SEPARATION FROM THE LAW SCHOOL
Students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment at Emory School of Law. Students with an unexcused break in enrollment forfeit their place in the law school and any financial awards granted. Their ability to return is subject to the discretion of the law school.
Leave of Absence
Students wishing to suspend their course of study for one or more terms must submit a leave request to the Associate Dean of Students and Academic Programs or their designee, who will evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis and has the discretion to approve or deny such a leave.
Students granted a leave of absence must designate a specific date when they will resume their studies. If students wish to continue on leave, they must reapply. Students may be on leave for a maximum of four semesters. If a leave of absence is granted before grades have been assigned for the current term, the student will receive a grade of withdrawal (“W”) or incomplete (“I”) for all unfinished courses.
First-year JD students who request a leave of absence must meet with the Associate Dean of Students and Academic Programs or their designee to determine circumstances for the student to return to the law school. Three-year JD students who take a leave during the second semester of their first year must return in a spring semester to complete the first-year program before advancing to the second year.
Students should educate themselves on the potential impacts to their financial package and career impacts before applying for a leave of absence. Students on leave for medical reasons may be required to provide sufficient documentation from their care provider before returning.
Program Withdrawal
Students who no longer wish to pursue a degree program at Emory School of Law must meet with the Associate Dean of Students and Academic Programs or designee and obtain permission to withdraw. Failure to obtain the specific prior written consent of the Associate Dean of Students and Academic Programs or their designee to withdraw will result in a grade entry of “F” in all courses for which the student is registered. Any refunds due to the student will be returned in accordance with the regulations of the Office of Student Accounts and Billing.
Involuntary Withdrawal
The University reserves the right, through the Dean, to involuntarily withdraw individuals for reasons of academic dismissal, moral turpitude, or medical reasons and to make return to the University conditional upon medical certification of fitness.
Non-Good-Standing Petition Procedures and Practices
Petition Procedures
A student seeking relief from any requirement must submit a written petition to the Associate Dean of Students and Academic Programs or their designee containing a short statement of the circumstances that led to the student requiring relief, how these circumstances have or will be corrected, and the good cause upon which relief is sought. In the case of non-good-standing, students must submit their petition by the date listed in their notification letter. The Academic Standing Committee is not obligated to entertain any petitions submitted after the deadline. The Associate Dean or designee refers this petition and the student’s file to the duly appointed Academic Standing Committee. The student may appear in person before the committee. The committee considers the petition, the student’s file, and all other materials presented by the student. The committee votes to grant or deny the petition; the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire membership of the committee is required to grant a petition.
The committee action becomes final if the committee has granted probation prior to a JD student’s fifth term, an SJD student’s fifth term, an LLM student’s second term, or a JM/MLS student’s third term.
The committee action becomes final and is not subject to any further review by faculty (but may be reviewed by the Dean) if the committee has denied probation or granted probation beyond the associated term limit.
Petition Practices
There is a strong practice against granting probationary status to a student who has previously been on probationary status and whose cumulative average has declined at the end of the probationary term or to a student who has failed to meet special conditions attached to the grant of probationary status.
Students on probation must take a course load designated by the Academic Standing Committee (normally a full-time course load for full-time students) and must achieve a cumulative average meeting or exceeding the programmatic good standing cutoff by the end of the probationary period.
Students on probation are specifically required to meet all conditions imposed by the Academic Standing Committee, including class attendance and regular meetings with recommended administrators.
Students on probation may take a leave of absence any time after the petition is granted and during the probationary period. Students must get consent from the Associate Dean or designee. If granted, the probationary conditions apply to the fall or spring semester in which they return.