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Registering for a Student Project or Moot Court Competition

Register for Independent Study or Moot Court

Student Projects

Independent Study, Supervised Research, Research Assistant, and Teaching Assistant

As a student, you may earn credit for work you complete under the supervision of a faculty member, such as an expository research paper, creation of a brief, or faculty research assistance or teaching assistance. Another example is additional academic work based upon reflection of issues raised during the course of work you have done in an employment setting during the summer or school year.

If you wish to undertake work as a student project, complete a student project form (also available at the Registrar’s Office). Once you have completed the form and had it signed by your faculty member, return it to the Registrar’s Office. Please note that student projects supervised by an adjunct faculty member will require the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Independent Research Seminars

Independent research seminars are typically student-initiated and allow an interested group of highly motivated second- and third-year students to pursue a subject in greater depth than possible in the regular course curriculum. Because these seminars are not intended to require a large amount of faculty time, you as the student bear the primary responsibility for defining the subject, preparing the syllabus and reading list, conducting research and discussion meetings, and completing and criticizing any written work.

You also have the responsibility of securing a supervising a member of the law faculty for your project. He or she will assist you in preparing the seminar syllabus and reading list, ensure that the goals and conduct of the seminar are of substantial educational value, and evaluate your performance at the project’s completion. You cannot undertake an independent seminar for credit without a faculty supervisor to approve your syllabus.

Additionally, no credit will be awarded for an independent research seminar associated with the operation of a student-run journal that involves tasks such as article selection, copyediting, cite-checking, proofreading, or other work preparing the scholarship of others for publication—unless specifically authorized in accordance with the policy on independent journals seeking official recognition.

Moot Court Competitions

In addition to the Jessup, Keedy, and National Moot Court Competitions (which are not open to registration except by competition), the Law School may grant credit for any of several dozen Moot Court Competitions sponsored by other schools or by organizations outside the Law School. You must have the sponsorship of a Law School faculty member to receive credit. Please visit the Student Policies and Procedures Handbook section on enrolling in a Moot Court Competition.