Welcome to the Incoming Class
Reserve Your Seat in the Incoming Class at Detroit Mercy Law
-
Respond to Your Offer of Admission
Please respond to your offer of admission by April 5, unless your offer letter indicates a different date, which includes submitting your deposit. If you do not intend to accept your offer of admission, please notify us immediately so that we do not hold your seat in the class and can offer it to another applicant.
Accept Your Offer- Commitment Form - US JD Program
- Commitment Form - Canadian & American Dual JD Program
- Withdrawal Form - US JD Program
- Withdrawal Form - Canadian & American Dual JD Program
If you have questions about how to reserve your seat, please reach out to lawadmissions@udmercy.edu.
Admitted Dual JD students should be sure to review Windsor Law's admitted students page for steps to reserve your seat at Windsor Law.
OLSAS Applicants
Please login to your OLSAS account at ouac.on.ca/olsas/ and follow the online instructions under “Choices/Offers” to provisionally or firmly accept this offer by the expiry date indicated on the top of your Offer of Admission. -
Submit Your Deposit
The commitment deposit to reserve your seat at Detroit Mercy Law is $500 USD. It is non-refundable and will be applied to your tuition and fees.
The first deposit of $250 USD is due by or before April 5 and the second deposit of $250 USD is due by or before June 1, unless your offer letter indicates different dates. Your seat cannot be guaranteed if you do not submit your deposit by these dates. You may submit the full $500 USD deposit by or before your first deadline, if you prefer.
Commitment deposits, payable to University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, are accepted online through Titan Pass (preferred) or via mail. Deposits submitted via mail must be received, not postmarked, by your deposit deadlines.
Online Through My Portal & Titan Pass
- Login to My Portal with your Titan Pass ID and PW.
- Select: Self-Service – Student > Student Profile > Student Account > Pay Now * (CashNet) > Make a Payment > Law Deposit
- Enter the necessary information
- Forward a copy of the receipt confirmation to lawadmissions@udmercy.edu
Mail
Please mail checks to the address below. Deposits submitted via mail must be received, not postmarked, by your deposit deadlines.
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
ATTN: Admissions
651 E. Jefferson Ave.
Detroit, MI 48226Deposits submitted via mail must be received, not postmarked, by your deposit deadlines.
-
Submit Your Transcript
Your offer of admission is contingent on the receipt of your final official undergraduate degree transcript. Both the Detroit Mercy Law Admissions Office and the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) need to receive by July 1 your final official transcript directly from your undergraduate degree-granting institution that includes the date your degree was granted. Students in both the US JD program and Dual JD program must submit their transcript to LSAC and Detroit Mercy Law, regardless of if they applied through OLSAS or LSAC.
If you graduated from your undergraduate studies before applying to law school, you still must submit a copy of your transcripts to Detroit Mercy Law.
After Detroit Mercy Law receives your final official transcript, we will register you for your first-year courses. If you are provided an extension, you will be administratively withdrawn if your transcript is not provided to Detroit Mercy Law by October 1.
Detroit Mercy Law accepts transcripts at lawadmissions@udmercy.edu (preferred) or Detroit Mercy Law, Admissions, 651 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48226.
Directions for submitting transcripts to LSAC are available here.
Experience Detroit Mercy Law
-
Schedule a Tour
-
Visit a Class
To schedule a class visit, reach out to lawadmissions@udmercy.edu. Please include the times and days of the week that you are available to potentially visit a class and our admissions team will do our best to pair you with a class. Class visits will only be scheduled during business hours, Monday to Thursday, until mid-April 2024.
-
Admitted Student Parking
Admitted students who are visiting Detroit Mercy Law for a scheduled tour or class observation should park in the Larned lot directly across the street from the law building. Upon arrival, use the main entrance directly across the street from the parking lot at the top of the entrance ramp. Check in with the admissions team in the Student Services Center, immediately inside the main entrance.
All guests and visitors must inform the admissions team of their visits to ensure they do not receive a parking ticket or have their vehicle towed.
