan for possible alternative schedules on the Main Campus, some J.D./Ph.D.
Government students pre-register for more law courses than they will actually take. Joint degree
students may hold up to 22 credits university-wide (i.e., J.D. and Government credits combined)
per semester through the Law Center’s add/drop period. However, full-time students must drop
to no more than 17 credits per semester by the end of the Law Center’s add/drop period.
C. Main Campus Registration

The Department of Government notifies J.D./Ph.D. Government of the Main Campus

registration dates. Registration is completed online and the Government course offerings can be
obtained online through MyAccess at https://myaccess.georgetown.edu.

Student note:

The registration processes for continuing graduate and law students are different. They occur on different
timelines (i.e. pre-registration period), there is different criteria for course eligibility (at least for my
graduate program), and the law school course selection and ranking system is a lot more complicated. I
generally think of registration for both campuses as two completely different non-overlapping processes,
so I don't consider them together. It is helpful to see all courses for which you're currently registered and
the total number of credits across both campuses in My Access though.

D. Registration for Language Courses

Students must register for all language courses during the Main Campus add/drop period. Please
note that the language courses are not applied to the government degree credit requirements.

E. Exam Conflicts

Students are encouraged to work with their Main Campus faculty members to resolve exam
conflicts because the Main Campus exam schedule is generally more flexible. If this is not
possible, Georgetown Law exams can be rescheduled if certain criteria are met. No Georgetown
Law student is required to take two exams that begin within 25 hours. In addition, a student may
seek relief if his/her exam schedule produces three exams within four consecutive days or four
exams within five consecutive days, or for extraordinary cause. Generally, the exam for the class
carrying the fewest number of credits will be rescheduled. Please note that Georgetown Law
exams are blind graded, and you should not contact your law professors regarding exam
conflicts. Check your exam schedule early in the semester and contact the Georgetown Law
Registrar’s Office if you need to reschedule your exams. The exam deferral policy is found in the
Student Handbook of Academic Policies, http://www.law.georgetown.edu/go/handbook.

F. Commuting Between Campuses

Students may use the GUTS shuttle to get back and forth between the Law Center and Main
Campus. Students with a valid GOCard may ride any GUTS route at no charge. The shuttle
between Georgetown Law and the Main Campus runs every hour to hour and a half. In addition,
the university runs more frequent shuttles to the metro stations at Dupont Circle (Metro’s Red
line) and Rosslyn (Metro’s Blue and Orange lines). The GUTS schedules and NextGUTS app
tool is available at http://otm.georgetown.edu/guts/.
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Another popular and inexpensive commuting option is the DC Circulator bus system. For route
maps, fare information, and Next-Bus information for the DC Circulator, please visit
http://www.dccirculator.com/. For detailed information about Metrobus routes, please visit
http://www.wmata.com.

Parking at Georgetown Law is very limited so students may not always find a space. Law Center
students may pay to park in the McDonough Hall garage on level P2 on a space available basis if
they have registered their car with and obtained a hangtag from the Law Center’s parking office.
GOCards issued by the Law Center are automatically programmed to allow access to the garage
and will deduct the parking fee of $8.40 per entry. Parking for students at the Law Center garage
tends to fill up on weekdays by 9:30 a.m. Students may access the garage for free after 5:00 p.m.
When you register your car with the Law Center Parking Office, please confirm that your
GOCard has been programmed to allow you access to the McDonough Hall garage. The Law
Center’s Parking Office is located in McDonough Hall, Room 154 and can be contacted at (202)
662-9330 or facilitiesmgmt@law.georgetown.edu.

The Main Campus does not permit student parking. Students may however pay (in cash) to park
in a garage as a visitor if space is available.

G. Tuition

Full-time J.D./Ph.D. Government students are charged Georgetown Law tuition for three years of
the program (the year when only first-year J.D. courses are taken and the two years when a
combination of J.D. and Government courses are taken). Students are charged Graduate School
tuition for the other year(s) in the program when only Government courses are taken.

Part-time J.D./Ph.D. Government students are charged the Georgetown Law part-time rate for all
J.D. coursework and the first 9 credits of Government coursework. For the remaining
Government coursework (i.e., after the first 9 credits), part-time students are charged the
Graduate School part-time tuition rate.

Full-time law tuition for 2016-2017 is $57,576. The Law Center’s per credit rate for part-time
students is $2,056 per credit hour.

H. Financial Aid

Students starting the joint degree program while attending the Law Center will have their federal
and other loan aid administered by the Law Center Financial Aid Office for the duration of the
program. Students starting the joint degree program while attending the Government program
will have their financial aid administered by Main Campus for the first year and the Law Center

8
Financial Aid office for the subsequent years. After completion of the J.D. degree, a student’s
financial aid will be administered by the Main Campus.

