Academic Rules and Practices

Overview

Along with the rules and practices here, please see additional rules and practices applicable to the JD and MLS degree programs.

Academic Year

Please see the academic calendar in this Catalog for JD semester and session start and end dates, MLS term start and end dates, registration deadlines, and holidays.

Administrative Balancing of Course Sections

Trinity Law School prides itself on smaller class sizes which allow our professors to provide more individualized instruction. At the start of each JD semester or session or MLS term, for courses with multiple sections in the same format, the Registrar's Office may redistribute students between sections in an effort to better balance the class sizes. Priority to remain in a section will be given based on the registration order of students in the course. 

Catalog

Students are subject to the residency, unit, grade, and course requirements of the Trinity Law School Catalog in effect at the time of their matriculation. Students who withdraw from the program of study and are later re-admitted will be subject to the requirements of the Catalog that is current at the time of re-admission.

Contesting Grades

The Registrar's Office will release course grades via the TLS Portal. Once a final course grade is posted in the TLS Portal, the final course grade cannot be changed except after consultation with the professor of record and with the approval of the Law Faculty Senate. Changes subsequent to posting of final grades by the Registrar's Office will only be made to correct mathematical errors or for an evident error. 

A student who claims that a grade was the product of unfairness or a departure from established grading policy may elect to have the Law Faculty Senate review the claim. Students requesting a grade change must submit a completed Student Petition Form to the Registrar's Office within 20 days of the date that the Registrar's Office posts the grades. The Law Faculty Senate reviews these grade change requests and may seek input from the professor of record. The Law Faculty Senate makes the final decision on grade change requests.

Emergencies Affecting Coursework

In order to request an extension for completion of course requirements, students should send a completed Student Petition Form to the Registrar’s Office. These requests are considered only in cases of serious illness or other unforeseeable emergencies; they are authorized on a case-by-case basis.

Law School Student Petition Form

The Student Petition Form has been devised as a convenient medium of communication between the student and the administration. This form is available through the Registrar's Office. It should be filled out completely and forwarded to the Registrar’s Office.

Release of Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts are available through the TLS Portal. 

Official transcripts may be ordered online by expanding the Student or Alumni dropdown menu at the top of the page and choosing “Request Transcript.”  Once on the Transcript Ordering Center website, students will need to select Trinity International University - Law School.

Specific Course Requirements

Specific requirements and weighting for graded components that make up the course grade are set forth in the course syllabus and/or Canvas.

Transfer Credit

The transferability of units earned at Trinity Law School is entirely at the discretion of the institution to which the student may seek to transfer. Acceptance of the JD degree earned in the JD program or the MLS degree earned in the MLS program is also at the sole discretion of the institution to which the student may seek to transfer. If the JD or MLS degrees that the student earns at this institution are not accepted at the institution to which the student seeks to transfer, the student may be required to repeat some or all of the coursework at that institution. Students should ensure that their attendance at Trinity Law School aligns with their educational goals; this may include contacting an institution to which they may seek to transfer after attending Trinity Law School to determine whether the student's JD or MLS degree units will transfer.

Credit/No Credit grades on student transcripts will be reflected as follows:

CR - Credit: Represents the successful completion of a course offered on a credit/no credit basis. These units apply toward graduation requirements but are not calculated in the student's GPA.

NC - No Credit: Represents the failure to complete successfully a course offered on a credit/no credit basis. These units are calculated as units attempted but do not apply toward graduation requirements and are not calculated in the student's GPA.

Transcript notations where no grade is given will be reflected as follows:

AU - Audit: Indicates registration for a course on an audit basis, which normally indicates regular class attendance and participation in discussion. Students who audit courses are not enrolled for credit. No grade is assigned, and grade points and units are not awarded for courses audited.

N - In Progress: Represents coursework in progress.

AW - Authorized Withdrawal: Indicates when a student properly withdraws from a course while doing acceptable work before the withdrawal deadline. These units do not apply toward graduation requirements and are not calculated in the student’s GPA.

UW - Unauthorized Withdrawal: Indicates an unauthorized withdrawal from a course while doing unacceptable work, or a failure to timely withdraw from a course. These units do not apply toward graduation requirements and are not calculated in the student’s GPA. However, this remains on the transcript to indicate non-completion of a course. 

