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Honors Lawyering Program
Spring Admission Application- General Information
Program Description
The Honors Lawyering Program (HLP) is an honors alternative for students who want to maximize
their practical experiences while in law school.
In the 1L spring, HLP students take their own elective, learning substantive landlord-tenant law, as
well as core client-representation skills such as interviewing and counseling clients, developing case
strategies, gathering evidence, drafting demand letters and complaints, and negotiating with opposing
counsel. These skills are universally applicable regardless of your eventual legal practice area.
In their first summer, HLP students study in intensive, interactive sections. In keeping with the
collaborative spirit of HLP, these courses are not graded on a curve. The summer curriculum includes
direct representation of actual clients with real legal issues. All HLP students must complete a full-
time professional First Apprenticeship during the fall semester of their second year. Full time is
defined as a minimum of 30 hours per week for at least 15 weeks. HLP students may not earn clinic
units for their first apprenticeship. The following spring, HLP students enroll in an HLP-only section
of Constitutional Law II (un-curved), along with other required and elective JD courses. HLP
students must complete a Second Apprenticeship, (a minimum of 280 hours during one semester).
The Second Apprenticeship may be completed in any term after the First. Students may earn
externship and clinic units for the Second Apprenticeship. HLP students are held to the same clinic
and externship prerequisites as non-HLP JD students. In some instances, students may find
themselves volunteering extra hours at their apprenticeships to meet the 280-hour minimum (e.g., a
student enrolled in an externship clinic for 4 units (i.e., 180 hours of work) would need to work an
additional 100 hours over the course of the summer or semester to reach the 280-hour threshold).
Students in HLP complete law school in three years, pay the same tuition, and take the same required
courses as students in the regular JD program. Each HLP student will have at least three professional
work experiences before graduating.
Eligibility
While some of the first-year HLP class was filled as part of the law school admissions process,
current 1L students who entered law school as full-time day students in August are eligible to apply
for admission into HLP at this time. This is the only opportunity to transfer into the program. HLP
students must maintain a minimum 2.75 required-course GPA to join and remain in the program.
The HLP Committee considers a variety of factors in the transfer application process, including
students' demonstrated success in law school, professionalism, collegiality, volunteerism, high
ethical standards, academic enthusiasm and ability to perform successfully in a professional setting.
The Committee evaluates each applicant’s fall semester grades, recommendations from School of
Law professors, and a personal essay. The number of post-fall Admittees to the program will
depend upon the number of students already enrolled and the quality of applications. All eligible
students are encouraged to apply. Part-time students are not eligible for enrollment in HLP.
A two-page HLP application follows. For further information, please contact the Honors Lawyering
Program, at gguhlp@gmail.com.
