Summer Start
Students pursuing the JD/LLM in International and Comparative Law, JD/MA, and JD/MS dual degrees begin their studies at Duke in the summer, earlier than the rest of their cohort. Students pursuing the JD/MBA also have the option to jump into law school early. Beginning in June before their first full year of law school, summer-starters take two of the Law School's core first-year courses, such as Contracts and Property. This allows JD/LLM, JD/MA, and JD/MS students to begin work on their master's degree during their first year of law school, and graduate with the rest of their class that starts in the fall. JD/MBA students may pursue upper-level law school coursework during the fall and spring of their first year.
Although one advantage of the summer start is the flexibility it adds to dual-degree study, students find it appealing for other reasons as well. The lighter course-load allows for a slightly more relaxed introduction to legal study. And the small class size (there are typically around 45 summer-starters) helps students form a close bond with each other and get to know their professors well.
The Summer Start Experience
Professor Thomas B. Metzloff discusses the Law School's summer start program for dual-degree students. Metzloff is teaching Civil Procedure to this year's summer cohort.