Registration bidding for Fall 2013 classes will take place using the web-based Lottery Registration System from April 12th at 12:01 a.m. through April 15th at 11:59 p.m. This memorandum contains important information about registration rules and processes, and should answer many questions you may have about the lottery process. Please read it carefully, and inquire with Student Services staff if you have questions.
PREPARING FOR THE LOTTERY
• Review available courses and times by reviewing the schedule grid and by reviewing the on-line course catalog on the One Stop site: http://onestop.umn.edu (Select Class Schedule under Quick Links, and enter Fall 2013 for Term and Law School for Department.) Go to the Law School Course Guide for course descriptions: http://www.law.umn.edu/current/courseguide.html
• Clear any holds on your record. A hold will prevent access to the lottery. Access will automatically be granted once the hold has been removed. Check your holds now on One Stop if you have not already done so.
• If you are a 3L, be sure to register for Professional Responsibility and Constitutional Law II either in Fall 2013 or Spring 2014 if you have not already taken the course(s) and a 3L writing requirement course which satisfies the degree requirement.
HOW THE LOTTERY WORKS
The Lottery is a fair, automated registration process that assigns students to open classes, and places them on waitlists, according to students’ ranked course bids. The Lottery first randomly cycles through students’ top bids, awarding one class to each student per cycle. The course assigned on each cycle is the highest-ranked open course on a student’s bid list that does not conflict with courses already assigned to that student. The cycle stops when each student has been awarded at least 12 and not more than 15 credits.
3L students (56 or more earned and in-progress credits) receive priority in the Lottery registration process. This means that the Lottery program cycles through all 3L bids before moving on to 2L bids (2L = 30 to 55.999 earned and in-progress credits). In rare cases, limited seats are set aside for 2L students (such as in clinics with student director positions).
Generally, students should list course choices in order of preference. The most desired course should be listed first, and so on. Students should also prioritize the following:
• Courses or exercises likely to fill quickly due to high demand and/or small class size (including many clinics and seminars);
• Courses that are JD program requirements (such as Professional Responsibility, Con Law II, or 3L writing requirement seminars for 3Ls);
• Courses or exercises necessary to complete requirements for a concentration or joint/dual degree program;
• Courses that are foundational prerequisites for upper division classes.
Student course bids are NOT accepted by the Lottery when:
• The course is full; (student is placed on a waitlist).
• The course meets at the same time as a previously-awarded course--even for a conflict as small as one minute (student is NOT placed on a waitlist).
• The student has already been awarded 12 credits, and the additional course would push the student over 15 credits (student is NOT placed on a waitlist).
When a course is offered in more than one section, both sections can be included in the Lottery bid list, with the preferred section placed higher in the ranking. The Lottery will not place students in two sections of the same course, nor will it automatically place a student in a second course section if that section has not also been included on the bid list.
Students may rank classes that meet at common times, but as soon as the system selects one course, all subsequent conflicting courses will be rejected. This is another reason to think carefully about prioritization of courses.
All lottery bids must be entered by 11:59 pm, April 15, 2013. While there is no advantage to those students who enter their bids earlier in the Lottery period, it is best to attempt early to provide sufficient time for reflection and changes before the bidding period closes.
Students will be able to make changes to their schedules beginning Tuesday, April 23, 2013 using the One Stop web registration system. This includes adding open courses, dropping courses, and changing the number of credits for courses which allow it, i.e., Judicial Externship. Students may also use the online registration system to add their names to the waitlists of closed classes. If a course closes during the cancel/add period, check back online frequently for availability since someone may drop and re-open the course.
LOTTERY REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
Enter the Lottery through the Current Students page of the Law School’s web site (not through One Stop).
Click on the red Lottery Registration button on the upper right side of the page;
Log in by entering your University of Minnesota Internet ID (x.500 username) and password. For log in problems, call (612) 301-4357;
Make selections on Elect Hospitalization Insurance Coverage page. Then click Continue. (Note: the hospitalization pages will only open once, the first time you access the lottery in a given registration period);
On the Select Law Lottery Choices page, you will see a list of available classes on the left and your Law Lottery Choices list on the right. To move an available course to your Law Lottery Choices list, click on the course to select it and then use the (>) arrow to move the course to the list. To remove a course from your list, simply click on the course to highlight it and use the (<) arrow.
