Educational Courses of Study

Juris Doctorate Program

Learning Outcomes for the Juris Doctor Degree Program

  1. A Nebraska Law graduate will acquire a broad-based knowledge and understanding of substantive and procedural law along with the legal, analytical reasoning, and complex problem solving skills necessary to apply this knowledge in professional work. 

  2. A Nebraska Law graduate will acquire legal research and oral and written communication skills.

  3. A Nebraska Law graduate will acquire the foundational knowledge and understanding necessary to exercise proper professional and ethical responsibilities to clients and the legal system. 

  4. A Nebraska Law graduate will acquire the foundational knowledge and understanding necessary to represent clients and to organize and perform complex or specialized professional work. 

  5. A Nebraska Law graduate will acquire the foundational knowledge necessary to understand institutional roles, legal structures and how legal processes operate in the United States and the world.

  6. A Nebraska Law graduate will acquire the foundational knowledge and understanding necessary to work successfully with clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and to collaborate successfully with other professions and professionals.

  7. A Nebraska Law graduate will have the opportunity to serve the community.

  8. A Nebraska Law graduate will have the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to creatively solve complex problems, to resolve conflicts, and to lead others.
Joint Degree Programs

Learning Outcomes for Joint Degree Programs

  1. Juris Doctorate and Master of Arts in Social Gerontology. The Juris Doctorate and Master of Arts in Social Gerontology joint degree program (“J.D./M.A.”) is designed for law students who desire to develop a unique expertise and knowledge in the field of elder law, or who are considering an administrative position in the area of gerontology and seek to bring a legal perspective to their administrative work.

  2. Juris Doctorate and Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. The Juris Doctorate and Graduate Certificate in Gerontology joint program (“J.D./Graduate Gerontology Certificate”) is designed for law students who desire a broader perspective on the social, psychological and health issues that confront the elderly and the social programs and services that are available to support the needs of the elderly population. 

  3. Juris Doctorate and Master of Journalism and Mass Communications. The Joint J.D.-M.A. degree in Journalism and Mass Communications is designed to better prepare students for a variety of professional roles in which the knowledge, skills and background of both law and journalism are important. These roles can be found in a variety of settings in the public and private sectors as well as in teaching and research.

    The world of journalism and the world of law are closely interrelated. Students who study the role of media in a globalized world will confront legal structures and processes. Students who seek a law degree will often encounter processes in the media and need to understand the role of journalism in a democratic society. Students in each discipline can benefit from a better and more sophisticated understanding of the structures and processes of the other.

  4. Juris Doctorate and Masters of Community and Regional Planning. The increasing complexity of issues relating to physical, economic, and social well-being in the world today and in the future calls for broader knowledge and greater depth of understanding by decision makers who are attempting to resolve those issues and thereby improve the quality of life.  Professionals in the fields of law and planning are commonly called upon to assist in the definition and resolution of these complex issues.  Persons educated both in the law and in planning generally are better equipped to understand these difficult problems and are better prepared to identify the appropriate legal and institutional resources to address such problems.

    The intent of this joint degree program is to prepare students for a variety of professional roles in which the knowledge, skills, and background of both the planner and lawyer are important.  These roles include, but are not limited to, professional work in the following areas: land use planning and growth management, city planning and management, land development, human services planning, advocacy planning, environmental planning and management, and mediation and conflict resolution.

  5. Juris Doctorate and Master of Political Science. The Joint J.D.-M.A. Degree in Political Science is designed to better prepare students for a variety of professional roles in which the knowledge, skills and background of both law and political science are important.  These roles can be found in a variety of settings in the public and private sectors as well as in teaching and research.

    The world of government and politics and the world of law are closely interrelated.  Students who study political institutions and processes will confront legal structures and processes.  Students who seek a law degree will often encounter political institutions and processes.  Students in each discipline can benefit from a better and more sophisticated understanding of the structures and processes of the other.

  6. Juris Doctorate and Doctor of Philosophy (or Master of Arts) in Psychology. Students in the joint Law/Psychology program study and apply theory and research from social, cognitive, clinical and developmental psychology to problems in law and policy. Students who complete this degree program go on to careers in academia, trial consulting, applied research, behavioral analysis, policy research and analysis, and clinical forensic psychology.

  7. Juris Doctorate and Master of Arts in History. The joint Law/History program is designed to better prepare students for a variety of professional roles in which the knowledge, skills and background of both law and history are important. These roles can be found in a variety of settings in the public and private sectors as well as in teaching and research.

