Bar Passage Program

Academics

Sturm College of Law

The Sturm College of Law has implemented a Bar Passage Program to help JD students improve their academic performance and achieve success on the bar exam. Students who have a cumulative GPA below 3.0 at the end of either Fall or Spring semester following their first semester are automatically placed in the Bar Passage Program to ensure that we can fully support you during your time at the law school.

If a student's cumulative GPA is below a 3.0 at the end of their first semester, they are candidates for the Bar Passage Program. Candidates must satisfy the following requirements in their second semester:

  • Early in the semester in which they are placed in the Bar Passage Program, meet with Professor Diane Kraft, Director of the Academic Achievement Program.
  • Before registration for the next semester, meet with Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Jessica Boynton.
     

If a student increases their cumulative GPA to a 3.0 or higher after their second semester, they are no longer candidates and will not be automatically placed in the Bar Passage Program. However, if a student's cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0 in any subsequent Fall or Spring semester, they will automatically be placed in the Bar Passage Program and will need to satisfy the following requirements to graduate:

  • Enroll in and pass the class Intermediate Legal Analysis (ILA) in the first available Fall after they have been placed in the Bar Passage Program.
  • Early in the semester in which they are placed in the Bar Passage Program, meet with Professor Diane Kraft, Director of the Academic Achievement Program.
  • Before registration for the next semester, meet with Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Jessica Boynton. Subsequent academic advising meetings with Dean Boynton before registration each semester are also required.
  • Participate in programming as communicated by the Sturm College of Law.
  • In the final semester before graduation, enroll in and pass the class Legal Analysis Strategies (LAS).
     

You can find a description of the Bar Passage Program in the Student Handbook here.

For questions, please contact: law-barsuccess@du.edu.