Frequently Asked Questions

When is Wintersession?
Wintersession 2012 will take place from Wednesday, January 4, to Saturday, January 7.

Do I get credit for Wintersession courses?
Yes. With one exception, each course will be worth a half-credit.  To receive credit, students must attend six hours of class (three hours on each of two days), and complete any in-class or out-of-class assignments given. One course will be worth a full credit and will require enrolled students to attend class for three hours on four successive days (Wednesday through Saturday).

Are Wintersession courses graded?
All Wintersession courses are graded on a credit/no credit basis.  Students who prepare for and attend class, complete assignments, and show a basic level of proficiency will receive credit.  The classes will have no impact on GPAs.

Who can take Wintersession courses?
Courses will be open to 2Ls, 3Ls, and LLMs.  1Ls will have LARW classes but are encouraged to take advantage of the lunchtime programming during Wintersession. 1Ls who are dual-degree students and who started their programs in the Summer of 2011 may enroll in one of the following classes: Doing Business in China; Human Rights Case Study: National Security Biometric Dataveillance Policy; or The Practice and Strategic Development of International Transactions.

Is there any cost associated with taking a Wintersession course?
No.  Wintersession courses will be considered part of the Spring Term for tuition purposes.

Who will be teaching Wintersession classes?
Some Wintersession classes will be taught by current faculty, but the majority of them will feature alumni practitioners coming back to Duke for the week. This makes Wintersession a great opportunity for you to network and to meet successful practitioners in your field of interest.

Can I take more than one class?
Yes. If you find two (.5 unit) classes that don’t overlap (and there should be plenty of options), you may take two courses during Wintersession. You may enroll in courses totaling up to one full credit.

How do I register for Wintersession?
Registration for Wintersession will occur on Oct. 5 and 6. 3Ls and LLMs will register on Oct. 5 starting at 8 AM, while 2Ls and dual-degree 1Ls will register on Oct. 6 starting at 8 AM. The Drop/Add period will end at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 20, so all decisions about taking Wintersession classes must be finalized by that time. No classes may be dropped after Dec. 20.

How will this impact spring semester course-loads?
Wintersession classes will count toward the Spring semester course load only if that is beneficial to you.  Thus, if you need one credit from Wintersession to count so your Spring course load qualifies as full-time, it will count toward the Spring. If you are planning to take the maximum credits in the Spring, and the Wintersession credit would put you over the limit, then the Wintersession credit will not count toward the Spring.

What courses will be offered?
Course offerings may change based on enrollment, but we plan to offer the following:

  1. Deposition Practice
  2. Drafting Discovery Requests and Motions
  3. In-house Investigations
  4. Introduction to the Bankruptcy System
  5. Capital Markets Financing and Advanced Business Strategy
  6. Doing Business in China
  7. Basics of Accounting
  8. Contract Drafting
  9. Corporate Counsel 101
  10. Creating an Entity
  11. International Human Rights Case Study
  12. Government Contract Litigation (new)
  13. Drafting Civil Motions and Oppositions (new)
  14. Litigation Strategy in the Corporate Context(new)
  15. The Real World of Civil Litigation: A View from the Plaintiff’s and the Defendant’s Side (new)
  16. Neuroscience, Juries, and Decision-Making (new)
  17. The Practice and Strategic Development of International Transactions (new)

What else is happening during Wintersession?
A limited number of lunchtime events will be offered.