FW - Failure to Withdraw: Indicates when a student withdraws from a course late but was also failing the course or unable to satisfy verifiable academic engagement requirements, or is administratively withdrawn from a course for failure to satisfy verifiable academic engagement requirements. These units do not apply toward graduation requirements and are calculated in the student’s GPA as an "F" (0.0).

JD Program 

Academic Advancement, Probation, and Dismissal

If a student's cumulative grade point average (GPA) after any semester or session is less than 2.0 (the GPA required to maintain good standing), the student will be placed on academic probation for the following semester or session in which the student is enrolled in courses. Any student failing to earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 at the end of the semester/session during which they are on academic probation will be academically dismissed. Academic dismissal and academic probation are noted on student transcripts. 

Students will not be allowed to graduate with a cumulative GPA below 2.0.

Students are prohibited from completing the JD program in less than 24 months as required by State Bar rules. 

Failing a required course necessitates that the course be repeated. No units will be earned for a failed course. Failing a course has implications on registration and may delay the anticipated graduation date.

See JD Flex Academic Support Classes for further information..

Academic Honors

Dean’s List

The Dean’s List is compiled after the fall semester, spring semester, and summer session and includes all students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0. When determining eligibility for the Dean’s List, grades earned at another law school are not included in the student’s GPA.

Simon Greenleaf Awards for Scholastic Achievement

Simon Greenleaf Awards for Scholastic Achievement are given to the student(s) receiving the highest grade in each section of a course where at least two students are enrolled. A student who is repeating a course is not eligible for this award in the repeated course. The Simon Greenleaf Awards for Scholastic Achievement are awarded annually.

Law-Student-of-the-Year Award

The Law-Student-of-the-Year Award goes to the JD student who, by vote of the faculty, exemplifies the mark of a complete lawyer: warm of heart, scholarly in thought, rich in vision, vigorous in act, steadfast in ethics, exemplary in bringing honor to Trinity Law School, and inspiring to all with whom the student comes in contact. The Law-Student-of-the-Year Award is presented at Commencement.

Dean’s Award

The Dean’s Award is presented to the JD student who has maintained excellence in scholarship while at the same time advancing the interest and reputation of Trinity Law School. The Dean’s Award is presented at Commencement.

Add/Drop/Withdrawal

To add or drop a course or to change a class schedule, a student must submit an ADD/DROP request through the TLS Portal. The last day to add a course is the end of the third week of any semester or session. 

The date the ADD/DROP request is submitted to the TLS Portal will be considered the date that the student has dropped, withdrawn from, or enrolled in a course. Tuition refunds are based on the date the ADD/DROP request is submitted, as logged in the records maintained by the Registrar's Office.

Exact dates may be found on the JD Academic Calendar.

Authorized Withdrawal ("AW")

Students are responsible for completing every course in which they are enrolled.

The last day to withdraw from a course and receive an "AW" is the end of the twelfth week of class for fall and spring semesters, and the eleventh week of class for the summer session. See Transcript Notations.

Failure to Withdraw (“FW”) and Unauthorized Withdrawal (“UW”)

After the deadline to withdraw from a course and receive an AW, an FW or UW grades must be assigned to the course. See Transcript Notations.

Special Rules for Students Enrolled in Legal Research & Writing 1 and 2

Trinity Law School strongly believes that successful completion of Legal Research & Writing 1 and 2 is critical to students' ability to write well on law school exams. As such, students enrolled in LA 559 or LA 560b may not drop that course without dropping all courses. Similarly, if a student receives an FW or UW in either of those courses, the student will automatically receive a UW in all remaining courses in which the student is enrolled. 

Special Rules for Students Enrolled in JD Flex Academic Support Classes

For students enrolled in the JD Flex Academic Support Classes, an AW, UW, FW, or F in any one course will result in a UW for the remaining courses in progress and a dismissal from Trinity Law School.

Attendance and Preparedness

Attendance

Students must complete not less than 80% of verifiable academic engagement required in each course in which the student is enrolled. Students administratively withdrawn from courses due to insufficient hours of verifiable academic engagement will receive an FW (Failure to Withdraw) on their transcript. An FW receives the same GPA value as an "F" (0.0). Students must monitor their verifiable academic engagement in each course and are solely responsible for this requirement. 