To change the priority order of the courses on your Law Lottery Choices list, click on a course and use the "Up" or "Down" buttons to re-order your list;
3L’s only: If you are selected for a journal editor, moot court director, or clinic director position for Fall semester, you will be automatically registered for the position.
2L’s only: You will be pre-enrolled for Maynard Pirsig moot court for the Fall lottery. The Maynard Pirsig moot court registration is a place-holder until journal and specialty moot court selections have been made. You do not need to bid on the course.
When you are satisfied with the rank order of your course choices, click Submit (note: you may later enter the Lottery page and change your choices until the Lottery period closes).
The next page shows the selections you have made. This page also gives you the option to:
- Edit your choices as many times as you wish until the lottery closes at 11:59 PM on April 15, 2013;
- Print your choices for future reference by using your browser’s “Print” button;
- Email your choices to yourself.
You may re-enter the Lottery system and re-order, remove, or otherwise change your Law Lottery Choices list at any time during the bidding period. But all bids must be placed by 11:59 PM on Monday, April 15, 2013. Students who do not enter course bids will register for available classes starting on April 23, 2013.
Each student is responsible for planning enrollment to ensure degree requirements are completed prior to the anticipated date of graduation.
Required courses include:
- Professional Responsibility (3 credits)
- Constitutional Law II (3 credits)
- Courses required for Transfer students who did not complete the 1L year here at the Law School. For assistance with registration for 1L courses or other exercises not included in the law lottery, please email lawreg@umn.edu. Transfer students will be administratively enrolled for required 1L courses.
You are still strongly encouraged to enroll for both PR and Con Law II in your second year. PR is a helpful course to complete before taking the MPRE, and Con Law II is a foundational course for several upper division offerings.
To optimize your enrollment in a required course, we recommend that a) you rank the course high on your lottery bid list; and b) that you bid on both sections of a required course if more than one section is offered. If the lottery assigns you to your first choice section, it will disregard the second section.
Additional degree requirements—including the residency requirement and the in-class instruction requirement--are listed in the Academic Rules (Rules 3-5).
The second year writing requirement is satisfied either by completing a moot court or by serving as a member of the staff of a journal. If you are enrolled in a journal or moot court in the fall term, you will be automatically enrolled for spring term.
The third year requirement is satisfied by taking a seminar or other course that satisfies the requirement, completing an independent research paper that is certified by the instructor as meeting the requirement, or by serving as a journal editor. See Academic Rules 5.3 and 5.4. Consult the 3L Senior Writing Requirement list for courses that will meet the requirement next term.
Editor or Director Positions
Students enrolled as a journal editor, moot court director, or clinic director in fall term will be administratively enrolled in the position for spring term. The courses will not appear in the law lottery.
The clinical courses fill quickly and generate lengthy waiting lists. As a result, the following policies apply when enrolling in a clinic:
1. Only students in good academic standing are eligible to register for clinical courses.
2. Additionally, certain categories of students are not eligible to register or audit any law clinics: LL.M., Humphrey Fellows, and visiting students.
3. Clinic courses with student directors will reserve slots for 2L students to ensure a mix of both 3L and 2L students in the course.
4. While students are generally enrolled in law clinics through the Lottery Registration process, students should note that the law clinics reserve the option to:
a. Prioritize the clinic waitlists and move students registered in other clinics;
b. Limit the number of clinics students can take during law school. The current clinic limit is one (1), including 1-semester clinics, unless there are no students on the waiting list;
c. Limit the number of clinics students can take per semester. The current limit is one (1).
d. Once the lottery has run, the law clinics will award slots in this order and based on the following criteria, keeping in mind the mix of 3L and 2L students in each clinic:
i. 3L student with no prior clinic enrollment;
ii. 2L student with no prior clinic enrollment;
iii. 3L student who has completed a one-semester clinic;
iv. 2L student who has completed a one-semester clinic;
v. 3L student who has completed a two-semester clinic; and
vi. 2L student who has completed a two-semester clinic.
e. With the above criteria and the mix of 3L and 2L students, please keep in mind that it is highly unlikely for a student to be eligible for more than one clinic during their law school program. Only student directors will complete a second clinic, the same as their first, but with a more advanced role in the clinic.