The following dates require your attendance or action.
-
April 5: First Deposit Due
The first deposit of $250 USD is due by or before April 5, unless your offer letter indicates different dates. Your seat cannot be guaranteed if you do not submit your deposit by these dates. You may submit the full $500 USD deposit by or before your first deadline, if you prefer.
-
June 1: Second Deposit Due
The second deposit of $250 USD is due by or before June 1, unless your offer letter indicates different dates. Your seat cannot be guaranteed if you do not submit your deposit by these dates.
-
July 1: Final Official Transcripts Due
Your offer of admission is contingent on the receipt of your final official undergraduate degree transcript. Both the Detroit Mercy Law Admissions Office and the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) need to receive by July 1 your final official transcript from your undergraduate degree-granting institution that includes the date your degree was granted. Students in both the US JD program and Dual JD program must submit their transcript to LSAC and Detroit Mercy Law, regardless of if they applied through OLSAS or LSAC.
If you applied to Detroit Mercy Law after you graduated with your undergraduate degree, you still must submit a final official transcript directly to Detroit Mercy Law.
-
July 15: I-20 Application with Supporting Documents Due (International Students)
All international students, excluding Dual US/ Canadian citizen, are required to submit their I-20 Application with supporting documents by July 15. An information session about the visa process will be held in June-details to come.
-
August 13 & 14: Border Crossing Day (International Students)
International students are required to participate in a border crossing day.
If you are a Canadian citizen who requires an F-1 student visa, your attendance on our border crossing days (August 13 and 14) is mandatory.
On border crossing days, we provide you with your immigration paperwork and we check over your documents. After this takes place, you will proceed to the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel to process your F-1 student visa. We notify the US-Canada border of our students' arrival on these dates, so they know to expect us. We also have our immigration counsel joining us on these dates to assist.
Please ensure you will be in Windsor on August 13 and 14. Half of the incoming class will be processing their visas on August 13 and the other half will be processing on August 14. You will receive a detailed email containing information about the day you will be crossing, where you need to go, and the documents you need to bring with you.
-
August 19-23: Orientation (Required, US JD & Dual JD, All Day)
https://law.udmercy.edu/admissions/admitted-students/orientation
Orientation at Detroit Mercy Law is required for students in both the US JD and Dual JD students. Plan for it to take place on a Monday through Friday all day in the month of August.
Exact times will be released over the summer.
Absences during orientation will count towards the total number of absences you’re allowed during the semester so plan accordingly.
-
August 26: First Day of Classes
Check back for more information
Be sure to check the booklists for your section as different professors may require different books. Edition is extremely important to note, as laws change and there might be differences between editions that impact your understanding of the course content, but professors might choose an older edition to help you save money. The onus to purchase the correct edition of the book is on you. It is noted on most books if you must purchase a hard copy or may purchase an e-book.
-
Section One
Civil Procedure with Professor Henning
- Learning Civil Procedure, Fourth Edition, Coleman, et al (West Academic Publishing, 2022), ISBN: 978-64708-498-1.
- Hard copy or E-book is acceptable. You must have an access code to digital resources. Students may obtain this code by either purchasing a new hard copy edition OR an e-book.
- Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Supplement (2024-25 ONLY), A. Benjamin Spencer (West Academic Publishing, 2024) ISBN: 9798892090759.
- All students MUST purchase a hard copy of this supplement
Contracts with Professor Archerd
- Contracting Law, Sixth Edition, Post, Joo, et al. (Carolina Academic Press, 2023) ISBN: 978-1-5310-2519-9
- Hard copy or E-book is acceptable
- There is 10% off all orders over $50 on the publishers website.
- Learning Civil Procedure, Fourth Edition, Coleman, et al (West Academic Publishing, 2022), ISBN: 978-64708-498-1.
-
Section Two
Civil Procedure with Professor Richards
- Learning Civil Procedure, Fourth Edition, Coleman, et al (West Academic Publishing, 2022), ISBN: 978-64708-498-1.