Any aid granted by the Main Campus should be reported to the Law Center Financial Aid Office
so that it is factored into the calculation of the student’s eligibility for additional aid. Similarly,
any aid granted by the Law Center to a student beginning the joint degree on Main Campus
should be reported to the Main Campus Financial Aid Office.

Any student who enrolls in fewer than 10 credits in any given semester should report this fact to
the Law Center’s Financial Aid Office, as their standard practice is to calculate aid for full-time
tuition.

LaToya Parnell, Assistant Director for the Law Center’s Financial Aid Office, serves as the
primary contact for joint degree students. Ms. Parnell can be reached at (202) 662-9215 or
lkp5@law.georgetown.edu.

V. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

A. Journal Membership

J.D./Ph.D. Government students are eligible for membership on the law journals on the same
basis as all other J.D. students. Joint degree students who would like to join a journal must
participate in the write-on competition at the end of their first year at Georgetown Law.
However, it is not uncommon for joint degree students to defer journal service for one year. Each
journal has its own policy regarding deferral of service—interested students should contact the
Editor-in-Chief or the Office of Journal Administration for additional information.

B. Barristers’ Council

Participating in Georgetown Law’s Mock Trial, Moot Court, or Alternative Dispute Resolution
competition is an excellent way to develop practical lawyering skills. The Barristers’ Council
oversees the Mock Trial, Moot Court, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs at
Georgetown Law.

For additional information about Barristers’ Council, please visit http://www.law.georgetown.

edu/campus-life/activities-organizations/barristers-council/index.cfm.

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1. Trial Advocacy Division

The Trial Advocacy division of the Barristers’ Council runs the Law Center’s mock trial
program and hosts the White Collar Crime Invitational, a national competition that is the
only interscholastic mock trial competition that focuses on white collar cases. Mock trial
competitors are lawyers in hypothetical cases held before judges and juries who score
students based on their advocacy skills.

The William H. Greenhalgh Mock Trial Competition: Held in the spring, the William
W. Greenhalgh Competition is open to all non-graduating J.D. students. Competitors
must prepare a case based on a closed packet and then argue their side to a mock judge
and jury. Finalists argue before a prominent member of the local or federal bench. Those
who advance to a certain level are invited to join the Barristers’ Council and to represent
Georgetown Law in a national mock trial competition.

J.D./Ph.D. Government Participation: First-year J.D./Ph.D. Government students may

compete in the Greenhalgh Competition. J.D./Ph.D. Government students who are
offered a position on Georgetown’s national mock trial teams may choose to compete on
the team while they are on the Main Campus during their second year. Alternatively,
J.D./Ph.D. Government students may compete in the Greenhalgh Competition during
their third year and if selected for a national team, compete nationally during their fourth,
fifth, or final year of the joint degree program. For more information, contact the Director
of the Greenhalgh Competition at barristers.greenhalgh@gmail.com.

2. Appellate Advocacy Division

The Appellate Advocacy division of the Barristers’ Council runs the Law Center’s moot
court program, which includes two Georgetown Law competitions each year. The
Council also hosts the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Competition, a unique
interscholastic moot court competition that deals with emerging international law and
space law issues.

Robert J. Beaudry Moot Court Competition: The Beaudry Competition is held in the
spring and is open to Georgetown Law first-year J.D. students. Competitors must write an
appellate brief based on a closed packet and then argue their case in front of a panel of
judges. Finalists argue before a panel of prominent local and federal judges. Those who
advance to a certain level are invited to join the Barristers' Council and to represent
Georgetown Law in an interscholastic moot court competition.

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The William E. Leahy Moot Court Competition: The Leahy Competition is held in the
fall and is open to Georgetown Law LL.M. and upper-class J.D. students. The
competition rules are similar to those of Beaudry.

For more information on the Appellate Advocacy Division, please contact the Managing
Director at barristers@law.georgetown.edu.

J.D./Ph.D. Government Participation: First-year J.D./Ph.D. Government students may

compete in the Beaudry Competition. However, if they earn a spot on a team for the
following year, they must compete on this team during their year on the Main Campus.
J.D./Ph.D. Government students may compete in the Leahy Competition at any point
after their first year.

3. Alternative Dispute Resolution

The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Advocacy Division of Barristers’ Council

offers students a unique opportunity to develop sophisticated techniques necessary for
competent and ethical representation in ADR proceedings. The ADR Division’s record of
success is outstanding and reflects the Council’s exceptional commitment to training and
preparation. Students work closely with an impressive network of highly-regarded ADR
scholars and practitioners as they prepare to represent Georgetown Law at regional,
national, and international competitions focused on arbitration, mediation, client
counseling, and negotiation.