Attendance for the first class session of any clinical course is mandatory. If any student misses the first class session without pre-approval, the clinics will consider that student no longer enrolled in the course and offer the open slot to the next student on the waiting list. To get pre-approval, a student must contact the professor teaching the clinic or Nicole Smiley, the law clinics office administrator, at smil0025@umn.edu, to let one of them know why s/he will be absent and to request to remain on the class list.
Dropping of clinic courses is allowed ONLY during the first week of the first semester. When students enroll in a clinical course for Fall 2013, they have only through Monday, September 9, 2013 (by midnight) to drop a clinic.
Failure to complete both semesters of a 2-semester clinic. Students who choose to drop or are unable to complete both semesters of any 2-semester clinic, for unforeseen reasons, will receive from their Clinical Professor/Supervising Attorney either a letter grade (which may include an “F”) or a “W” for the first semester. Unforeseen reasons do not include early graduation or not realizing it is a two semester clinic. If a student knows within the first week of class that they will not be able to complete the 2nd semester of the clinic they will be removed from the clinic.
The following 20 clinics will be offered in Fall 2013 for new enrollment:
Bankruptcy (2 semesters) Business Law (2 semesters) Child Advocacy & Juvenile Justice (2 semesters) Civil Practice (2 semesters) Civil Rights Enforcement (2 semesters) Community Mediation (2 semesters) Consumer Protection (2 semesters) Criminal Defense Appeals (1 semester) Criminal Justice (2 semesters) Criminal Prosecution Appeals (1 semester) Environmental Sustainability: Land, Water & Energy (2 semesters) Human Rights Litigation & Int'l Legal Advocacy (2 semesters) Immigration and Human Rights (2 semesters) Indian Child Welfare Act (2 semesters) Innocence Project (2 semesters) Insurance Law (2 semesters) Misdemeanor Prosecution (1 semester) Special Education (2 semesters) Tax Clinic (2 semesters) Workers' Rights (2 semesters)
Registration for the 2nd semester of 2-semester clinics happens AUTOMATICALLY. Students currently registered in the 1st semester of their 2-semester clinic do not need to use a lottery slot for the continuation of the course. The registrar will automatically add the course to the students’ schedule before the lottery opens. Please note:
• Any student who voluntarily drops the 2nd semester of a 2-semester clinic will not be re-enrolled. At the discretion of the Clinical Professor/ Supervising Attorney, s/he will receive either a letter grade (which may include an “F”) or a “W” for the first semester of the clinic.
Registration of law clinics student directors. Clinic student directors will also be automatically enrolled prior to the start of the lottery, whenever possible. Please note:
• Any student director who voluntarily drops the 2nd semester of a 2-semester clinic will not be re-enrolled. At the discretion of the supervising attorney, s/he will receive either a letter grade (which may include an “F”) or a “W” for the first semester of the clinic.
• Student directors who choose to drop or are unable to complete both semesters of any 2-semester clinic will receive from their supervising attorney either a letter grade (which may include an “F”) or a “W” for the first semester.
Please contact Nicole Smiley, the Law clinic Administrator, at smil0025@umn.edu with any additional questions.
Registration for non-law courses begins on the announced Open Enrollment date and occurs on One Stop (www.onestop.umn.edu). Up to six semester credits of non-law courses can be transferred in toward the J.D. degree and up to two semester credits of non-law courses can be transferred in toward the LL.M. degree provided the courses are either language courses or non-language courses at the graduate level.
Grading: You must earn the equivalent of a "C-" or better in a non-law course to receive credit at the Law School. All non-law coursework will appear on the student’s law transcript with the grade assigned by the non-law instructor. Students may take and transfer non-law courses on either an A-F basis or on a pass/fail grade basis, if available. Regardless of the grade-basis for the non-law course the grade will NOT factor into the Law GPA. The preferred grade basis must be selected at the time of registration for the non-law course. Grade-base changes are allowed online only for the first two weeks of the term. The Law School Registrar’s Office does not adjust the grade-basis for a non-law course after the student’s initial registration.
