How Long Do I Have to Graduate?

[petermharrington]

All Concerned,

  How long do I have to graduate law school? If I dropped out after my first year and then resumed my studies after 3 years, would I still be able to apply for admission to the Bar?

  Does anyone know the criteria for admission?

[willametterules]

Your school may have unique requirements, but the ABA gives you 84 month start to finish.

[petermharrington]

Oh wow, you're right. I just verified it:

Compliance with ABA Length of Study Rule: Standard (304c) requires that the course of study for the J.D. degree be completed no sooner than 24 months and no longer than 84 months after the student has commenced law study.

You helped me out a lot, brother.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

[willametterules]

Oh wow, you're right. I just verified it:

Compliance with ABA Length of Study Rule: Standard (304c) requires that the course of study for the J.D. degree be completed no sooner than 24 months and no longer than 84 months after the student has commenced law study.

You helped me out a lot, brother.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

Your welcome.  I've taken a few semesters off myself to clear my head/work etc... it helped a lot. Good luck.

[cooleylawstudent]

Wow. I was told on campus that the ABA rule was 5 years for fulltime students and 6 for part time. 84 would be longer than either of those two.

Your school may have unique requirements, but the ABA gives you 84 month start to finish.

[petermharrington]

i'm going to have to go with ABA Rule 304(c). i think that's pretty dispositive here

[cooleylawstudent]

If that what the ABA says then fine, but remember your STATE bar may have tighter rules than the ABA. I think that is the case that my school was refering to.

[petermharrington]

Oh absolutely.  I'm just deferring to the ABA in this case.