Inter American University School of Law
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
The JD Program
Juris Doctor
The Juris Doctor degree is the core academic offering at the School of Law. The current curriculum includes 62 credit hours on mandatory courses and 30 credits on elective courses. The electives courses are classified in required electives and free electives. Credits in Legal Theory, International Law and advance writing experience are required electives.
A degree of Juris Doctor is granted when a student complete 92 credits, and comply with mandatory courses, specific or required electives courses and other graduation requirements like Bar Simulated Exam.
Inter-Law offers the students the opportunity to emphasize in eight (8) areas of legal interest or concentrations. This strategy encourages students to structure their elective courses enrollment considering the articulated areas of interest or concentrations. The legal areas of interest are (1) Constitutional and Administrative Law; (2) International Law; (3) Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure; (4) Civil Law; (5) Theory and Social Justice; (6) Women’s Rights and Gender; (7) Estate and Federal Advocacy; and (8) Technology and Law.
Clinical Program
The Legal Clinic is an integral part of the curriculum at Inter-Law. Through our clinical program, students offer legal services with a supervising professor leading the procedures in court. Our Legal Clinic has a consortium with the Community Legal Office, Inc., an organization that offers free legal representation to underserved and underrepresented communities. Participating students accumulate four (4) experiential credits when they enroll in this program. Students that participate in the Legal Clinic Program can expect to work on civil and criminal cases litigated in the courts in Puerto Rico, representing clients in court proceedings, active participation in preparing presentations for local, national and international forums, and a variety of other legal assistance services. Besides, the Legal Clinic Program features specialized clinics, like Human Rights Clinic, the Education and Citizen Participation Clinic, the Mortgage Execution Clinic, the Environmental Law Clinic, Access to Information Clinic, Project Innocence, Justice for Children Program, Right to City Project and the Domestic Violence Clinic.
Pro-Bono
As a community service-oriented institution, Inter-Law has a robust Pro-Bono Program. The purpose of the Pro-Bono Program is to facilitate and promote access to justice. Similar to the Legal Clinic Program, students who participate in the Pro-Bono Program have the opportunity to serve underrepresented communities with the supervision of a licensed and school-certified attorney. Although students do not receive credit for their Pro-Bono service, they do get their service hours certified in their academic transcript.
Internationalization Programs
Inter-Law offers a variety of academic experiences abroad. Our Summer Programs in China, Spain and Italy are staples of our curriculum. Aligned with our academic standards, these programs feature courses offered by members of our prestigious faculty and celebrated jurists from each country.
Inter-Law has collaborative agreements with Harris Manchester College of Oxford University in the U.K. and Universidad de Girona in Spain. There are particular academic requirements to participate in these programs, and interested students compete for a chance to participate every year. Students also have the opportunity of participating in exchange programs.
During each Easter break, students have a chance to take a 1-credit course in a Latin American country, with a comparative law and/or international law focus. In recent years, these academic experiences have included visits to Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Cuba. Furthermore, the School of Law is constantly working to develop innovative internationalization projects for its students.
Law Reviews
Inter-Law students have the opportunity to participate in Inter American University Law Review, Journal of Critical Studies of Law (CLAVE) and AMICUS Review. These journals and reviews publish legal, critical, and analytical articles, notes and comments written by law scholars, students, and lawyers as well as on written by student members of the journal.
Inter American University Law Review is one of the most recognized legal reviews in Puerto Rico and has been published consistently for more than 50 years. IAUPR Law Review courses are geared to promote critical analysis of different aspects of law through legal research, and to improve students’ writing skills. Each semester every editor must carry out sound legal research on one of the current aspects of law. Out of all the articles submitted, the editorial board selects a limited number for publication.