  8. Juris Doctorate and Masters in Business Administration. The Law/Business Administration program is designed to integrate the study of law and business and thus expand career opportunities.  Students who complete both degrees often go on to become transactional attorneys or corporate in-house counsel or compliance officers, non-profit directors, management consultants, investment bankers, human resource officers, entrepreneurs, or business owners.

  9. Juris Docrotrate and Masters in Public Accountancy. The need for professionals with backgrounds in accounting and law are rapidly increasing. Retirement and estate planning, internal auditing, corporate accounting, and forensic accounting are growing fields, and tax attorneys and FBI tax agents are in high demand.

    The Law/Public Accountancy joint degree program combines concepts and analytic methods from both fields.  Students who complete the program will take a wide breadth of courses that provide interdisciplinary insights, preparing them to sit for both the Bar exam and CPA exam.

Graduate Degree Programs

Learning Outcomes for Graduate Degree Programs

  1. Masters of Legal Studies. The law pervades much of American life today. People in all walks of life, including administration, business, education, science, and public service often find themselves making decisions that have legal implications, and academics often find themselves researching interdisciplinary topics that have legal components. The Master of Legal Studies degree is designed for individuals who are not interested in practicing law but who are interested in developing a better understanding of the law as it affects their non-legal careers or areas of interest. Students may pursue the Master of Legal Studies degree on its own or in combination with another graduate degree.

  2. LL.M. Degree in Space, Cyber and Telecommunications Law. The LL.M. degree in Space, Cyber and Telecommunications law, offered both in-residence and online, is designed for students with a J.D. or foreign law degree seeking further specialization in the growing-fields of space, cyber and telecommunications law. Students seeking careers in these fields within the military, civilian government or commercial sector, or alternatively seeking to strengthen their practice in other areas of law with clients having a cyber presence or that come from the aerospace industry, benefit from an integrated curriculum in these fields as well as in the related fields of international law, international business, and national security law. Students learn the major U.S. and international regulatory structures and disciplines governing the space and cyber domains and the supporting legal fields of international law, international business law, and national security law, as well as exploring the interplay of law and technology more generally. Students develop the ability to conduct legal analysis, reasoning, and research in a rapidly changing legal and technological environment.

  3. LL.M. Degree in Global Legal Practice. The LL.M. degree in Global Legal Practice is designed for students with a foreign law degree who seek to expand their knowledge of U.S., comparative, and international law and prepare for the global practice of law.   Students in the program study at the University of Nebraska College of Law for one year and must obtain 24 credit hours to graduate.  They take courses alongside J.D. students.  As part of the program, they must complete a one-credit course on Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Constitutional Principles for LL.M. students, the Law College’s first-year course on International Perspectives in the U.S. Legal System: Practicing Law in a Global Legal Environment (2 credit hours), Legal Research and Writing (2 credit hours), and Professional Responsibility (3 credit hours).  Students can choose their remaining courses from among those offered at the Law College and can focus their studies on any number of fields of their choice.  Students also have the opportunity, with the approval of the Executive Director and Academic Director, to pursue an externship experience that allows them to apply their coursework learning to a real-life legal practice setting. 

    By virtue of these requirements and opportunities, students are expected to develop a general understanding of U.S., comparative, and international law and the ability to conduct legal analysis and reasoning relating to the intersections of these fields.  They are also expected to develop basic oral and written communication skills in English, as well as the knowledge necessary to exercise proper professional and ethical responsibilities to clients and the U.S. legal system.  Students who complete the degree may be eligible to take the bar exam, and seek admission to the bar, in a number of states.

  4. J.S.D. Degree in Space Law. The Doctor of the Science of Law at Nebraska Law is a doctoral degree for students seeking to do advanced research in Space Law. Research-focused and dissertation-based, the J.S.D. program requires students to write a book-length thesis about an aspect of space law. The degree broadens opportunities for experienced lawyers and legal scholars to delve into the very intricate and complex issues facing the regulation of outer space activities in an in-depth manner. Students develop the ability to conduct legal analysis, reasoning, research, and writing in an intensive manner in which the sole focus of their work is the production of a book-length dissertation
Formal Programs of Concentrated Study

Learning Outcomes for Formal Programs of Concentrated Study

1.  Litigation Skills Program of Concentrated Study. Students who complete the Litigation Skills Program of Concentrated Study should have the following abilities.
  1. Demonstrate a broad-based knowledge and understanding of substantive and procedural law relating to litigation.
  2. Possess the legal, analytical reasoning, and complex problem-solving skills necessary to apply such substantive and procedural knowledge in the context of litigation.
  3. Demonstrate the legal research and oral and written communication skills necessary to operate competently in the area of litigation.
  4. Be aware of ethical issues that arise in the area of litigation and understand the law, rules and norms that bear on resolution of those issues.
  5. Demonstrate a fundamental ability to apply, in a litigation setting, the rules of evidence and applicable rules of procedure.
  6. Demonstrate a fundamental ability to engage in factual investigation, pretrial discovery and prepare cases for trial.
  7. Demonstrate a fundamental ability to try cases before courts and/or agencies.
  8. Demonstrate a fundamental ability to interact with, and counsel, clients.
  9. Demonstrate a fundamental ability to interact professionally and ethically with opposing counsel, members of the judicial system, and members of the public.

