Academic Programs

Certificate Eligibility

To be eligible for this Certificate upon graduation, students must earn eight credits beyond the minimum required to graduate with a J.D. - or usually a total of 96 credits.

A. Admission
Students must apply to and be accepted for admission to the Certificate Program. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible in their law school careers. Download application here [132KB PDF].

B. Courses Previously Completed
Courses previously completed by students subsequently admitted into the program will be credited toward satisfaction of the concentration requirements.

C. Concentration Requirements 

1. Area Core Courses
Students must successfully complete these four:

  • LAW 6430 - Estates & Trusts (3 credits)
  • LAW 6440 - Fiduciary Administration (3 credits)
  • LAW 6620 - Taxation of Gratuitous Transfers (2/3 credits)
  • LAW 6450 - Estate Planning (3 credits)

2. Additional Area Courses
Students must successfully complete one of the following two:

  • LAW 6433 - Future Interests (2/3 credits)
  • LAW 6621 - Income Taxation of Estates & Trusts (3 credits)

3. Interviewing and Counseling
Students must successfully complete one of the following or one of several other courses pre-approved by Director:

  • LAW 6381 - Interviewing & Counseling (2/3 credits)
  • LAW 6387 - Interviewing, Counseling & Mediation (3/4 credits)
  • LAW 6388 - Interviewing, Counseling & Negotiation
    (3/4 credits)

4. Seminar and Writing
For this Certificate Program students must successfully complete one of the following or one other seminar pre-approved by Director.
The law school's separate Senior Writing requirement must be satisfied through enrollment in that seminar:
NOTE: Certification candidates will have registration priority for Estates & Trusts and Elder Law Seminars. Students who have successfully completed either will not have further seminar priority.

  • LAW 6936 - Estates & Trusts Seminar (2 credits)
  • LAW 6936 - Elder Law Seminar (2 credits)