Language Courses: If you are interested in language courses, you may register for any level (1000-9000) course, provided you have not taken it as an undergraduate within the last 5 years. These courses fill fast.
Other Courses: You may take any non-language course at level 5000-9000 only.
Instructor Consent: Some non-law courses require a “permission number” to register. Obtain this number directly from the instructor or the department offering the course.
Under Academic Rule 10.5, JD students who have completed their first year of law school may earn a limited number of credits for unpaid independent study. Generally, “independent study” includes exercises that permit or require student participation in law-related writing, research, or other activities away from or outside the Law School, or in a format that does not involve attendance at regularly scheduled class sessions. The total number of independent study credits a student may earn is limited by Academic Rule 3.1. Independent study may include legal research and writing projects, or field placement projects in a legal setting. While similar to externships, field placements are set up on an ad hoc basis, usually with a faculty member who has some experience or expertise in the field placement practice area. Detailed instructions on completing the form and the requirements for earning credit can be found here.
In order to register for an Independent Research or Independent Field Placement project, the student and advising faculty member must complete the appropriate form at w: Current Students/ Forms. If a student seeks to satisfy the Third Year Writing Requirement through Independent Research (pursuant to Academic Rule 5.4), this intent should be clearly noted on the Independent Research registration form.
Students are charged tuition for Independent Research and Independent Field Placement credit in the same manner as other course credits. Students are limited to two (2) credits of Independent Research per semester and three (3) credits per semester for Independent Field Placement if stipulations in Rule 10.5(a) and (b) are met.
Once the lottery has run, waitlists are generated for closed courses. The names of the first ten students on the waitlists will be posted on the bulletin board wall to the left of the Information Desk the week of April 29, 2013. Students will be emailed when lottery results are available and instructed where to go on-line to view their personal schedules.
Students may add their names to an existing waitlist using the One Stop online registration system. If a course is closed and has a waitlist, students may add their names to the waitlist by “adding” the course. A message box will inform the student that the course is closed and will ask if the student wants to be added to the waitlist. Pressing the YES button will add the student’s name to the waitlist.
Starting in mid-August, students on the waitlist will be sent an e-mail with a permission number if seats open in the class. They must enroll within 24 hours or forfeit their seat in the class.
See the section on Clinics for special rules regarding clinic waitlists.
Through the Law School Public Service Program, your school encourages every student to volunteer 50 hours of law-related service during law school. This program is administered by the Minnesota Justice Foundation (MJF). Volunteer work will make you more marketable because you will gain practical legal experience by interviewing clients; conducting research; drafting memoranda, pleadings, and other legal documents; performing fact investigation; assisting clients in completing legal forms or representing clients in court. Students who complete the program will receive special recognition.
Stop by the MJF office to find the volunteer project right for you
MJF offers volunteer opportunities with more than 150 public interest law agencies, including legal services providers, nonprofit organizations, government offices, and private firms pro bono projects, and offers opportunities in a wide variety of substantive areas. MJF works with you to ensure that your volunteer placement matches your interests and time constraints. Fall semester positions go live on our website August 1st. They go fast so make it a priority!
Pre-Orientation Service Projects for incoming 1L students will be planned for late August, watch for details mid-summer.
Have you been volunteering in a law-related public service project?
If so, make sure that you notify MJF of your volunteer service hours. Even if you did not arrange your service project through MJF, any law-related volunteering will count toward the 50 hours needed to complete the program. This includes hours you gave that exceeded clinic or work study requirements.
If you are volunteering, please log your hours! To log your hours, visit the MJF website at www.mnjustice.org and follow the link on the left hand side. If your volunteer position is not listed, contact Thomas Hart, your MJF staff attorney, at uofm@mnjustice.org.
Second- and third-year law students are invited to apply to serve as mentors for our incoming LL.M. students.
You are strongly encouraged to join us in welcoming the new LL.M. class this fall, as well as enriching your own law school experience, by being a mentor to our LL.M. students. Mentoring LL.M. students is an excellent opportunity to make international connections, as most of these students are attorneys in their home countries. There are students from Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America.
Click here for more information and the mentorship application.
