Criminal Law Spring Semester

For those of you who are unaware, we wanted to bring to your attention per the schedule via Dean Rosenthal, that Criminal Law is not being offered as a 1L course in the Spring. Criminal Law has been offered as a 1L course in the Spring – as is per customary for the market (UC, UK, U of L, U of Dayton) and as per customary outside of the market – since 2013. It is instead being moved to our 2L schedules.

The impact of this is significant – it puts us at a disadvantage for Summer and Fall externships when put up against students at competing institutions who have completed the traditional 1L courses. Specifically, if you are seeking an externship in the criminal law field you will be at a direct disadvantage compared to other applicants. Additionally, it amounts to a loss of opportunity as it is one less elective that we are able to take as an upperclassman.

Pertinent to some of you will be the severe disadvantage this puts you at when hoping to transfer – while you will technically have the ability in credit hours, you will be faced with choosing between attempting to “catch up” to those in your new class by taking additional hours your 2L year or forgoing electives. That, of course, assumes that you are accepted – which is also less likely considering the applicant pool that you are placed in will include 1Ls who have taken the traditional 1L courses and have shown the aptitude to succeed in such courses.

We have spoken with both Dean Rosenthal and Dean Whiteman, and for any of our concerns to be seriously addressed we have been advised to create a petition and raise concerns to the SBA. I have tagged the SBA 1L reps and the other 1Ls that have been discussing this/ reaching out to the Deans. — with Ethan Losier and 9 others.