Verifiable academic engagement may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

• Physical classroom time.
• Participating in a synchronous class session.
• Viewing and listening to recorded classes or lectures.
• Participating in a live or recorded webinar offered by the law school.
• Participating in any synchronous or asynchronous academic assignment in any course monitored by a faculty member.
• Taking an examination, quiz, or timed writing assignment.
• Completing an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction.
• Conducting legal research assigned as part of the curriculum in any course.
• Participating in any portion of an approved clinical or experiential course or activity offered through distance learning technology totaling no more than 12.5 percent of the units required for graduation.

Verifiable academic engagement does not include activities that would generally be considered “homework,” such as reading texts and briefing cases.

In-Person Courses

Students taking in-person courses may be required to complete assignments outside of the physical classroom in order to satisfy the verifiable academic engagement requirement. If applicable, the course syllabus will indicate these requirements. 

Failure to meet the verifiable academic engagement standard can take place through:

• Absence: Absence from class is never excused; a student is either “present” or “absent.” A student who is not present for a significant period of time during a class shall be deemed “absent” for that period of time. The professor may round the time absent to the nearest one-half of an hour.
• Class Sign-In Sheets: Verifiable academic engagement in an in-person class can be recorded in several ways, including through a professor's coded entries on a seating chart or roll sheet or by each student personally signing a sign-in sheet for that day's class. Where a sign-in sheet is used, failure to sign the sheet may result in the student being marked absent; school records will not be changed to accommodate a student who attended a class but neglected to sign in. By signing attendance sheets, students certify that they are present, did not affix the “signature” of other students enrolled in that class, and complied with the attendance rules. Any false attendance certifications may subject the student who signed as well as the student for whom the certification was signed to disciplinary action.
• Tardiness/Early Departure: If a student is tardy for or leaves early from a class, then the student’s verifiable academic engagement may be proportionally reduced. If a student is unprepared or disruptive, the professor may ask a student to leave class; in this situation, once the student has departed, the student’s verifiable academic engagement may be proportionally reduced.  
• Failure to Submit Assignments At All, or Submission of Assignments Below a Good Faith Standard or in Violation of the Standards of Conduct and Honor Code.
  • On rare occasions, with the permission of the professor and/or the Dean’s Office, students may arrange to earn verifiable academic engagement even if the course’s late work penalties provide that no assignment grade or credit will be given for an assignment.
  • When the professor reviews an assignment, the professor will determine the extent to which the student has engaged in, or completed, the assignment. If the professor determines that a student’s work product does not reflect the estimated time to complete the assignment, the professor will notify the student of this discrepancy and adjust the amount of verifiable academic engagement the student will receive for the assignment.
  • The professor will audit students’ assignments to determine participation, substance, and any violations of the Standards of Conduct and Honor Code contained in the Catalog. If the professor discovers such violations (e.g., plagiarism, sharing explanations with other students who have not completed the assignment, or other attempts at working around the system), the student may be subject to disciplinary action.
• Late Enrollment in the Course: If a student switches sections or enrolls in a course at any time during the add/drop period, the student does not receive verifiable academic engagement for the work completed in the previous section.  

Online Courses

Failure to meet the verifiable academic engagement standard can take place through:

• Absence: Absence from a Live Session is never excused; a student is either “present” or “absent.” A student who is not present for a significant period of time during a Live Session shall be deemed “absent” for that period of time. The professor may round the time absent to the nearest one-half of an hour.
• In order to be considered present for a Live Session, students shall remain visible and audible during the entire class session. A student who does not remain visible and audible for any period of time during the Live Session will be counted as “absent” for the duration of the time the student is not visible/accessible by video and/or microphone. Students shall join the Live Session with a live video feed (by camera) and live audio (microphone) from their devices. Students should join the Live Session from a location free of visible or audible distractions, including, but not limited to, while driving, other people, pets, food, and ambient noise. The professor will mute any students’ audio and/or video which distracts from the virtual classroom experience. 
• Tardiness/Early Departure: If a student is tardy for or leaves early from a Live Session, then the student’s verifiable academic engagement may be proportionally reduced. If a student is unprepared or disruptive, the professor may ask a student to leave the Live Session; in this situation, once the student has departed, the student’s verifiable academic engagement may be proportionally reduced.  
• Failure to Submit Assignments At All, or Submission of Assignments Below a Good Faith Standard or in Violation of the Standards of Conduct and Honor Code:.
  • On rare occasions, with the permission of the professor and/or the Dean's Office, students may arrange to earn verifiable academic engagement even if the course’s late work penalties provide that no assignment grade or credit will be given for an assignment.
  • When the professor reviews an assignment, the professor will determine the extent to which the student has engaged in, or completed, the assignment. If the professor determines that a student’s work product does not reflect the estimated time to complete the assignment, the professor will notify the student of this discrepancy and adjust the amount of verifiable academic engagement the student will receive for the assignment.
  • The professor will audit students’ assignments to determine participation, substance, and any violations of the Standards of Conduct and Honor Code contained in the Catalog. If the professor discovers such violations (e.g., plagiarism, sharing explanations with other students who have not completed the assignment, or other attempts at working around the system), the student may be subject to disciplinary action. 
• Late Enrollment in the Course: If a student switches sections or enrolls in a course at any time during the add/drop period, the student does not receive verifiable academic engagement for the work completed in the previous section.  

Students enrolled in online courses will be administratively withdrawn and receive a "UW" ("Unauthorized Withdrawal) on their transcript if they have not logged into Canvas, completed at least two assignments, and attended at least one Live Session within the first two-week period of the semester or session. 

Bar Examination Eligibility

Students must be in residence for a total of 1,200 hours in order to earn their JD degree. If excessive absences cause a student to fall short of this requirement, the student will not be eligible to sit for the California Bar Examination. 

Preparedness

Each student must be prepared at each class meeting and/or Live Session, as applicable to the assignments in each course, to:

• Brief assigned cases.
• Discuss video lectures.
• Discuss any preparatory work.
• Participate meaningfully in class discussions.

The professor has the authority to impose sanctions against any student who exhibits a pattern of unpreparedness in accordance with the policies set forth in the course syllabus. A professor and/or Dean may also refer a student to the Disciplinary Committee for repeatedly not being prepared for class/Live Sessions and/or completing assignments. Students are encouraged to review the section titled, “Failure to Perform the Responsibilities of a Student,” in the Standards of Conduct. 

Examination Regulations

The following exams and assessments will be taken in Canvas utilizing Honorlock for exam-integrity purposes:

• Midterm Exams and Final Exams for in-person and online courses.
• The Subject Matter Assessment (SMA) in all Bar-tested courses.
• Other closed-book, closed-notes assessments in online courses (will be indicated in Canvas).

The Standards of Conduct and Honor Code governs student actions before, during, and after exams. The Registrar’s Office will distribute instructions to students each semester and summer session. 

Unless otherwise stated in Canvas, all Midterm Exams and Final Exams are closed-book, closed-notes. The SMA is administered in Canvas for all courses, regardless of modality. Please see Online Courses below for the applicable SMA exam regulations as this is a closed-book, closed-notes exam. 

Students must obtain prior written permission from the Registrar’s Office for any deviations from these regulations. Petitions for make-up Midterm and Final Exams will only be considered for the limited reasons outlined in the Make-Up Examinations section below. 

Exam Biometric Data And Security Policy

Trinity Law School (TLS) has adopted the following Biometric Data and Security Policy, which applies to all JD students. By enrolling at TLS, JD students consent to this Biometric Data and Security Policy, including the collection and processing of biometric data as described in this policy as well as the most current policies articulated by Honorlock. For purposes of this Biometric Data and Security Policy, “biometric data” means a scan of the student’s face geometry, along with information based on that scan, that is used to authenticate the student’s identity. 

TLS has selected Honorlock to provide identity verification and proctoring services for exam proctoring. 