The Everett Bellamy ADR Competition: Held in the spring, this competition is open to
all Georgetown Law students. Competitors are asked to negotiate a problem in teams,
based on a closed packet. Those who advance to a certain level are invited to join the
Barristers’ Council and represent Georgetown Law in a national or international ADR
competition.

J.D./Ph.D. Government Participation: First-year J.D./Government students may

compete in the Bellamy ADR Competition. J.D./Government students who are offered a
position on Georgetown’s ADR teams may choose to compete on the team while they are
in residence at Main Campus during their second year. Alternatively, J.D./Government
students may compete in the Bellamy Competition during their third year and if selected
for a national team, compete nationally during their fourth, fifth, or final year of the joint
program.

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C. Other Activities

J.D./Ph.D. Government students may participate in other Law Center extracurricular activities
while they are on the Main Campus. Students should contact student organizations directly to
ensure that they receive information about upcoming events and/or to ask questions about
participation. For more information about the active student organizations on campus, please
visit http://georgetownlaw.orgsync.com/.

VI. GRADES AND ACADEMIC HONORS

A. Grading Scales

Students are graded on a 4-point scale carried to 2 decimal points at Georgetown Law. The
Graduate School also operates on a 4-point system. A student’s academic averages at the two
schools are not combined for the purpose of honors.

B. Transcripts and Grade Reports

Your law courses will be reflected on your Law Center transcript. Your Government courses will
be reflected on a separate Georgetown transcript. If you are completing coursework on the Main
Campus during a particular semester, the notation “JD/Government Registration” will be added
to your Law Center transcript. If you are approved to have a specific Main Campus course count
toward your J.D. degree, but not the Government program, the Main Campus course will be
recorded on your Law Center transcript.

If you request an official transcript from the Law Center Registrar’s Office, you will receive both
your Law and Main Campus transcripts for a nominal fee. If you request an official transcript
from the University Registrar’s Office on Main Campus, you will receive both your Main
Campus transcript and your Law Center transcript at no charge. Main campus students are
charged a one-time transcript fee which covers this cost.

Graduate School grades are typically available earlier than Georgetown Law grades. Grade
reports for courses in both programs are available online through MyAccess.

NOTE: Students must represent Georgetown Law and Government program grade point
averages accurately to potential employers. Attempts to combine or equate the two
averages can be misleading. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to list both GPAs
on their resume and indicate which average belongs to which program along with the
appropriate grading scales for comparison.

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C. Dean’s List

J.D. students whose annual cumulative grade point averages place them in the top one-third of
their class at the Law Center will have their transcripts marked “Dean’s List” for the appropriate
academic year. All candidates for the J.D. degree at the Law Center are eligible for the Dean’s
List honor provided they completed, during the academic year, at least 24 credits at the Law
Center if enrolled in the full-time program or 16 credits at the Law Center if enrolled in the part-
time program. Joint degree students are eligible for Dean’s List recognition based solely on their
J.D. courses taken at the Law Center, if they complete at least 16 graded J.D. credits at the Law
Center during the academic year and maintain full-time status in their joint degree program, if
applicable. Dean’s List determination is based on a student’s annual average for the academic
year, not the cumulative average. Courses taken at the Law Center in the preceding Summer
session or in the Law Center’s Graduate Programs are included in the calculation of the required
minimum number of credits for Dean’s List eligibility.

D. Graduation Honors

Georgetown Law graduation honors are based on the student’s cumulative grade point average
for Georgetown Law courses only. The degree cum laude is awarded to students whose
cumulative grade point averages place them in the top one-third of those graduating. The degree
magna cum laude is awarded to students whose cumulative grade point average placed them in
the top 10%. And, lastly, the J.D. degree summa cum laude is the highest academic honor that
the faculty can bestow upon a graduating student. There is no cumulative grade point average
that automatically entitles a student to that honor. Instead, summa cum laude is granted at the
sole discretion of the faculty. To be eligible for consideration for the award of summa cum laude,
a graduate must have completed at least 71 credits at the Law Center and have a minimum
cumulative grade point average of 3.70/4.00.

For the purpose of calculating students’ eligibility for degrees with honors, students graduating
after a Summer session or Fall semester will be included with the class that graduated in the
previous Spring semester. Government grades are not included in computation of averages
for Georgetown Law graduation honors.