- Hard copy or E-book is acceptable. You must have an access code to digital resources. Students may obtain this code by either purchasing a new hardcopy edition OR an e-book.
- Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Supplement (2024-25 ONLY), A. Benjamin Spencer (West Academic Publishing, 2024) ISBN: 9798892090759.
- All students MUST purchase a hard copy of this supplement
Contracts with Professor Lourie
- Problems in Contract Law Cases and Materials, Ninth Edition (Aspen Publishing, 2019) Knapp, Crystal, Prince ISBN: 978-1-5438-0147-7
- Note: The most recent edition is the Tenth Edition but you will be using the Ninth
- Hard copy is preferred, but e-book is acceptable.
- Learning Civil Procedure, Fourth Edition, Coleman, et al (West Academic Publishing, 2022), ISBN: 978-64708-498-1.
-
Applied Legal Theory and Analysis
Section One with Professor Trudeau
- The Case for Effective Legal Writing (Carolina Academic Press, 2024) Simon and Cooney. ISBN: 978-1-5310-2833-6
- Hard copy or E-Book is acceptable
- There is 10% off all orders over $50 on the publishers website.
- ALWD Guide to Legal Citation, Seventh Edition (Aspen Publishing, 2021) Carolyn V. Williams ISBN 978-1-5438-0777-6
- Hard copy or E-Book is acceptable
Section Two with Professor Lockwood
- ALWD Guide to Legal Citation, Seventh Edition (Aspen Publishing, 2021) Carolyn V. Williams ISBN 978-1-5438-0777-6
- o Hard copy or E-Book is acceptable
- Michigan Legal Research, Fourth Edition (Carolina Academic Press, 2021) Cristina D. Lockwood, ISBN 978-1-5310-1854-2
- o Hard copy or E-Book is acceptable
- Successful Legal Analysis and Writing: The Fundamentals, Fifth Edition (West, 2022) Christopher Soper & Cristina D. Lockwood ISBN 978-1-64708-515-5
- Hard copy or E-Book is acceptable
Section Three with Professor Paruch
- ALWD Guide to Legal Citation, Seventh Edition (Aspen Publishing, 2021) Carolyn V. Williams ISBN 978-1-5438-0777-6
- Hard copy or E-Book is acceptable.
- Please be sure to have the interactive citation workbook.
- Just Memos, Preparing to Practice Sixth Edition (Wolters Kluwer, 2022) Laurel Currie Oats & Anne Enquist ISBN 1543839592
- Hard copy or E-book is acceptable
- Just Writing Sixth Edition (Wolsters Kluwer, 2022) Laurel Currie Oats & Anne Enquist ISBN: 1543810756
Section Four with Professor Sturm
- ALWD Guide to Legal Citation, Seventh Edition (Aspen Publishing, 2021) Carolyn V. Williams ISBN 978-1-5438-0777-6
- E-book or hard copy is acceptable.
- A Lawyer Writes, Third Edition (Carolina Academic Press, 2018) Coughlin, et al., ISBN 978-1-5310-0876-5.
- Note: the most recent edition is the Fourth Edition, but you will be using the Third
- E-book or hard copy is acceptable.
Section Five with Professor Sherowski
- A Lawyer Writes, Third Edition (Carolina Academic Press, 2018) Coughlin, et al., ISBN 978-1-5310-0876-5.
- Note: the most recent edition is the Fourth Edition, but you will be using the Third
- E-book or hard copy is acceptable.
- ALWD Guide to Legal Citation, Seventh Edition (Aspen Publishing, 2021) Carolyn V. Williams ISBN 978-1-5438-0777-6
- Must have a hard copy edition
Section Six with Professor Olumba
- ALWD Guide to Legal Citation, Seventh Edition (Aspen Publishing, 2021) Carolyn V. Williams ISBN 978-1-5438-0777-6
- E-book or hard copy is acceptable.
