Law School Policies & Procedures

Bar Application and Registration

Each state has distinct rules and procedures regarding the admission to practice law, including some states which require registration as a law student if the applicant intends to practice in that jurisdiction following graduation from law school. For example, a number of jurisdictions require first-year law students to register with the state bar commission within sixty days, ninety days, or longer (i.e., 120 days) of beginning their legal education if they intend to sit for the state’s bar examination. Every student is strongly advised to personally confirm requirements and deadlines with the bar examiners in the jurisdiction in which they intend to sit for the bar exam. Bar exam information can be found in the Career Development Office. 

Commencement and Hooding

Annual University commencement ceremonies are held in May and December. Students who complete their degree programs in the spring semester are required to be present at the annual commencement exercises in May to receive their degrees. Students who complete their degree programs in the fall semester may attend commencement ceremonies in December. Diplomas will be mailed upon confirmation of the completion of all degree requirements by the respective Dean. Students who complete their degree programs during summer receive their degrees at the end of the Summer Sessions, but no ceremony is held. These students may participate in the preceding May Commencement. All candidates who receive degrees at the end of a fall semester or summer session are listed in the next annual commencement program.

To participate in the May commencement, a candidate must have successfully completed all degree requirements and must be approved for graduation, or be able to and plan to complete all requirements by the date for conferral of degrees in the following August. The respective deans of the schools and colleges of the University shall have the responsibility for clearing all participants in the commencement. Those participants in the May ceremony who have not completed all degree requirements shall be so designated in the commencement program.

Communications

Contact Information

It is important that you keep the Creighton School of Law informed of your address and telephone number. If you change your address or telephone number during a semester, please update your contact information in NEST.

Email

All students are strongly encouraged to check their Creighton University email account daily. Email is the number one method of communicating administrative announcement, faculty news, and student organizational information. 

Outside Speakers

It is the policy of Creighton School of Law that no outside groups or speakers are permitted to speak or present at the law school unless they do so at the invitation of an authorized student group, law faculty member or the administration. No outside individual, group or its representative may use law school email lists without the prior approval of the administration nor will Creighton School of Law forward emails from such individuals or groups to law students without the prior approval of the administration. When a student organization wishes to invite an outside speaker to speak at an organization function or wishes to sponsor an outside speaker for a school-wide activity, the group must first check with the Assistant Dean for Student Services for authorization to facilitate planning and to avoid conflicts. Room reservations can be secured from the School of Law receptionist.

Student Bulletin Boards

Bulletin boards for general student and student organization announcements are located in the corridors on the first floor of the Law School. You are encouraged to use professional good taste in posting announcements. AT NO TIME SHOULD ANNOUNCEMENTS, POSTERS, ETC., BE PLACED ON ANY WALLS, WINDOWS, OR DOORS.

Confidentiality of Student Records

Creighton’s policy relating to the confidentiality of student records is in keeping with the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act” (FERPA). Information about students or former students will not be released without the consent of the student other than in the exceptions stated in the Federal Act. FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. They are:

• The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Registrar, Dean, Department Chair, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request shall be addressed.
• The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
• The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosures without consent.
• One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including Public Safety personnel and Student Health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agency, the National Student Loan Clearinghouse or the Voice FX Corporation); a person serving on the Board of Directors; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
• A school official has legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
• Upon request, the University discloses educational records without consent to officials of another school in which the student seeks or intends to enroll.
• FERPA also allows the University to disclose directory information without the written consent of the student. Directory information is information contained in an education record of a student which generally would not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Directory information includes the student’s full name, the fact that the student is or has been enrolled, full-time/part-time status, local and permanent address(es), email address, telephone number(s), date and place of birth, dates of attendance, division (school or college), class, major field(s) of study and/or curriculum, degrees and awards received, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, photograph, and previous educational agency or institution attended by the student.
• A currently enrolled student may request any or all directory information not be released by completing and filing with the Registrar’s Office a statement entitled “Student Request to Restrict Directory Information.” Such filing of this request shall be honored for the remainder of the term in which the request is filed, except that such restriction shall not apply to directory information already published or in the process of being published.
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Creighton University to comply with requirements of FERPA.

The name and address of the office that administers FERPA are:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

Employment Policy

Employment During Law School

First-Year Students

All full-time law students at Creighton are required to enroll in 32 credit hours of course work in their first year. This material is foundational for a successful legal education and is heavily tested on every bar exam in the country. In addition to mastering the legal doctrines taught in these classes, students must also learn to analyze and interpret statutes and case law, and learn to draft technical, legal documents. Learning these skills is highly time intensive and requires a significant time commitment from the students. Success in the first year of law school is essential for students for their upper-division courses, eventual success on the bar exam, and for their employment opportunities. Creighton University School of Law strongly discourages full-time students from working during the fall and spring semester of their first year. Students should treat the first year of law school as a professional job requiring substantially all of their time. Any additional work on top of that already required is likely to result in students being unable to complete all tasks to the best of their ability, and may cause undue anxiety and harm students’ physical and/or mental health.