Biometric Data Collection

Honorlock collects biometric data primarily for identity verification and to monitor exam integrity. The types of biometric data collected include:

• Facial Detection: Honorlock does not use face recognition, fingerprints, voiceprints, or any other biometric technology to identify or match a specific individual. The facial detection technology is simply used to confirm that a face is visible. If no face is detected or if multiple faces are detected, the AI system flags the issue, and a live proctor may intervene. Please note that your identity may be confirmed by a live proctor and a photo of you requested prior to the exam.
• Photo Capture: Before starting the exam, Honorlock may prompt students to take a photo of themselves as part of the identity verification process. This photo is used to help confirm that the person taking the exam matches the registered test-taker.
• Photo ID Verification: Honorlock may also request that students scan and upload a government-issued photo ID for verification purposes. The name on the ID will be matched to the name in the student’s exam registration to ensure the correct person is taking the exam. A photo of the ID is logged for this verification step.
• Room Scan: As part of the authentication process, students may be asked to conduct a 360-degree room scan. This ensures that the test space complies with exam administrator requirements and that no unauthorized materials or individuals are present.
• Webcam and Screen Recording: During the exam, Honorlock records the student's webcam and screen activity to monitor for any signs of academic dishonesty and ensure the integrity of the exam process.

Data Security and Retention

TLS is committed to ensuring the security and confidentiality of student data. Honorlock follows industry-standard security practices to protect biometric and other personal data collected during exams:

• Data Encryption: All student data is encrypted both during transmission and while stored. Honorlock utilizes Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide secure cloud hosting.
• Data Retention: Honorlock retains biometric and exam data for up to 12 months after the exam. After this period, the data is automatically deleted unless TLS requests an extension for investigation into academic integrity violations. Students can also request the deletion of their data following the exam.
• Recordings: Any recordings will only be made available to persons who have been authorized to review them for exam security purposes. These tools will help ensure a fair and equal assessment for every student.

Privacy and Data Protection Practices

Honorlock has robust privacy measures in place to ensure the protection of student data:

• No Sale or Sharing of Data: Honorlock does not sell, share, or monetize any student data. All data collected is used solely for proctoring the exam and is held securely by TLS.
• No Access to Cell Phones or Secondary Devices: Honorlock does not have access to students' mobile phones or other secondary devices. Only the primary device used for the exam is monitored.
• No Access to the Student’s Network: Honorlock does not access students' home networks or personal internet connections. The system only checks the quality of the student's internet connection to ensure a stable exam session.
• No Access to Webcam or Microphone After the Exam: Once the exam is finished, Honorlock’s access to the student's webcam and microphone ends immediately.

Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Standards

Honorlock complies with relevant laws and regulations related to data privacy, including:

• FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act): Honorlock adheres to FERPA regulations, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of student educational records.
• Data Ownership: All student data is owned by TLS, and Honorlock only processes and holds the data to provide proctoring services. Honorlock does not use student data for any other purpose.

TLS reserves the right to update this Biometric Data and Security Policy in response to changes in regulations, technology, or institutional needs. Students will be notified of any updates through official communication channels, and it is recommended that students review this policy periodically.

Elective courses will be graded according to Table B in the appendix. LA 953, LA 959 Clinics, LA 989, and LA 991a are graded on a credit/no credit basis.

Grading on Final Examination and Final Course Grades

Student papers constituting the entire course grade and final course grades in the JD program are graded using a strict curve rather than on a criteria basis. The curve applies to classes of five or more students. When classes are smaller than five students, subject to the approval of a Dean, professors may assign grades that are generally consistent with grades given in other classes. See Appendix.

Juris Doctor Ranking

To assist students in assessing their own academic performance, students enrolled in the JD program who have completed 18 or more units will be provided a rank in the TLS Portal under "Registrar Services." Students who have completed 18 or more units will be ranked within two tiers. Those students completing 18-54 units are considered the middle tier. Those students earning 55-89 units are considered the upper tier. The ranking information on the TLS Portal will indicate the number of students in their tier and their ranking within that tier.

On October 1st of each year, all students who will have graduated within the preceding 12 months will receive an electronic document indicating their rank among all the students who graduated during that year. Ranking is not indicated on the students’ transcripts.

Leaves of Absence and Withdrawal from the Law School

A Leave of Absence

JD students, excluding those enrolled in the JD Flex Academic Support Classes, may request a leave of absence for up to two semesters or sessions. To initiate a leave of absence, the student must request a leave of absence via the TLS Portal. When calculating the duration of a leave of absence, the first semester or session of the leave of absence will be the semester or session in which the request is made, even if the student attended classes for part of that semester or session. With the exception of JD students matriculating in the spring semester, students are not required to take a leave of absence during the summer session if they are not enrolled in courses. 