- Michigan Legal Research, Fourth Edition (Carolina Academic Press, 2021) Cristina D. Lockwood, ISBN 978-1-5310-1854-2
- Hard copy or E-Book is acceptable
- Legal Writing and Analysis Sixth Edition (Aspen Publishing, 2023) Linda Edwards, Samantha Moppett ISBN: 1543858511
- Hard copy or E-Book is acceptable
- The Case for Effective Legal Writing (Carolina Academic Press, 2024) Simon and Cooney. ISBN: 978-1-5310-2833-6
-
Introduction to Legal Research & Communication
Section One and Four w/ Professor Bird
- Basic Legal Research Fifth Edition, Sloan (Aspen Publishing, 2020) ISBN 9781543804584
- Michigan Legal Research, Fourth Edition (Carolina Academic Press, 2021) Cristina D. Lockwood, ISBN 978-1-5310-1854-2
- ALWD Guide to Legal Citation, Seventh Edition (Aspen Publishing, 2021) Carolyn V. Williams ISBN 978-1-5438-0777-6
Section Two and Five w/ Professor Ketchum
- Basic Legal Research Fifth Edition, Sloan (Aspen Publishing, 2020) ISBN 9781543804584
- Michigan Legal Research, Fourth Edition (Carolina Academic Press, 2021) Cristina D. Lockwood, ISBN 978-1-5310-1854-2
- ALWD Guide to Legal Citation, Seventh Edition (Aspen Publishing, 2021) Carolyn V. Williams ISBN 978-1-5438-0777-6
Section Three and Six w/ Professor Meyers
- Basic Legal Research Fifth Edition, Sloan (Aspen Publishing, 2020) ISBN 9781543804584
- Michigan Legal Research, Fourth Edition (Carolina Academic Press, 2021) Cristina D. Lockwood, ISBN 978-1-5310-1854-2
- ALWD Guide to Legal Citation, Seventh Edition (Aspen Publishing, 2021) Carolyn V. Williams ISBN 978-1-5438-0777-6
While these events are not required, it is highly recommended to attend the ones you are able to in order to learn more about our community and ease the transition to law school.
Events will continue to be added throughout the spring and summer. Check back often to see what’s coming up.
If you have having issues with your Titan Access, please reach out to helpdesk@udmercy.edu. Please allow for five business days for your Titan Access to become available.
-
My Portal & Titan Pass
You will be connected to Detroit Mercy through My Portal—the University’s online portal. You will receive your Titan Pass credentials (a username and temporary password) and instructions for setting up your account via email. IT support is available here and through the University help desk at 313-993-1500 or helpdesk@udmercy.edu.
- Go to: https://my.udmercy.edu/
- Username: (will be emailed to you)
- Password: (will be emailed to you)
-
Titan Email
Set up your Titan Email
- Go to https://portal.office.com
- Email: your Titan username followed by @udmercy.edu
- Initial password: will be communicated to you via email
Admitted students are required to regularly check and respond to emails and phone messages. Prior to August 1, we will use the email you provided on your application. Beginning August 1, all email communications to incoming students will be sent to their Detroit Mercy Law Titan email account.
Please update your contact information—email, phone, and address—with the Admissions Office at lawadmissions@udmercy.edu to ensure you receive important information prior to classes.
Prepare for Your Financial Investment in Your Legal Education
-
View Tuition Rate & Cost of Attendance
Please review the tuition rate and cost of attendance budget to understand your financial investment in your legal education. Please contact the Law School Financial Aid team with questions at 313-596-0213 or lawfinaid@udmercy.edu.
Additional financial aid information is available on the Financial Aid webpages.
-
Plan Your Finances
Most Detroit Mercy Law students finance their education through a combination of graduate student loans and lines of credit, scholarships, and income from employment or savings. Learn more about these options here.
The Law School Financial Aid team is available to discuss funding options and to help connect you with resources to finance your investment in your legal education at 313-596-0213 or lawfinaid@udmercy.edu.
Additional financial aid information is available on the Financial Aid webpages.
