FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions (Answers begin on page 5)
Academic Requirements and Regulations
· What are the graduation requirements?
· How can I satisfy the writing requirement?
· I’m considering visiting another institution in the Summer, or Fall-Spring of my third year. What are the parameters?
· What is considered full-time?
· May I be employed while enrolled?
· When are the holiday breaks?
· I’m considering taking a break from law school. Whom do I contact?
Academic/Student Record
· What is the school policy on privacy for students?
· How do I obtain verification of my enrollment?
· What is an “unofficial” transcript?
· How do I obtain an official transcript?
· Can a transcript be faxed?
· I have changed my name. How can I ensure my new name is reflected on official university documents?
Bar Admission
· What is the Virginia Third-Year Practice Certificate?
· How do I obtain a Virginia Third-Year Practice Certificate?
· Is there a Notary Public at the Law School?
· Where do I obtain information on State Bar applications?
· What is the Virginia Bar School Code?
· What is required for the Virginia Bar Application and Certification?
· Will I need any William & Mary Law School specific information to complete the Bar application?
· What is the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) and how is it applicable to the Virginia Bar?
· Where can I find registration materials for the MPRE?
· Do other jurisdictions require the MPRE for bar Admission?
· As a first year law student, do I have to "pre-register" with the State Bar in Virginia?
· How soon must I submit my completed Virginia Character and Fitness questionnaire?
Campus Life
· Where do I find information on William & Mary regulations governing students?
· Is there a policy governing amorous relations between faculty and student?
· What is the Unified Honor Code?
· I am feeling anxious, depressed, concerned that I can’t hack law school, to whom can I turn?
· Is a parking pass needed to park on campus?
· What are enforcement hours of meters on campus?
· May I tape my parking decal in my vehicle?
· Can I transfer my parking decal to another vehicle?
· If my car breaks down what should I do if I must drive another vehicle?
· If I need to load heavy items where can I park?
· I’ve broken by leg, twisted my ankle, become temporarily disabled, how to might I obtain a temporary handicap parking pass?
· May I park in the lot closest to the Law School?
· May I park in the lot directly in front of Grad Housing?
· May I use the Recreation Center, Swem Library, Health Center, Counseling Center and other offices at the University?
· What is Student Legal Services?
· I enjoy college sports, may I attend games?
· Where can I learn more about campus life and the surrounding area?
Career Services
· What services are provided by the Office of Career Services (OCS)?
· How and when may I access those services?
Communication/Contacts
· Do I have a W&M e-mail account? Must I use it?
· What is my e-mail address and password?
· Can I forward my W&M e-mail to another account?
· How can I access my W&M e-mail account?
· What is a “hanging file” and why is it important to me?
· Whom do I call if I must miss class or may have an extended absence?
· How will I be informed if classes are cancelled?
· What is the inclement weather policy?
· How do I reserve a classroom for a meeting or study group?
Computer Use in the Classroom
· May I type notes during class?
· May I take exams on my laptop?
Curriculum and Course Selection
· How do I select the courses for my second and third years of law school?
· Do I have an advisor?
· Some law schools assign first-year students to study groups. Does William & Mary?
· What is the Academic Support Program? May I participate in the Academic Support Program?
· I would like to develop my study skills and writing. Where can I go?
Exams
· Should I contact my professor if I will miss a final exam?
· How do I request a make-up exam?
· What is an exam code number? How do I obtain my number?
· What method of identification do I use on the scantrons and exams?
· Does the school provide students with computers for exams?
· Where do I purchase blue books?
· What is a self-scheduled exam? What is the procedure for picking up a self-scheduled exam?
· What is the process for viewing my exams?
Grades, Ranks and Academic Honors
· What grades are used at William & Mary Law School?
· What is an “H” grade?
· What is a “NG”?
· What does "anonymous grading" mean?
· When can I expect to receive my grades?
· What is a class rank and when is it available?
· What is a “book award” and how should this be reflected on my resume?
Registration & Class Schedules
· Can I register for classes on the web?
· I forgot my Password. How do I find out what it is?
· When can I register for classes?
· How do I add into a course that has a waitlist?
· Where can I get forms to register for independent work and/or non-law courses?
Tuition and Financial Aid
· What are my current tuition and fees? When are they due?
· How do I contact Financial Aid?
· Where do I submit loan deferment forms for processing?
· How do I apply for in-state residency?
· How do I apply for additional loan funds?
· Can I apply for loans in fall or spring only?
· How will I know when my loan funds are approved?
· When will I know that my loan funds have arrived?
· Can I cancel my loan funds after they have been credited to my student account?
· What should I do if my bill arrives and loan funds have not been credited to my account balance?
· What is the refund policy?
Answers
Academic Requirements and Regulations
What are the requirements for graduation?
· Be in residence for a total of three academic years with enrollment of 10-17 hours per semester.
· Earn a minimum of 20 semester hours of credit in any academic year.
· Earn a minimum of 86 credit hours.
· Accumulate a minimum of 75% of the required credits through a letter grade earned at William & Mary Law School (for 86 required credits, this will be a minimum of 65 credits or, for transfer students, typically 42 credits).
· Maintain good academic standing by achieving no less than a 2.3 cumulative grade point average in the first year and no less than a 2.0 cumulative average at the end of each successive semester and year.