2.  Solo and Small Firm Practice Program of Concentrated Study. Students who complete the Solo and Small Firm Practice Program of Concentrated Study should have the following abilities. 

  1. Demonstrate a broad-based general knowledge and understanding of the substantive and procedural laws that are relevant to typical client matters that arise in the context of a solo practitioner or small law firm general legal practice.
  2. Possess the legal, analytical reasoning, and complex problem-solving skills necessary to apply such substantive and procedural knowledge in the representation of clients as a solo practitioner or in a small law firm general legal practice.
  3. Demonstrate the legal research and oral and written communication skills necessary to represent clients competently as a solo practitioner or in small law firm general legal practice.
  4. Possess an awareness of the ethical issues that may arise in the representation of as a solo practitioner or in a small law firm general legal practice.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of of the key administrative functions, procedures, and best practices for organizing and operating a solo practitioner or small law firm general legal practice.
  6. Develop at least one area of specialized legal knowledge to competently represent clients with matters requiring more specialized legal expertise.

3.  Business Transactions Program of Concentrated Study. Students who complete the Business Transactions Program of Concentrated Study should have the following abilities:

  1. Demonstrate a broad-based knowledge and understanding of substantive and procedural law relating to business transactions, notably those related to corporate, tax, and securities laws.
  2. Possess the legal, analytical reasoning, and complex problem-solving skills necessary to apply such substantive and procedural knowledge in the context of business transactions. 
  3. Demonstrate the legal research and oral and written communication skills necessary to operate competently in the area of business transactions.
  4. Be aware of ethical issues that arise in the area of business transactions and understand the law, rules, and norms that bear on resolution of those issues.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of the key legal, business, and financial issues that impact the choice of business entities and the transactions in which they engage.  
  6. Demonstrate a fundamental ability to interact with, and counsel, clients.
  7. Demonstrate a fundamental ability to interact professionally and ethically with opposing counsel, clients, regulators, members of the judicial system, and members of the public.
4. Intellectual Property Law Program of Concentrated Study. Students who complete the Intellectual Property Law Program of Concentrated Study should have acquired the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: 
  1. Broad-based knowledge of the basic substantive rules and administrative procedures relevant to at least two of the three major areas of Intellectual Property Law.
  2. Analytic and problem-solving skills necessary to apply that knowledge in the representation of clients.
  3. Ability to conduct effective legal research in at least two of the three major areas of Intellectual Property Law.
  4. Communication skills necessary to function successfully in the area of Intellectual Property Law.
Individualized Programs of Concentrated Study

Learning Outcomes for Individualized Programs of Concentrated Study

A student completing an individualized program of concentrated study (“Program”) with respect to a particular area of substantive law will:

  1. acquire a deeper understanding of a discrete substantive area of the law;
  2. develop an understanding of how many different legal subjects operate together in context;
  3. develop a broader understanding of the political forces and policy rationales that have created the area of substantive law that is the focus of the Program;
  4. develop expertise in the institutions that create and implement the specialized body of law that is the focus of the Program;
  5. develop an understanding of the clients who will be served by practicing in the area of substantive law that is the focus of the Program;
  6. establish a comparative advantage vis-à-vis non-specialized students when competing for jobs that require a more in-depth knowledge of the substantive law that is the focus of the Program; and
  7. use and build upon the knowledge and legal skills that are developed throughout the broader J.D. degree curriculum.  
Externship Program

Learning Outcomes for Externship Program

Externships are experiential learning opportunities that give students practical experiences for academic credit.  Externs are closely supervised by attorneys who will walk them through day-to-day routines at the company or organization.  Externships allow students to apply their coursework learning to a real life setting.

A student completing an externship at the University of Nebraska College of Law will:

  1. demonstrate the ability to apply legal competencies such as substantive and procedural legal knowledge, legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, legal writing, and oral communication in practical legal settings; 
  2. be closely supervised by an on-site attorney, who will walk the student through day-to-day routines at the company or organization; and
  3. be supervised by a member of the College of Law faculty, who will help to ensure that the student obtains a valuable educational experience by reflecting on how their coursework learning applies to a real life setting.