JD students on academic probation are ineligible to request a leave of absence after the twelfth week of the fall or spring semesters, or after the eleventh week of the summer session. 

Students enrolled in JD Flex Academic Support Classes do not have the option to request a leave of absence. Permanent withdrawal will result through a failure to register for courses or through a student's withdrawal from courses. Students wishing to return after a permanent withdrawal must seek re-admission through the Admissions Office.

A Permanent Withdrawal

A permanent withdrawal occurs when a student leaves Trinity Law School at any time after registration, does not intend to complete the current semester, and does not wish to return in any subsequent semester. Failure to register for courses without seeking a leave of absence will also constitute a permanent withdrawal. Students wishing to return to Trinity Law School after a permanent withdrawal must seek re-admission through the Admissions Office. Re-admitted students are subject to the Catalog requirements that are current at the time of their re-enrollment.

Students who withdraw or are deemed withdrawn while on probation are likely to have re-admission denied except under unusually compelling circumstances.

Registration

Registration generally begins in June for the fall semester, November for the spring semester, and March for the summer session. Exact dates may be found on the JD Academic Calendar.

Repeating Courses

A JD student on probation or in good standing receiving a grade below C may retake courses to seek a higher grade. A student will not be permitted to repeat a course in which the student received a grade of C or higher. Both grades will be reflected on the student's transcript but only the highest grade will be used for purposes of computing the student’s cumulative GPA. Students cannot earn units more than once for substantially similar coursework. 

In all cases of repeating courses, students will be charged the normal rate of tuition.

Students in the JD Flex Academic Support Classes do not have the option to retake those courses.

Special Students

Students admitted as Special Students are those who have not completed the minimum two years of college work but have demonstrated equivalent intellectual achievement by achieving acceptable scores on College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations approved by the CBE, prior to beginning the study of law. Once a Special Student has completed the first year of study at Trinity Law School, a Special Student is required to take the FYLSX. A Special Student must take and pass the FYLSX within the three administrations of first becoming eligible to take the FYLSX. If a Special Student does not pass the FYLSX within three administrations of first becoming eligible to take the FYLSX, the Special Student will be dismissed from Trinity Law School. Additionally, Special Students must pass the FYLSX before they can enroll in a semester or session in which they would exceed 40 units earned at Trinity Law School. Special Students must pass the FYLSX before any course credit can be awarded after their third term. 

Spring Matriculants

Students who start their legal studies in the spring semester are subject to distinct rules regarding academic advancement, probation, and dismissal. All year-long courses started in the spring semester must be completed during the immediately following summer session.

Transfer Credit

The maximum age of units that will be considered for transfer credit is 36 months, and the maximum number of units that can be transferred is 45 units. A unit of credit is equivalent to 15 academic hours. Transfer credit is only granted for courses taken at an ABA-approved or California Accredited Law School. Transfer credit is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Courses are individually considered for transfer and only courses with grades at the prior school’s good standing level may be accepted for transfer credit subject to similarity to Trinity Law School course contents.

Credit may only be transferred for whole courses, in an amount not to exceed the units granted by the awarding law school and shall only be awarded for courses for which the student earned a grade in good standing at that awarding law school, except that for a student who has passed the FYLSX, the law school may acknowledge the units previously granted for Torts, Criminal Law, and Contracts, even if the grade was less than would be required for good standing. No units will be granted for work completed at a registered, unaccredited law school unless that student has passed the FYLSX, and no units shall be awarded beyond the first year of study for that student and prior to passing the FYLSX unless the student passed the FYLSX within three administrations of becoming eligible to take it.

Experiential Credit

Experiential credit may only be granted in the JD program under the following conditions:

• the prior learning must be equivalent to a college or university-level of learning.
• the learning experience must demonstrate a balance between theory and practice.
• the units awarded for the prior learning experience must directly relate to the student's degree program and be applied toward satisfying degree requirements.

Students must document in writing the learning experience for which they seek credit. 