-
Apply for US Federal Financial Aid
Students applying for US federal financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The priority deadline is July 1; however, the FAFSA is open now and we recommend completing it immediately to ensure timely processing of your financial aid package. The FAFSA is available at https://studentaid.gov/. Our institution code is 002323. We process loans as one University, so the only school listed will be University of Detroit Mercy. Learn more about applying for aid here.
If you need help completing your FAFSA, please contact the Law School Financial Aid team at 313-596-0213 or lawfinaid@udmercy.edu.
Additional financial aid information is available on the Financial Aid webpages. -
Start Saving for Fall Books and Supplies
Students will need to purchase textbooks prior to the start of the fall term so that they are prepared at orientation and on the first day of class. Textbook costs often range from $1,000-1,600 for the fall term. Do note, however, that some of the books that you purchase for fall classes will be the same books you use for winter classes.
Many students rely on federal financial aid to cover the costs of these law school books and supplies. However, per federal regulations, aid cannot be disbursed until shortly before classes begin. Therefore, waiting to purchase books until federal aid is received does not provide adequate time to prepare for orientation and the first week of class.
Students are encouraged to start saving for these expenses early. Some students use a credit card and pay off the amount as soon as their loan money becomes available. Other students use the library prior to the start of the fall term, as the library typically keeps one copy of the first-year required texts available at the reference desk for in-library use. However, with only one copy, this solution is often not ideal.
Students with concerns are encouraged to reach out to the Law School Financial Aid team at 313-596-0213 or lawfinaid@udmercy.edu.
Additional financial aid information is available on the Financial Aid webpages. -
Accept Your Financial Aid
Please complete the following to ensure quick receipt of your financial aid.
- Accept your award on My Portal > Self-Service - Student Profile > Financial Aid
- Complete all of the federal requirements at studentaid.gov
- Entrance Counseling
- Master Promissory Note(s)
- Receive credit approval for any credit-based loans (Graduate PLUS, alternative loans)
- Set up direct deposit to receive your loan refund for indirect expenses
- My Portal > Personal Profile > Direct Deposit
- Select Add New
- Input bank information
- My Portal > Personal Profile > Direct Deposit
- Notify the Financial Aid Office if you:
- Change your division/enrollment level
- Receive an external scholarship or aid (VA benefits, employer payments, vocational rehabilitation, etc.)
- Have finances other than student loans to purchase some materials prior to orientation, as aid cannot be disbursed until shortly before classes begin, per federal regulations.
FAQs
-
Housing
There are many options when it comes to housing while attending Detroit Mercy Law. You can live in the heart of downtown Detroit, or live in a nearby community and commute a few short minutes to Detroit.
-
Employment & Other Commitments During Law School
Law school requires a significant time investment for success. Students should be realistic about their ability to succeed in light of employment and other commitments. It is important to do as well as you can academically, especially during the first year.
During the first year, full-time students should not commit to employment during the fall and winter terms.
-
Registration & Student Schedules
We will register you for your fall term courses after we receive your final official transcript. No further action is required of you for registration. Your class schedule will be available to view in late July or early August in My Portal.
Click Self-Service > Student > Registration > Student Detail Schedule > Select Term: Fall 2024.
View sample US JD schedules here.
View sample Dual JD schedules here. -
Your Academic Program
You were admitted to either the US JD or Dual JD program.
US JD
Students admitted to the US JD program are admitted to a specific division—full-time day, part-time day, or extended day. View sample schedules and learn more about the first-year experience and graduation requirements here.
Requests regarding switching divisions should be directed to lawadmissions@udmercy.edu.
Dual JD -
International Students
Student visas are required for international students. Detroit Mercy Law supports students through the F-1 student visa process. You should also have a valid passport.
By Monday, July 15, 2024, please submit (1) a completed I-20 application and (2) supporting financial documentation. Failure to submit this information could result in forfeiture of your seat in the incoming class.Instructions for the I-20 forms
US JD I-20 Application – to be completed by non-US citizens enrolling in the US JD program
Dual JD I-20 Application – to be completed by all students enrolling in the Dual JD program who are not dual citizens of the US and Canada
Students who are not citizens of the US or Canada may need consular approval for student visas. If you are not a citizen of either country, please allow additional time for visa processing. Visa eligibility is at the discretion of the US Department of Homeland Security and the Canadian Border Service Administration. Please note that although you may qualify at the onset for a student visa, US and Canadian laws are subject to change, which may impact your ability to continue your studies.
