decision time

Congratulations and welcome! You've been accepted to the 2024 entering class at Suffolk University Law School.

As you move through the decision process, you may have questions about our students, faculty, the Boston area, experiential opportunities, and what it is like to be a first-year law student. You will find some of the answers to your questions on this website.

We have created a step-by-step checklist to assist your process. When you complete a task, mark it “done,” and, if you access this site from the same computer each time, your browser will remember where you left off.

These deadlines apply to students in the traditional JD program with classes beginning in the fall. If you are an accelerated JD student beginning classes in May, please see important dates and deadlines found in the Accelerated JD FAQ.

How To

Suffolk Email

You will receive your new @suffolk.edu email address in early June. Sign-in info will be sent via email to the email address you used in your application. ...Back

Orientation

Orientation is mandatory for new students. Orientation dates will be announced mid-2024. Fall orientation is mandatory for all traditional JD students. Details will be sent to your @suffolk.edu email address in early summer. ...Back

Student ID

Beginning in mid-August, you can obtain your student ID from the security office at the security window in the front lobby of the law school building. You must do this in-person. ...Back

Housing

Suffolk University's Off-Campus Housing Website helps all Suffolk University students find student housing. Law students can use the excellent website to search for rental listings, find roommates, and research neighborhoods. Suffolk Law School does not provide on-campus housing. ...Back

Student Portal

In May, or later if you pay your seat deposit in the summer, you will receive access to Workday Student, the admitted student portal. ...Back

FAQs

Have more questions? See our frequently asked questions. ...Back

Final Transcript

All students who enroll at Suffolk Law must provide a copy of their final undergraduate transcript, which notes the degree received and date it was awarded. This must be submitted through LSAC's Credential Assembly Service. This is a requirement set by the American Bar Association before you may begin law school classes. ...Back

Immunization Requirement

The state requires all university students to submit certain vaccination records. You must submit the Required Immunization Form to the University health services office with proof that you have been vaccinated or your course registration will be put on hold. ...Back

The Money

Deposit

Reserve your seat in the incoming class by paying your nonrefundable $500 deposit. Deadlines vary, so check your admission letter. Pay online ...Back

Student Accounts

Your student account will be available through Workday Student, Suffolk University’s online billing and payment site. In Workday Student you may view your student account, receive your semester statement, make payment, set up your eRefund account and also give access to an authorized user if you wish. Students are encouraged to access their online Workday Student account regularly to monitor their student account.

You will receive access to the External Site within a few days of admission. This site will show any scholarship and financial aid information. To access it, you will receive an email instructing you to reset your password. It is important you reset your password within 24 hours of receiving the email or the temporary password will expire. ...Back

Tuition Deadline

Fall tuition is due mid-July. The exact date will be announced mid-2024. Prior to the due date, please make sure to access your Workday Student account. An email notice will be sent to your Suffolk email when your semester statement is available on Workday Student. For information about payment plans and other methods of payment, please visit www.suffolk.edu/bursar. ...Back

Financial Aid

To apply for financial aid, please submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . Suffolk University’s school code on FAFSA is 002218. Suffolk Law awards financial aid on a rolling basis beginning on the March 1 priority filing deadline. Merit-based scholarships are awarded by the Office of Law Admission. All other financial aid is handled by the Office of Financial Aid. ...Back

After You've Been Awarded

“(1) Review your award letter. If you wish to reduce or decline all or a portion of your award, please notate accordingly on the award letter, provide your signature and return a copy to the Office of Financial Aid. Alternatively, you may send an email to finaid@suffolk.edu from your Suffolk email account outlining the changes you wish to make. If you plan to accept the aid as awarded, no need to respond to the letter. We will contact you with details on the Stafford loan process.

(2) If you are a first time borrower for a Federal Unsubsidized Stafford loan, you need to complete
(a) loan entrance counseling and
(b) master promissory note (MPN)

(3) If you will need additional funding such as a federal PLUS or private, credit-based loan to cover your Suffolk costs, you should make arrangements to ensure that loan certification can be completed in time to ensure that loan funds will appear as a pending credit against semester charges on your semester billing statement. Applications for loans should be submitted for certification to the Financial Aid Office at least two weeks before tuition is due.

Workday Student for Financial Aid

Beginning with the summer 2024 semester, prospective and current students will now be able to view information related to their financial aid application in Workday Student. Workday will contain all student information and academic functions related to your enrollment at Suffolk. Learn more about Workday Student. ...Back

Refunds

Refunds are generally available in mid-to-late September. Refunds are NOT available prior to the first day of the semester because federal regulations prohibit the releasing of federal funds to students prior to the start of the semester. Students should set up their eRefund accounts in Workday Student so that they are able to receive their funds electronically and sooner. We strongly encourage students to plan to bring sufficient funds to cover their initial month of personal expenses such as food, books and housing. ...Back

Merit Scholarships

Applicants to Suffolk Law School are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. We will review your academic credentials and let you know soon if scholarship money has been awarded. All inquiries about scholarships must be in writing and sent to lawadm@suffolk.edu. ...Back