Faculty Evaluation

The learning experience will be evaluated by faculty qualified in that specific subject area. The faculty member will determine the extent to which the student's prior experience is equivalent to university-level learning and will assign the appropriate number of units toward the degree. The faculty member will prepare a written report indicating the following:

• The documents in the student's record on which the faculty member relied in determining the nature of the student's prior experience.
• The bases for determining that the prior experience:
  • Is equivalent to college or university level learning.
  • Demonstrates a balance between theory and practice.
• The bases for determining:
  • To what college or university level the experience is equivalent.
  • The proper number of units to be awarded toward the degree for that experience.

The Registrar's Office will review and confirm or disconfirm the faculty determinations regarding the award of unit for prior experiential learning. The Registrar's Office shall document Trinity Law School’s periodic review of faculty evaluations to assure that the faculty written evaluations and awards of unit comply with this section.

MLS Program 

Academic Advancement, Probation, and Dismissal

The minimum cumulative GPA to earn a degree and maintain good standing is 3.0. If a student's cumulative GPA, after completion of any term, is less than 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. The probationary status will remain in effect until the student raises the cumulative GPA to 3.0. Any student who earns a C- or below in any three courses will be academically dismissed. Academic dismissal and academic probation are noted on student transcripts.

Students will not be allowed to graduate with a cumulative GPA below 3.0.

Failing a required course necessitates that the course be repeated. No units will be earned for a failed course. Failing a course has implications on registration and may delay the anticipated graduation date.

Add/Drop/Withdrawal

To add or drop a course or to change a class schedule, a student must submit an ADD/DROP request through the TLS Portal. The last day to add a course is the end of the first week of term.

The date the ADD/DROP request is submitted to the TLS Portal will be considered the date that the student has dropped, withdrawn from, or enrolled in a course. Tuition refunds are based on the date the ADD/DROP request is submitted, as logged in the records maintained by the Registrar's Office.

Exact dates may be found on the  MLS Academic Calendar.

Authorized Withdrawal ("AW")

Students are responsible for completing every course in which they are enrolled.

• Authorized Withdrawal (“AW”): The last day to withdraw from a course and receive an “AW” is the end of the fifth week of class. See Transcript Notations.

Failure to Withdraw (“FW”) and Unauthorized Withdrawal (“UW”)

After the withdrawal deadline to receive an AW, an FW or UW grade must be assigned to the course. See Transcript Notations.

Attendance and Preparedness

Attendance

Attendance is defined as participating in qualified academic events, which includes the: 

• Submission of an academic assignment.
• Examination, interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction.
• Study group assigned by the school.
• Participation in online discussion about academic affairs.
• Initiation of contact with the instructor to ask a question about an academic subject.

On rare occasions, a student may arrange to make up qualified academic events with the professor's permission.

Students will be administratively withdrawn and receive an Unauthorized Withdrawal ("UW") on their transcript if they have not completed at least one assignment, Live Session, or discussion board within the first two weeks of an MLS term. If a student is dropped from a course due to inadequate attendance, the student is required to repeat the course to meet graduation requirements. Students are required to actively participate as each course may require. 

Preparedness

Each student must be prepared to participate meaningfully in class discussions.

The professor has the authority to impose sanctions against any student who exhibits a pattern of unpreparedness in accordance with the policies set forth in the course syllabus. Repeated unpreparedness is a violation of the Standards of Conduct.

Course Grades

Grading in the MLS program is on a criterion basis. Criteria are determined by the professor for each assignment. At the completion of a course, student scores for assignments will be totaled and translated into a final letter grade. Based on the total point percentage, students will be assigned a final letter grade as follows:

Grading Scale

Generic Three-Column

Field 1	Field 2	Field 3
A = 92-100%	A- = 90-91%	B+ = 88-89%
B = 82-87%	B- = 80-81%	C+ = 78-79%
C = 72-77%	C- = 70-71%	D+ = 68-69%
D = 62-67%	D- = 60-71%	F = 0-59%

Anonymity

When possible, assignments are graded anonymously. Unless otherwise instructed by the professor, students should not use their names on assignments submitted through Canvas; if students do so, they voluntarily forfeit anonymity.