E. Order of the Coif

Graduating students whose cumulative grade point average places them in the top 10% of their
class and who have completed at least 64 academic credits at Georgetown Law are elected to
membership in the Order of the Coif. Order of the Coif is the national law school honor society
for the encouragement of scholarship and advancement of ethical standards in the legal
profession. Government grades are not included in computation of averages for the Order
of the Coif.
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 VII. GRADUATION

A. Graduation Applications

J.D./Ph.D. Government students typically complete the J.D. portion of the joint degree prior to
completing the Ph.D. degree. When all J.D. requirements have been met and at least 24 credits in
the Government program have been completed, J.D./Ph.D. Government students may apply to
graduate at Georgetown Law and participate in Georgetown Law’s graduation ceremony. When
a student has met all Ph.D. requirements, he/she will apply for graduation through the Graduate
School. The joint degree certificate is awarded following completion of both programs. For the
exact graduation application deadlines, refer to the Georgetown Law Registrar’s website at
http://www.law.georgetown.edu/campus-services/registrar/degree-application-academic-
honors/Degree-Applications-and-Diplomas.cfm and the Main Campus Registrar’s website.

The approximate 2016-2017 graduation application deadlines are:

Friday, October 7, 2016 Georgetown Law deadline for February 2017 graduation
Friday, January 20, 2017 Georgetown Law deadline for May 2017 graduation
Friday, April 7, 2017 Georgetown Law deadline for October 2017 graduation

B. Graduation Ceremonies

J.D./Ph.D. Government graduates may participate in two graduation ceremonies, which will be
held the weekend of May 19–21, 2017.

Friday afternoon: Graduate School Commencement

Sunday afternoon: Georgetown Law Commencement

1. Graduate School Commencement

The Graduate School commencement is held on Healy Lawn, weather permitting, on

Georgetown University’s Main Campus. J.D./Ph.D. Government students graduating
from both programs in a given year should wear the J.D. tam and gown with the
Government hood. Students who have already received their J.D. in a previous ceremony
should contact the Graduate School for instructions on their regalia.

2. Georgetown Law Commencement

The J.D. commencement ceremony is held on Healy Lawn, weather permitting, on

Georgetown University’s Main Campus on Sunday, May 21, 2017. Degrees are awarded
“in course” and diplomas are presented individually after the general commencement

14
 ceremony. The students are divided into groups based on their first-year section
assignments; each section has a different location, and the diplomas are distributed by
faculty members who taught that section the first year. Joint degree graduates typically
are grouped together in one section. The Office of Student Life sends expected graduates
e-mail updates on commencement activities including: photos, graduation regalia, and
tickets. For additional information, please contact the Office of Student Life at (202) 662-
9292 or studentlife@law.georgetown.edu.

C. Cap and Gown Orders

J.D./Ph.D. Government students order the J.D. graduation regalia through the Jostens website at
http://jostens.com. Detailed information about the Law Center’s commencement ceremony,
including cap and gown orders can be found online at http://www.law.georgetown.edu/campus-
life/student-life/Commencement/index.cfm. J.D./Ph.D. Government students should order a
Government gown through the Graduate School. Government hoods can be borrowed at no cost.

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 APPENDIX A

Date: ___________________

J.D./Ph.D. GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST

Name: ______________________________ Year: ___L/E (circle) Expected Graduation Date: _____

SEMESTER COURSES

J.D. degree requirements

__________ Required first-year curriculum (30 credits)

__________ Upperclass Legal Writing requirement
__________ Professional Responsibility course
__________ 6 credits of experiential coursework
__________ 85 total credits (includes 9 credits of Government coursework)

Ph.D. in Government requirements

Theory and Methods Requirement (15 credits):

_________ GOVT 780, Fundamentals of Political Theory

_________ GOVT 701, Analysis of Political Data
_________ GOVT 702, Advanced Political Analysis
_________ Elective (Political Theory Graduate Level Course)
_________ Elective (Political Theory or Methods)

Major Field (circle one): American Government (AG), Comparative Government (CG),
International Relations (IR), or Political Theory (PT)

Major Field Requirement (6 courses - 18 credits)

_______ _____________________________________
_______ _____________________________________
_______ _____________________________________
_______ _____________________________________
_______ _____________________________________
_______ _____________________________________

Minor Field Requirement (9 credits): Courses taken for the J.D. degree fulfill this requirement

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Minor Field Examination: waived for J.D. students who earn a B+ or better in three law courses

Two General Electives (6 credits)

_______ _____________________________________
_______ _____________________________________

Foreign Language Requirement

(Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory major fields)

Written Foreign Language Examination ____ (Date taken: _______________)

Other Ph.D. Requirements Date

“First Year Workshop” _________
Minor Comprehensive Exam _________
Major Comprehensive Exam _________
Ph.D. Qualifying Appraisal _________
Dissertation Proposal Colloquium _________
Dissertation Defense _________

CREDIT REQUIREMENTS

Georgetown Law credits 76

Government credits 48
TOTAL 124

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