Academic Achievement and Bar Success Programs

Academic Achievement Program Information

• First-Year Students

  Orientation Academic Sessions

  Orientation includes several sessions for 1Ls designed to introduce incoming students to the foundations for being successful in law courses. These sessions cover topics including, but not limited to, the U.S. legal system, sources of law, legal reasoning, briefing cases, preparing for class, the Socratic method, note-taking, study methods to synthesize material after class, and preparing for exams.

  AAP Leader for each Section of First-Year Substantive Courses

  Upper-level students work with first-year students in a variety of settings under the training and supervision of Professor Diane Kraft, Director of the Academic Achievement Program. Each semester, outstanding upper-level students are selected to work with AAP in coordination with the professor of the class. The focus of the group meetings is on the development of academic skills in the context of a particular substantive course. Leaders also work individually with first-year students to address specific concerns. Topics addressed by the leaders include case reading and briefing, note-taking in class, outlining, exam preparation, and exam writing. Current DU students can find more information on the AAP and Bar Success Canvas page.

  Individual Conference with Professor Diane Kraft

  Any student is encouraged to make an individual appointment with Professor Diane Kraft to discuss academic performance issues, particularly after receiving midterm exam results.

  Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 after the first semester will meet with Professor Kraft to undertake a diagnostic review to determine the reasons for the low GPA and to develop a program to address any issues identified.

• Upper-Level Students

  Individual Meetings with Professor Kraft

  Professor Kraft is available to meet with upper-level students to address any academic performance concerns.