Graduation with Honors 

The following criteria are established for the determination of graduation honors for students in the MLS program:

Graduation Honors

Honor	GPA
Summa cum laude	3.90
Magna cum laude	3.80
Cum laude	3.50

Leaves of Absence and Withdrawal from the Law School

A Leave of Absence

MLS students may request a leave of absence for up to six, eight-week MLS terms. To initiate a leave of absence, the student must request leave via the TLS Portal. When calculating the duration of a leave of absence, the first term of a leave of absence is the term in which the request is made, even if the student attended classes for part of that term. MLS students cannot obtain a leave of absence after the sixth week of the term in which leave is requested.

A Permanent Withdrawal

A permanent withdrawal occurs when a student leaves Trinity Law School at any time after registration, does not intend to complete the current semester, and does not wish to return in any subsequent semester. Failure to register for courses without seeking a leave of absence will also constitute a permanent withdrawal. Students wishing to return to Trinity Law School after a permanent withdrawal must seek re-admission through the Admissions Office. Re-admitted students are subject to the Catalog requirements that are current at the time of their re-enrollment.

Students who withdraw or are deemed withdrawn while on probation are likely to have re-admission denied except under unusually compelling circumstances.

Midterm and Final Examinations

There are no midterm examinations or final examinations in the MLS program.

Registration

Registration for the MLS program begins typically four weeks before the start of each term. Exact dates may be found on the MLS Academic Calendar.

Repeating Courses

An MLS student may elect to repeat any course in which a grade of B- or lower is earned provided that the repeated course is taken through a regularly scheduled course, or as an independent study/guided research course with the approval of the Registrar's Office. The higher grade earned in the course will be used in the GPA calculation. A repeated course for which units have been earned may produce an improved grade and improved cumulative GPA but will not provide additional units. A required course in which a C or higher is earned may be repeated only once. Students cannot earn units more than once for substantially similar coursework. All courses, grades, and GPA calculations will remain printed on the transcript.

In all cases of repeating courses, students will be charged the normal rate of tuition.

Transfer Credit

The maximum number of units that can be transferred from an outside institution is 20% of the degree.

Students who have completed JD courses at Trinity Law School or graduated with their JD from Trinity Law School can transfer up to 18 units from the completed JD courses toward the 30 required units for the MLS degree. These students must complete a minimum of 12 MLS units.

Transfer credit is only granted for units earned at institutions approved by the California Bureau for Private and Post-Secondary Education, public or private institutions of higher learning accredited by an accrediting association recognized by the U. S. Department of Education, or any institution of higher learning, including foreign institutions, if the institution offering the program documents that the institution of higher learning at which the units were earned offers degree programs equivalent to degree programs approved by the California Bureau for Private and Post-Secondary Education or accredited by an accrediting association recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. A minimum of 12 units must be taken in the Trinity Law School MLS program. A unit of credit is equivalent 15 academic hours. Transfer credit is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Courses are individually considered for transfer and only courses with grades of C- or higher at the prior school may be accepted for transfer credit subject to similarity to Trinity Law School course contents.

Experiential Credit

Experiential credit may only be granted in the MLS program under the following conditions:

• the prior learning must be equivalent to a college or university-level of learning.
• the learning experience must demonstrate a balance between theory and practice.
• the units awarded for the prior learning experience must directly relate to the student's degree program and be applied toward satisfying degree requirements.

Students must document in writing the learning experience for which they seek credit. 

For the 30 units awarded a student in the MLS program, no more than 6 units may be awarded for prior experiential learning. The quantity of units awarded for prior experiential learning may not be related to the amount charged the student for the assessment process.

Faculty Evaluation

The learning experience will be evaluated by faculty qualified in that specific subject area. The faculty member will determine the extent to which the student's prior experience is equivalent to university-level learning and will assign the appropriate number of units toward the degree. The faculty member will prepare a written report indicating the following:

• The documents in the student's record on which the faculty member relied in determining the nature of the student's prior experience.
• The bases for determining that the prior experience
  • is equivalent to college or university level learning.
  • demonstrates a balance between theory and practice.
• The bases for determining
  • to what college or university level the experience is equivalent.
  • the proper number of units to be awarded toward the degree for that experience.

The Registrar's Office will review and confirm or disconfirm the faculty determinations regarding the award of unit for prior experiential learning. The Registrar's Office shall document Trinity Law School’s periodic review of faculty evaluations to assure that the faculty written evaluations and awards of unit comply with this section.