Chapter 7: Law School Policies and Procedures

Academic Leave
A student who requires an academic leave must apply for permission, in writing, to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. Academic leaves will be granted only upon a showing of compelling circumstances. Upon recommendation of the Dean, the University will remit tuition (except for the admissions seat deposit submitted by incoming first-year students) as follows:

100% for academic leaves granted prior to the first week of classes
100% for academic leaves granted during the first week of classes
75% for academic leaves granted during the second week of classes
50% for academic leaves granted during the third week of classes
25% for academic leaves granted during the fourth week of classes
0% for academic leaves granted thereafter

The deadline to apply for an academic leave is the same as the last day of classes or prior to the date that 25 percent of the course’s grade has been determined, whichever is earlier. Academic leaves are granted for no more than a total of two semesters during the entire length of a student’s law school career. The dean’s office may grant limited exceptions to this rule upon showing of compelling circumstances beyond a student’s control. Consult the Office of Academic Records for withdrawal deadline for the semester.

Entering students are expected to complete both semesters of the first-year curriculum during the academic year in which they enroll. First-year students who are granted an Academic leave during their first semester are eligible to return only for the fall semester of the following academic year. First-year students who are granted an Academic leave after the completion of their first semester are eligible to return only for the spring semester of the following academic year, at which time they must complete the required second semester courses.

To Return From An Academic Leave: Prior to the end of the semester in which the leave is scheduled to expire, the student must notify the Office of Enrollment Management that he or she expects to return to school at the beginning of the following semester by submitting a completed (Re-enrollment Form). If such form is not received in a timely manner the student may be ineligible to register for classes.

Accommodations
It is the policy and practice of Hofstra University School of Law to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as with state and local requirements regarding students and applicants with disabilities. Under these laws, no qualified individual with a disability will be denied access to or participation in any services, programs or activities of Hofstra University School of Law.

Policy: Students with disabilities who require accommodations must make those needs known to the Office of Student Affairs in a timely manner. It is the responsibility of the student to provide appropriate documentation, in accordance with the Law School’s posted disability procedure. Information on the student’s disability and accommodations is treated as confidential information under applicable federal and state laws and University policies, and is provided only to individuals who are privileged to receive such information on a need-to-know basis.

Procedure: Students who wish to request accommodations must provide appropriate documentation to the Office of Student Affairs and are advised to meet with a representative of this office to develop an appropriate accommodation plan. Students must submit an exam accommodation request form and accompanying documentation by the deadline announced for such requests each semester. They must be renewed each semester.

Students who do not require accommodations need not make their disabilities known. In cases where only minor accommodations are required (such as requesting to sit in the front row because of a visual or hearing impairment), the student should feel free to simply make a request of the faculty member.

Students requesting accommodations due to temporary disability must provide current documentation verifying the nature of the condition, state the expected duration of the condition and describe the accommodations deemed necessary. A professional health care provider who is qualified to diagnose such conditions must provide such verification. The cost of obtaining the professional verification shall be borne by the student. Verification from a physician demonstrating that the particular accommodations are medically necessary is required. If the initial verification is incomplete or inadequate to determine the extent of the disability and appropriate accommodations, the Law School has the discretion to require supplemental assessment of a temporary disability. The cost of the supplemental assessment must be borne by the student. If the Law School requires an additional assessment for the purpose of obtaining a second professional opinion, then the Law School will bear any cost not covered by any third-party payer. The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs will consider requests for accommodations for a temporary disability on a case-by-case basis.

Grievance Procedure: Students who request accommodations from faculty or staff members and believe that such accommodations have been wrongly denied, or believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of their disability, should bring this matter to the attention of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. If the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs is unable to resolve this matter informally, or if the student is unsatisfied with the resolution, the student may file a grievance with the Dean within 30 days of the denial or resolution. Grievances filed with the Dean must be in writing and will receive a written response.

Students with disabilities that are beyond the scope of the Law School should address these concerns to Dr. Karin Spencer, Associate Dean and Director of University Advisement and Coordinator of the Program for the Higher Education of the Disabled (PHED) at 463-6770.

Computer Services: Computer support is available at the University in a variety of formats. The Axinn Library has a Kurzweil machine, which converts printed text to computer speech and is helpful for students with reading difficulties as a supplement to other sources, such as taped texts. Outside of the Law School, computers of varying levels of sophistication are frequently acquired. Among the current offerings that may be of assistance are a scanner to scan large portions of printed text and convert it into text readable on a computer disk, and Macintosh computers in the Calkins Hall computer lab that have screen enlarger programs.

Attendance
The Law School, ABA and the New York State Court of Appeals require students to be in good and regular attendance during the academic year for the courses in which they are registered. Attendance may be taken in particular classes; absenteeism for placement interviewing is not an excused absence within the meaning of the attendance policy.

