Accelerated JD

Northwestern Law is the first top tier law school to offer an accelerated JD program. The school will enroll a limited number of highly-motivated students to this two-year JD program.

Students in the Accelerated JD program complete the same number of credit hours as traditional three-year JD students in five semesters over the course of two calendar years. While this faster pace means students have a more set schedule of classes, they also have the opportunity to select from the full-range of electives offered by the Law School. Students also have the opportunity to participate in all extracurricular and co-curricular activities, including journals.

Accelerated JD students begin classes in May. They join traditional JD students during the fall and spring semesters, and work during their second summer. They then return to the Law School for two more semesters and graduate in May, two calendar years after they begin. Students participate in the Fall On-Campus Interviewing process (OCI) upon completion of their first term with one semester of grades.

Prospective students are required to complete either an on-campus or off-campus interview as part of the application process. Applicants must have at least two years of substantive post-undergraduate work experience, preferably in a non-legal setting, and ideally have demonstrated managerial and leadership experience to qualify for the program.

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