Second and Third-Year Students

Prior to 2014, ABA rules prohibited students from working outside of law school more than 20 hours per week. Although the 20-hour prohibition has been eliminated, it remains a good rule of thumb for students to determine how much work they can reasonably take on outside of their legal studies. Many of our students have been able to obtain clerkships at local firms and entities in their second and third years with great results in terms of compensation and eventual job offers; however, students should also seriously consider the amount of work being demanded of them by an employer and whether that work schedule may ultimately harm their legal studies and general academic success. Students wishing to discuss this issue may meet with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Assistant Dean of Career Development, or any faculty member with whom they feel comfortable.

Facilities

Maintenance and Custodial Needs

All maintenance and custodial needs should be reported to Dave Madsen.

Alcoholic Beverages

Alcohol may not be served at any event in the law school or on University grounds without the prior, written permission of the assistant dean for student services or the dean. Student organizations seeking to serve alcohol at their event should plan well in advance so that they can secure and complete all required forms.

Request_to_Serve_Alcohol.pdf

Alcohol may be served at off-campus organization-sponsored events; however, it must be served from a “cash bar.” (The term “cash bar” refers to any event where drinks are  purchased individually for immediate consumption. This does not prohibit drink specials.) Cash bars should not be staffed by law students who are participants in the event. If the event is of such a type where it is not practical to have a cash bar, the sponsoring organization must submit a written request for a waiver of such requirement to the assistant dean for student services or the dean. Alcohol may not be included in the price of the event ticket (Sedgwick, Barrister’s  Ball, 3L Week events, etc.) without the prior, written permission of the assistant dean for student services or the dean. Although not generally preferred, drink tickets may be “pre-sold” with the prior, written approval of the assistant dean for student services or the dean.

Money derived from student fees may not be used to purchase or to subsidize the purchase of alcohol without the prior, written permission of the assistant dean for student services or the dean. “Student fees” include, without limitation, funds allocated to the SBA by the Creighton Student Union (CSU) as well as funds allocated to student organizations by the SBA. Money derived from membership fees or any other fee which is required for new or continued membership in any organization may not be spent on alcohol without the unanimous approval of the members of the organization. Advertisements for events or  parties may refer to the presence of alcohol with the statement “a cash bar will be available” or “drink specials.” Signs may not refer to the event as a “beer bash” or words of similar import.

Violation of this policy by a student organization will result in the responsible students being asked to resign their positions from the organization and the organization forfeiting any remaining funding for the academic year. Further violations by the organization could result in the permanent disbanding of the organization at Creighton Law School. Violation of this policy by students planning an event for the SBA will result in the responsible students being asked to resign from their position with the SBA. The SBA may be required to place all funds and expenditures under the supervision of the assistant dean for student services or the dean. 

Making Copies

Copy machines are available in the Library for student use. Machines are coin-operated and multi-use copy cards can be purchased in the Library. Faculty and staff rely on self-service for copies, yet Bluejay Print and Post (BPP) can be used as necessary.  

Course Handouts/Distribution Center

The distribution center is located immediately outside the Administrative Suite near the assignment bulletin boards.

Food and Drink

The Sidebar should be the primary place for eating and drinking. However, students may serve food and drink in the Commons at organized student activities. Students may bring drinks to the Commons at other times, but are asked to take particular care in cleaning up after themselves. Food is never permitted in the Library. Food and drink are not generally permitted in the lecture rooms or seminar rooms.  

Hours

During the Academic Year, the Ahmanson Law Center is open:                

Monday through Thursday     7 a.m. - Midnight               
Friday                                     7 a.m. - 8 p.m.             
Saturday                                9 a.m. - 8 p.m.                
Sunday                                  Noon - Midnight

The Administrative Suite is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

After 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends, a building access card, coded at registration by Public Safety, is necessary to enter the building. Students should not be in the building when the building is closed. For safety and security reasons, doors must NEVER be propped open. 

Lockers

Lockers are provided for the convenience of all law students. Locker numbers and combinations can be obtained in the Administrative Suite.

Room Reservations

Student organizations may request reservations of rooms in the law building through the Dean’s Administrative Assistant. Library group study and seminar rooms may be reserved by checking with the circulation desk in the library.

Smoking

Creighton is a smoke-free University and the School of Law is a smoke-free building. Smoking is NOT permitted inside the building or outside on campus grounds.

Non-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of Creighton University School of Law to provide equal employment and educational opportunities to faculty, employees, students and applicants for such opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap or disability, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, maternity and lactation status, status as a Vietnam-era, special, disabled, or other veteran who served on active duty during a war, campaign, or exhibition for which a campaign badge has been authorized in accordance with applicable federal law. In addition, it is the policy of the University to comply with applicable state statutes and local ordinances governing nondiscrimination in employment and educational activities. For more information, see “Harassment, Discrimination, Sexual and Relationship Misconduct” in Creighton University’s Guide to Policies.