Crossing Days
Students who require a visa for enrollment are required to participate in crossing days with their immigration documentation. Crossing days are typically scheduled the week prior to orientation. For more information visit Border Crossing Day.
Questions
Please contact Stephanie Winbigler, Director of Admissions with questions at winbigsn@udmercy.edu or 313-596-9841. -
Health Insurance
-
Accommodations
Students who wish to register for accommodations should review the information on the University Student Accessibility Services webpage.
Important Notices
-
Update Your Contact Information
Please notify the admissions office of any updates to your contact information (email, phone, and address) to ensure you receive important information prior to classes. Admitted students are required to regularly check and respond to emails and phone messages. Emails from Detroit Mercy Law will be sent to your Detroit Mercy email beginning August 1.
-
Disclosure Requirements & Amendments to Your Application
At the time of your application, you certified that all the information contained in your application was true and complete. You also certified that, if any answer or portion of any answer was not true or complete or ceased to be true or complete, you had a continuing obligation to inform the Law School. If you failed to disclose information on your application, especially regarding any academic, criminal, or disciplinary information, you are required to inform the Admissions Office in writing at lawadmissions@udmercy.edu as soon as reasonably possible. If necessary, please update your application as soon as possible to preclude any complications with your law school admission and application for admission to state bar associations. Discrepancies between your bar application and your law school application for admission could result in the rejection of your application to a state bar. Failure to disclose, provide forthright answers, or make required updates to the application may result in revocation of admission, reporting of the offense to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), or other disciplinary action.
-
Character and Fitness
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every US jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. You may review the State Bar of Michigan’s rules and guidelines online at www.michbar.org.
Action Required
-
Summer Reading
Academic Reading REQUIRED
- Reading Like a Lawyer 2nd edition, by Ruth Ann McKinney (ISBN-10: 9781611631104)
- Expert Learning for Law Students 3rd edition, by Michael Schwartz and Paula J. Manning (ISBN-10: 1611639654)—Chapters 1-6
Mission Reading REQUIRED
- The Color of Law a Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, by Richard Rothstein (ISBN-10: 9781631494536)
-
Please feel free to purchase The Color of Law from Detroit Book City, a Local Black-Owned Bookstore. http://www.detroitbookcity.com/
-
If you are interested in seeing how redlining affected your neighborhood, please follow this link to the interactive site from the University of Richmond: https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/#loc=4/41.218/-105.499&adviewer=sidebar
-
-
Order Your Books
-
Pay Your Tuition
Tuition is due by the first day of classes.
Pay online through My Portal
Students may make payments on My Portal from checking or savings accounts, as long as the bank is located in the US. Students may also make payments through Titan Pass using a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express credit or debit card, but there is a 2.75% convenience fee.
Pay online through Flywire (International Payments)
Detroit Mercy has partnered with Flywire to streamline the tuition payment process for international students. The service provides a safe, cost-effective, and convenient method of making payments to Detroit Mercy in foreign currencies. You can track the progress of your payment throughout the transfer process via a student dashboard and you will be notified via email when your payment is received by Detroit Mercy. To begin the payment process click the button below or visit: https://flywire.com/pay/udmercy.Pay by check or money order
Students may pay by paper check or money order (preferably in US funds) made payable to University of Detroit Mercy. Checks and money orders not payable in US funds will have amounts adjusted according to the exchange rate in effect at the time of receipt by the University's bank. Checks and money orders must include the student's T-number. These payments may be brought into the Law School Student Service Center or mailed to the Law School Student Services Center. -
Buy your Parking Pass
If you plan on driving to Detroit Mercy Law, you will need to buy a parking pass. Visit the Detroit Mercy Law Student Parking page for more information.