Need-Based Aid

Need-based aid is awarded through the Office of Financial Aid. Suffolk Endowed (or "Named") scholarships are funded by gifts from alumni and friends of Suffolk University Law School. The funds are awarded each year to students who meet the donors' designated criteria, with annual awards in the range of $200-3,000. The determination of the award recipients are generally based on financial need and scholastic achievement. Students who wish to be considered for Suffolk Endowed and Named scholarships must complete the FAFSA. ...Back

AccessLex

Register with AccessLex to access hundreds of free resources for aspiring lawyers. ...Back

What to Expect

Sample Day Schedule

  Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
9am   Legal Writing   ConLaw  
10am   Contracts   ConLaw  
11am Property ConLaw      
12pm Torts ConLaw Torts Property Contracts
1pm Torts   Torts Contracts  
2pm         Legal Writing

Sample Evening Schedule

  Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
6pm Torts   Contracts Torts  
7pm Torts   Contracts Torts  
8pm Contracts   CivPro Legal Writing  
9pm CivPro     Legal Writing  

Note: These are sample schedules. Each student’s actual 1L schedule will vary.

 

1L Course Descriptions

The first-year curriculum is designed to prepare you to understand the American legal system, sharpen your analytical skills, and lay the foundation for law practice. All entering students are required to take courses on civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, legal practice skills, property, and torts. Day students take five required courses each of the two semesters of first year. Evening students take four courses each semester, typically completing the required courses within the first four semesters. ...Back

Civil Procedure

This course studies the process of civil litigation from the commencement of a lawsuit through final judgment with an emphasis on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Constitutional Law

A survey of topics in American constitutional law, this course establishes a foundation for understanding the allocation of powers between the federal government and the states, separation of powers, and the role of equal protection and due process doctrines in protecting individual rights.

Contracts

Contracts is a course analyzing how a contract is formed and the legal theories of consideration, promissory estoppel, and promissory restitution that have evolved over centuries to make promises legally enforceable. The course then progresses to breach, damages for non-performance, and excuses for non-performance.

Criminal Law

This survey of substantive criminal law repeatedly raises the question: How well does American criminal law fulfill its goals? The course focuses on how criminal statutes are organized around objective offense elements and mental states. Additionally, the course studies one or more specific crimes in depth, including homicide.

Legal Practice Skills

This two-semester, five-credit program is designed to prepare students for the writing and research work expected of the modern practitioner. The course includes issue analysis, writing legal memoranda, preparation of legal briefs and oral arguments, and an introduction to computerized legal research systems.

Property

This course is a study of the acquisition, ownership, and transfer of property, both personal and real, and includes an analysis of ownership concepts, rights of possession, donative transactions, future interests, concurrent interests, landlord and tenant issues, land transactions, and governmental regulations.

Torts

This course considers when actors who cause injury or damage to others must compensate the injured party. Tort liability may be based on intentional invasions of the rights of others, such as assault, battery, false imprisonment, or defamation. Other torts arise from negligent conduct, such as auto accidents and medical malpractice. And some tort claims are based on strict liability, that is, liability for causing injury from an activity even though it is conducted with due care.

Register for the Bar as 1L

Several states provide deep discounts, or require registration for the bar exam while a first-year law student. If you are planning on sitting for the bar in any of these states, please review the registration deadlines.

Alabama
Florida
Iowa
North Dakota
Missouri

To learn more about administration of the bar exam in your state of interest go to NCBEX.org.

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1L Career Services

The Office of Professional and Career Development holds a mandatory orientation session for first-year students in the fall. New students also will schedule an initial meeting with a career counselor. ...Back

Resources

Getting Around

Suffolk Law School is located at the heart of Boston’s extensive public transportation system. We encourage students to use public transit as much as possible and offer discounted semester passes. The deadline to sign up for fall passes will be in July. Suffolk Law School does not provide parking for students. ...Back

Lockers

Student lockers are free and assigned to new students (after paying tuition) beginning in mid-August. (BYO padlock). ...Back

Health Insurance

Massachusetts state regulations require Suffolk University to enroll students who are registered in at least 75 percent of a full time curriculum into a health insurance plan. Based on your registration you will be automatically enrolled in the health plan offered by University Health Plans and the charge will appear on your student account. If you have comparable US based health insurance coverage, you may be eligible to waive the health insurance charge by submitting a waiver form to Health Services. For more information about the insurance and the waiver please visit the Health Insurance Information and Requirements webpage. ...Back

Veterans

Students initiating benefits or who need to file a Change of Status Form should contact the Law Registrar's Office directly. Notification of registration/enrollment cannot be sent to the VA earlier than 30 days prior to the commencement of regular classes. To be eligible for a Yellow Ribbon Scholarship, it is necessary to submit the Certificate of Eligibility sent to you by your VA home office as soon as possible. For more information on Veterans benefits, visit our Veterans/Military Members webpage. ...Back