· Successfully complete all required work:
1. The three-term Legal Practice Program;
2. The first-year curriculum;
3. The writing requirement (not required for JD students entering in fall 2016).
4. Take at least six credit hours of experiential course work (required for those entering in 2016).
How can I satisfy the writing requirement?
· For those entering in 2016, this is no longer required..
· Successfully complete: a seminar or course that is designated as requiring a paper that meets the writing requirement; a two-credit independent legal writing course; or a note (or other substantial individual writing project) of publishable quality for any of the law journals for which credit is given.
I’m considering visiting another institution in the summer, or fall-spring of my third year. What are the parameters?
· To visit away during the summer, simply contact the Associate Dean for Administration to request a letter of good standing and seek approval for courses in which you are planning to register for at the host school.
· From time to time students have requested to visit another institution during their third year of legal study. These requests are approved on a case-by-case basis. If interested in visiting away, submit to the Associate Dean for Administration:
1. A letter requesting permission to visit for the fall, spring or fall and spring of the third year of study. The letter should include the reason or explanation of the need to visit away and the school or schools to which you are applying.
2. A list with descriptions of the courses you intend to take.
3. A current William & Mary Law School Unofficial Transcript.
4. A signed copy of the “Regulations for Visiting Away” form (available from Dean Jackson).
· Students who are approved to visit away continue to be subject to requirements for graduation except as noted below.
· If visiting for only one semester, students are required to earn 65 graded W&M law credits. If visiting for the entire academic year, students must earn 50 graded W&M law credits.
· Credits received in approved courses for which you earn a “C” or better will be accepted to the William & Mary Law degree. An official transcript from the host school must be sent to the Associate Dean for Administration at the conclusion of each semester of study away.
· Neither required William & Mary courses nor non-law courses may be taken at a host school for credit towards your law degree.
· Scholarships or Fellowships that you may have at William & Mary are not available for use when visiting away.
What is considered full-time?
· Full-time students must enroll in no fewer than 10 and no more than 17 credit hours in a semester. Most students register for between 12-16 credit hours per semester.
May I be employed while enrolled?
· Full-time students are restricted to no more than 15 hours per week of paid employment.
When are the holiday breaks?
· The Law School holds no classes during Fall Break, Thanksgiving, between semesters, Martin Luther King Day, Spring Break, Memorial Day and July 4th.
I am considering taking a break from law school. Whom do I contact?
· All students are permitted, as a matter of right, to take up to a one-year leave of absence from the Law School.
· Please contact the Associate Dean for Administration to discuss the potential leave and get information on the steps you will need to take.
Academic/Student Record
What is the school policy on privacy for students?
· The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. William & Mary strives to fully comply with this law by protecting the privacy of student records and judiciously evaluates requests for release of information from those records. FERPA authorizes the release of "Directory Information" without the student's prior consent under certain conditions, which are set forth in the Act. A complete description of the Act, the rights afforded to students by this Act, and a description of categories of "Directory Information" can be found on the University Registrar’s web site: http://www.wm.edu/registrar/student records then click on the link “Confidentiality and Privacy.”
How do I obtain enrollment verification?
· Send a message to or stop by the office of the Law School Registrar. Enrollment verifications can be by letter from the Registrar (please provide address and required information for letter body) or form (please provide the form and envelope if one is provided with the form).
What is an “unofficial” transcript?
· This transcript does not carry the seal of William & Mary nor the University Registrar’s signature and can not be considered official. However, an unofficial transcript can be duplicated and distributed by the student for most job-search needs.
· Unofficial transcripts are printed by the student via Banner Self-Service. An unofficial transcript is also available by student request, at no charge, through the University Registrar’s Office.
How do I obtain an official transcript?
· Official transcripts are maintained by the University Registrar and are available for a fee. Please review the method of acquiring on official transcript at: http://www.wm.edu/registrar/studentrecords then click “forms.”
Can a transcript be faxed?
· In order to protect the privacy of our students, we do not fax transcripts.
· A fax machine is available for job search related requirements. It is located in Career Services.
I have changed my name. How can I ensure my new name is reflected on official university documents?
· Contact the University Registrar’s Office in Blow Hall. You must bring your social security card that reflects your new name.
Bar Admission
What is the Virginia Third-Year Practice Certificate?
· Third-Year Practice enables law students, during the summer prior to and/or during their third year of legal study, to present cases in a Virginia court under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
How do I obtain a Virginia Third-Year Practice Certificate?
· Qualifications for Third-Year Practice include successful completion of the first-year curriculum, Legal Practice, Professional Responsibility, Evidence and two years of law school.
· A Third-Year Practice Certificate will be requested automatically for all qualified students at the conclusion of their second year of legal study. This document will be emailed to qualified students.
Is there a Notary Public at the School of Law?
· Gloria Todd, Kay Hibbard and Donna Shelton are available to notarize your bar application. Other notaries are acceptable. Banks and law offices often have notaries on staff as well.
Where do I obtain information on State Bar applications?
· Students who plan to take the bar of another state should contact directly the State Bar Association for that state to obtain application information. Most State Bar Associations have very informative Internet web sites with contact information and applications that may be downloaded. Please visit our web page http://law.wm.edu/academics/howto/prepareforbar/index.php..