The University of Dayton School of Law's degree program is unique in that you can choose to start taking classes in May or August. If you begin in May, you have the option to finish your degree in just two years and still enjoy a summer off for work or externship experience.

Becoming a law student means becoming one of the busiest yet most dedicated scholars to pass through a university. UDSL’s two-year option is the perfect tool to help you fit a legal education into your lifestyle.

Who Should Earn a Law Degree in Two Years?

• Professionals who crave a mid-career change
• Graduates who have completed other advanced degree programs and desire a fast track to a legal career
• Parents who want to pursue a new career now that their children are older
• Anyone who craves the challenge of fast-paced academic life

While the academic pace is quicker than the more traditional three-year schedule, when you take advantage of  the two-year option you enroll in the same rigorous course load and have the same opportunities to participate in special programs, like externships and clinics, as well as extracurriculars, like Law Review and Mock Trial. The two-year option affords you a traditional education that blends theory and practice while teaching outstanding problem-solving skills. Your solid background in traditional legal theory will be augmented by the curricular track you choose to enter.

If you choose to begin your legal studies at the traditional fall start time, you still can opt for the accelerated pace and finish in five semesters.  

Begin classes in May 2008 and graduate in May 2010, or begin classes in August 2008 and graduate in December 2010. Here's how:

Summer Start - 2-year program:

• 1st semester - 18 credit hours - May-August
• 2nd semester - 18 credit hours - August-December
• 3rd semester - 18 credit hours - January-May
• Summer off for work experience
• 4th semester - 18 credit hours - August-December
• 5th semester - 18 credit hours - January-May

Fall Start - 2 1/2-year program:

• 1st semester - 18 credit hours - August-December
• 2nd semester - 18 credit hours - January-May
• Summer off for work experience
• 3rd semester - 18 credit hours - August-December
• 4th semester - 18 credit hours - January-May
• Summer off for work experience
• 5th semester - 18 credit hours - August-December

For further details on this innovative program, contact the Office of Admissions at (937) 229-3555 or by e-mail.

	Omar Tarazi, summer starter says, "Being able to graduate in two years instead of three is very important to me. I'm the kind of person who enjoys the intesity of studying at a faster pace, and getting back into the workforce a whole year earlier makes the most financial sense for me and my family."
	Shahrzad Allen, fall starter says, “I wasn’t sure at first that the five-semester option was what I wanted because of the workload, but I knew if I made it through the first year I would have the confidence to continue. And, the five-semester schedule will allow me to study and sit for the bar while my kids are in school."
	Lori Shaw, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Professor of Lawyering Skills says, "Many students have gone through college at an accelerated pace and are looking for a similar law school experience. Others simply have life circumstances that are better suited to a two-year program. We want to make sure our students have options that best fit their goals and lifestyle."