Taking language classes as a law student Forum

[barley]

0L here - I was wondering if most law schools give students the opportunity to enroll in language classes (I assume at their undergrad campuses?), ideally for no extra tuition. If so, is it a manageable thing to do? Would it be better to start as a 2L or second semester 1L instead of right away?

I'd really like to take classes to improve my Spanish (and, hopefully, my employability and utility in the future). I took it for six years in middle/high school and retained a decent amount of the fundamentals, so I thankfully wouldn't be starting from scratch.

Thank you!

[BigZuck]

0L here - I was wondering if most law schools give students the opportunity to enroll in language classes (I assume at their undergrad campuses?), ideally for no extra tuition. If so, is it a manageable thing to do? Would it be better to start as a 2L or second semester 1L instead of right away?

I'd really like to take classes to improve my Spanish (and, hopefully, my employability and utility in the future). I took it for six years in middle/high school and retained a decent amount of the fundamentals, so I thankfully wouldn't be starting from scratch.

Thank you!

You can do it at my school after the first year. You get half a credit for every credit (so if it's a 4 credit Spanish class you get 2 units worth of credit). You can only use a certain amount (6 units? 12?) that applies toward JD requirements. The grade does not factor into your law school GPA. We effectively pay for each unit we take (no idea how the money shakes out with the half credit thing)

That's how my school rolls at least.

[CanadianWolf]

Another alternative is to take a language immersion course during the 1L summer if no SA available. Probably expensive, but Middlebury College in Vermont is well known for summer foreign language immersion programs. Or just go to Spain for the summer. Also, many law schools offer summer study abroad programs.

[BVest]

UT allows it at some reduced credit, though there's a limit to the number of hours you can take.

a student may count no more than 21 credit hours of combined credits from internships, directed research offerings, non-law graduate level classes, and undergraduate language classes in order to complete the 86 credit hour requirement for a JD degree.

[Desert Fox]

[BigZuck]

UT allows it at full credit, though there's a limit to the number of hours you can take.

a student may count no more than 21 credit hours of combined credits from internships, directed research offerings, non-law graduate level classes, and undergraduate language classes in order to complete the 86 credit hour requirement for a JD degree.

I think that's wrong

New website is messing with my googling but when I google "Ut law language classes" this is the preview:

https://www.utexas.edu › sao › academics
Law students taking undergraduate language courses will be permitted to apply one credit hour per two and a half ...

[BVest]

UT allows it at full credit, though there's a limit to the number of hours you can take.

a student may count no more than 21 credit hours of combined credits from internships, directed research offerings, non-law graduate level classes, and undergraduate language classes in order to complete the 86 credit hour requirement for a JD degree.

I think that's wrong

New website is messing with my googling but when I google "Ut law language classes" this is the preview:

https://www.utexas.edu › sao › academics
Law students taking undergraduate language courses will be permitted to apply one credit hour per two and a half ...

Well that makes sense. Edited above. And the new website is terrible.

ETA: FWIW, there's also a grad student intro to Spanish course that's listed for fewer credit hours than regular intro to Spanish. I don't know if that's available for law students or not. It's called like "Spanish for Grad Students in Other Programs" to indicate that it's not meant for Spanish grad students.

[BigZuck]

UT allows it at full credit, though there's a limit to the number of hours you can take.

a student may count no more than 21 credit hours of combined credits from internships, directed research offerings, non-law graduate level classes, and undergraduate language classes in order to complete the 86 credit hour requirement for a JD degree.

I think that's wrong

New website is messing with my googling but when I google "Ut law language classes" this is the preview:

https://www.utexas.edu › sao › academics
Law students taking undergraduate language courses will be permitted to apply one credit hour per two and a half ...

Well that makes sense. Edited above. And the new website is terrible.

ETA: FWIW, there's also a grad student intro to Spanish course that's listed for fewer credit hours than regular intro to Spanish. I don't know if that's available for law students or not. It's called like "Spanish for Grad Students in Other Programs" to indicate that it's not meant for Spanish grad students.

There's also a Spanish for lawyers class (last year it was offered at least). I think the expectation is that you're decently proficient (or at least not a total beginner).

Anyway OP it'll depend on the school most likely

[A. Nony Mouse]

ETA: FWIW, there's also a grad student intro to Spanish course that's listed for fewer credit hours than regular intro to Spanish. I don't know if that's available for law students or not. It's called like "Spanish for Grad Students in Other Programs" to indicate that it's not meant for Spanish grad students.

My grad university offered courses with titles like these; they're usually crash courses in being able to read academic scholarship in whatever language, and ignore speaking/writing, since academics frequently need to be able to read research in foreign languages more than they need to be able to speak/write those languages. Obviously I don't know if that's what UT does, but wanted to mention the possibility.

[barley]

Thanks, everyone!

Is taking a language class fairly common for law students? Assuming good time management skills, is it reasonable to take an extra class and still manage normal coursework and extracurriculars?

Thanks again, I appreciate it!

[dudders]

Most schools would permit this. Don't do it during 1L. Assume it won't count for anything toward your JD, and that it can either be done free or at relatively nominal additional cost.

May not be as feasible if you plan to intern during the year. (At my undergrad, foreign language classes were either daily or 4x/wk.) Also keep in mind that non-law classes may be on a different academic schedule.