Services for Students with Disabilities

See the Office of Student Accessibility Services.

Student Complaints

As an ABA-accredited law school, the Creighton University School of Law is subject to the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools. The ABA Standards may be found on the ABA website. Any student at the law school who wishes to bring a formal complaint to the administration of the law school of a significant problem that directly implicates the school’s program of legal education and its compliance with the ABA Standards should do the following:

1. Submit the complaint in writing to the dean of the law school or the associate dean for Academic Affairs. The writing may sent by email, hand delivered, or by U.S. mail, to the Dean’s Office.
2. The writing should describe in detail the behavior, program, process, or other matter that is the subject of the complaint, and should explain how the matter implicates the law school’s program of legal education and its compliance with the ABA Standards.
3. The writing must provide the name, official law school email address, and a street address of the complaining student, for further communication about the complaint.
4. The dean or associate dean for Academic Affairs will acknowledge the complaint within three business days of receipt of the written complaint. Acknowledgment may be made by email, U.S. mail, or by personal delivery at the option of the dean or associate dean.
5.  Within two weeks after acknowledgment of the complaint, the associate dean for Academic Affairs shall either meet with or respond in writing to the complaining student.   In this meeting or writing, the associate dean shall provide a substantive response to the complaint, information about steps taken by the law school to address the complaint or a statement that further investigation is needed.  If further investigation is needed, then within two weeks after completion of that investigation, the associate dean shall provide the complaining student either a substantive response to the complaint or information about steps taken by the law school to address the complaint.
6. The associate dean’s decision may be appealed to the dean, provided that the complaining student gives notice to the dean within 10 days after being advised of the associate dean’s decision on the complaint. The appeal must be in writing and addressed to the dean. The dean’s decision on the appeal shall be final.
7. A copy of the complaint and appeal, if any, plus a summary of the process and resolution of the complaint shall be kept in the office of the dean for a period of eight years from the date of final resolution of the complaint.

Summer School and Academic Dismissal

Students who have a cumulative grade point average that is less than 1.85 at the end of second semester will be automatically dismissed from the School of Law. (Academic Rule 2.1.) Typically, second semester grades do not become available until early June.

If a student subject to dismissal is enrolled in summer school, the student will be immediately withdrawn from summer school. A dismissed student’s summer school registration will be cancelled, and all summer school tuition and fees will be refunded. If a student has taken out a student loan for summer school, the tuition and fees will be returned to the lender to repay the loan. Any other funds distributed to the student for books, living expenses, or other incidentals are subject to immediate repayment to clear the loan. The student subject to dismissal will not be permitted to complete summer school and will not receive summer school grades or credit. This policy applies even if a student has completed course work prior to release of second semester grades (for example, courses taught on an accelerated schedule). Dismissal is automatic. Students will not be permitted to complete summer school pending an appeal of their dismissal to the Academic Affairs Committee.

Transferring Credit Hours

Visiting Students

Summer Programs: The Law School permits students, with the permission of the dean, to be visiting students for summer programs or interterm session programs only at programs sponsored by law schools approved by both the American Bar Association and the American Association of Law Schools. Credit hours will be transferred into the Law School only for courses approved in advance by the associate dean for Academic Affairs and only for courses successfully completed with a grade of “C” (or equivalent) and above. The Law School does not transfer credit for courses graded on a pass/fail basis or its equivalent. Learn more about the application process for Visiting Students.

Visiting Students: Except as stated in the prior paragraph, the Law School does not permit students to visit at other law schools except as noted in Academic Rule 7.4.

Transfer Students

Creighton University School of Law accepts applications for transfer students. Admission of transfer students is determined by the Admissions Committee. When a transfer student is accepted by the School of Law, credits for courses completed at another American Bar Association approved law school are transferred in accordance with Academic Rule 7.5. For more details, see Transfer Applicants.

The School of Law only transfers credit for courses completed at law schools approved by the American Bar Association. It does not give law school credit for courses from non-law schools nor does it give credit for courses from law schools not approved by the American Bar Association. The School of Law does not transfer credit for courses graded on a pass/fail basis or its equivalent.

The associate dean for Academic Affairs determines whether particular transferred courses, in addition to qualifying for credit, also satisfy any of the School of Law’s mandatory first or second year course requirements.

Use of Creighton Name or Logo

Creighton University, Creighton University School of Law, Creighton Law School, and the various Creighton University logos are common law and federally registered trade names and trademarks of Creighton University, and may not be used by anyone on products or goods sold, or in connection with services to be provided, without the specific permission of Creighton University. Any unauthorized use may subject the parties involved to the payment of civil damages and/or fines as well as to the possibility of criminal penalties. See University Communications and Marketing for details.

Withdrawals and Tuition Refunds

For more information please visit the university’s withdrawals and refunds site.