The Journal of Critical Studies of Law (CLAVE) is a joint project of Latina/Latino Critical Legal Theory (LatCrit, Inc.), a legal progressive movement, and the School of Law. CLAVE is an academic journal that explores the ways in which States, laws and other forces and speeches are subject to nationalized, gendered, racialized, and sexualized profiles. The Journal also explores the multiple modes of resistance to state power, colonialism, imperialism, and the diaspora. With an interdisciplinary approach to law, CLAVE accepts articles from many disciplines such as cultural studies, literary studies, political theory and science, sociology, philosophy, and ethnic and racial studies. This journal has links with organizations related to the critical legal studies in Puerto Rico, the United States and Latin America. This has allowed the student members of the journal to participate in academic events on critical legal studies in the United States and Latin America.
AMICUS is a digital platform whose main purpose is to serve as a space for the immediate publication of short, but rigorous, articles on issues of current importance. AMICUS has an Editorial Board composed, by faculty members and students.
Student Life
Students Council and Student Organizations
At Inter-Law, we support and promote active participation in student organizations. Accredited student organizations complement formal legal education in social and professional aspects. They aim to promote co-curricular, cultural, recreational, social and sports activities. In order to remain accredited, all student organizations must perform community service. At Inter Law, you will find a varied offer of student organizations and you are sure to find one that suits you interests.
The Students Council is the principal student organization that officially represents all students in each of the academic units of the Inter American University of Puerto Rico. The Students Council analyses the needs and proposals of the students, and discusses the problems of the university community. Its main purpose is to contribute to the fulfillment of the educational function of the University. In addition, freely and responsibly, it encourages the full exercise of the rights and duties of all students in harmony with the mission and institutional goals. The Students Council facilitates the work of students organizations.
About Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico brings you the best of the Caribbean: over 270 miles of white-sand beaches, balmy temperatures throughout the year (we never get into the triple digits), tropical flavors and rhythms.
The School is located in Puerto Rico, a Commonwealth of the United States of America. All Puerto Ricans are American citizens. The banking, postal and judicial systems, and communications, international transportation and commerce are under US federal laws and regulations. The US dollar is the official currency. Both Spanish and English are official languages. All major American airlines connect US mainland cities to Puerto Rico. We enjoy a tropical climate with average temperatures of 80º F in the coast and 70º F in the mountain region and have over 200 miles of beautiful beaches and the only rain forest within a US jurisdiction.
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Tuition and Aid
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition |
$14,550.00
|
| Fees |
$1,130.00
|
| Expected Cost of Attendance |
$22,335.00
|
There is a deferred payment plan and financial aid options that include the Federal Direct Loan Program, Stafford loans, the Commonwealth Education Fund, the State Student Incentive Grants program, the Federal Work-Study Program, and alternative loans for the regular academic program as well as for bar study (bar exam loans). The university also has an Honor Scholarship program for law students based on academic accomplishment and financial need.
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
Criteria that will govern the admission process for new students:
The Admissions Committee may adopt the criteria that will govern the admission process every six months. The selection of new students will be based on all the information offered in the application for admission.
Applicants for admission to the Juris Doctor program should complete the admission application in www.derecho.inter.edu or www.lsac.org. Applicants must submit official university transcripts to the Law School and the LSAC, be registered in the CREDENTIAL ASSEMBLY SERVICE (CAS) and submit to the Law School any other document regarding his or her good conduct and good standing for legal education.
Candidates must satisfy admission requirements based on the following quantitative standards:
- UGPA | Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or its equivalent.
- Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
If the applicant understands that there is any information about his or her personal or academic circumstances, social or economic condition or disability status that merits being reported to the Admissions Committee for its consideration, he or she may submit a personal statement. The essay may not exceed two double-spaced, letter-size pages.
Upon admission, new students must take a Preparatory Course which will facilitate the integration and adaptation to legal studies. The main topics of the Course are: Legal Systems, Sources of Law, Legal Reasoning, State and Law, Law and Society, Legal Bibliography and Online Research Tools. The course includes sessions about Class Dynamics and Exams with topics on preparing for classes, how to study for exams, how to study for classes, how to answer exam questions and good study habits in general.
Admitted Applicant Profile