Policy: Students are expected to attend classes regularly and to prepare for classes conscientiously. Any attendance guidelines for a given class must be provided to students in a syllabus or other written document at the start of the semester. Sanctions (e.g., required withdrawal from the course and/or a failing grade) will be imposed for poor attendance.

Concentrations
Students have the opportunity to concentrate in one or more specialties that match their interests and career plans. Concentrations must be declared by the start of your last year of studies. To declare a concentration, you must file the appropriate application (PDF) with the Office of Academic Records. Applications are available in Room 114 and online at http://law.hofstra.edu/Academics/AcademicRecords/Programs-of-Study-Juris-Doctor-Degree-Concentrations.html.

A concentration allows the law student to focus on and explore a specific area or areas in which their career interests lie. A list of concentration advisors and courses that satisfy each concentration are provided can be found at the web site listed above.

Concentration Areas

Grade Changes
A faculty member may change a grade only “for good cause shown.” The faculty member must submit a formal grade change request to the Dean’s Office for approval. The request must be in writing and must contain the reason for the change. “Good cause” encompasses computational and clerical errors, but would not normally encompass re-evaluation of judgment in grading, except in extraordinary circumstances. The decision to approve the request rests with the Dean’s Office. No grade change should result in the lowering of any other student’s grade after grades have been submitted and announced.

Grade Appeals

Outside Employment
The study of law is demanding and requires the full attention of the student. Accordingly, outside employment during the academic year is strongly discouraged except where it involves participation in Law School-sponsored programs integrally related to the curriculum. For students enrolled in more than 12 credits in a semester or more than 6 credits in a summer term, employment shall not exceed a commitment of more than 20 hours a week under any circumstances.

Transfer of Credits; Visiting at Other Law Schools
There will be no academic credit granted at the Law School for any studies done elsewhere at the University unless the studies are part of a program approved by the Law School or the student has obtained prior permission from the Dean's Office.

There will be no academic credit granted for studies at other law schools except in the case of a transfer student or a student who has obtained prior permission from the Dean's Office. Permission to visit at another school will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances. Such circumstances include a death or extreme illness in the student's immediate family which necessitates a move to another city in order to alleviate severe financial, medical or other stress, and similar situations. (This policy does not apply to requests to attend a summer study abroad program sponsored by another law school. Such requests will generally be approved, provided the program in question is approved by the ABA.) In any event, grades earned in courses taken at other law schools or at other schools of Hofstra University will not be counted in the computation of a student's grade point average. (See also Study Abroad.)

Students who wish to participate in an ABA-approved summer study abroad program offered by another law school must obtain prior written permission from the Assistant Dean for Student Services.

Videotaping Policy
Videotaping of classes is conducted in very limited circumstances. Videotaping of classes may be permitted:


Taping in such cases will be arranged by the Office of Student Affairs, after consulting with the student(s) involved, and using a taping request form available from the Office of Student Affairs. In all cases, videotaping will be subject to the permission of the instructor and the resources of the Law School’s Audio/Visual staff. Please note that some faculty members do not permit their classes to be taped, and that the Law School's "good and regular attendance" policy remains in effect, irrespective of whether a particular class has been taped or not.

Audio taping of classes may be personally conducted by a student with the professor's consent.

Withdrawal from the School of Law
If a student finds it necessary to withdraw from the Law School, the student must apply in writing to the Office of Student Affairs for permission to withdraw. The student may be entitled to tuition remission. The amount of remission diminishes as the student attendance at the School of Law lengthens. Upon recommendation from the Dean, the University will remit tuition (except the admissions seat deposit submitted by incoming first-year students) as follows:

100% tuition refund for withdrawal prior to the first week of classes
100% tuition refund for withdrawal during the first week of classes
75% tuition refund for withdrawal during the second week of classes
50% tuition refund for withdrawal during the third week of classes
25% tuition refund for withdrawal during the fourth week of classes
0% tuition refund for withdrawal thereafter

NOTE: For the purpose of the refund calculation for Fall 2008, the first day of classes is considered to be:
Tuesday, August 12, 2008, for all first-year students
Monday, August 18, 2008, for all continuing students

This schedule complies with federal regulations of the U.S. Department of Education. A copy of these regulations is on file at the Office of Financial Aid, Room 250, Law School. A student who withdraws during any semester without approval of the Dean is not entitled to remission of tuition and will automatically receive a failing grade in all courses.

A student who withdraws from the Law School is not entitled to return and must reapply for admission if s/he is interested in returning. Re-admission is not guaranteed. If the student is readmitted, the Law School may accept or reject any or all of the previously earned credits.