J.D. Estate Planning Emphasis Area Requirements
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Students will demonstrate mastery of core doctrinal knowledge and objective legal analysis within emphasis area
- Students will demonstrate mastery of research and writing skills in the emphasis area.
- Students will demonstrate entry-level proficiency in lawyering skills especially relevant to the emphasis area
- Students will demonstrate competency in professional work habits, including the ability to work with others in a professional environment.
Minimum Total Hours Required
Students must complete 24 semester hours of approved course work in the emphasis. In the final semester, students must complete a capstone portfolio assessment (not for credit) demonstrating mastery of essential skills and professional development. All courses used to satisfy the emphasis requirements must be taken for a grade (with the exception of those courses for which a grade option is not available) and a grade of B- or higher must be earned in each course counted toward the emphasis. If a student wishes to take a course that is not listed and have it count towards the minimum total hours required, the student must obtain written approval by an Emphasis Faculty Advisor.
Required Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 8541 | Property (satisfied as part of JD curriculum) | 3 |
| LAW 8542 | Advanced Property (satisfied as part of JD curriculum) | 3 |
| LAW 8552 | Federal Taxation (satisfied as part of JD curriculum) | 3 |
| LAW 8611 | Estates And Trusts | 3 |
| LAW 8868 | Trusts: Planning, Drafting, Administering & Litigating | 2-3 |
| Total Credits | 14-15 | |
Elective Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| In addition, students must select from an approved list of elective courses (9-10 additional hours beyond the required courses above) to total 24 total semester hours. | 24 | |
| LAW 8609 | Ethical Issues In Family Law Representation | 1-2 |
| LAW 8610 | Introduction to Trusts | 1 |
| LAW 8613I | Estate Planning and Drafting Lab | 2 |
| LAW 8614R | Estate Planning For Retirement Plan Benefits | 1 |
| LAW 8615R | Estate Planning For Charitable Giving | 1 |
| LAW 8617R | Elder Law For Estate Planners | 1 |
| LAW 8656G | Government Externship | 1-6 |
| LAW 8733E | Elder Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 8746I | Internship-Estate Planning | 2-6 |
| LAW 8751 | Family Law | 3 |
| LAW 8752S | Child & Family Services Clinic | 1-6 |
| LAW 8793B | Health Law II: Regulation, Organization and Finance | 2-3 |
| LAW 8843 | Federal Income Taxation Of Estates And Trusts | 2 |
| LAW 8845 | Deferred Compensation | 2-3 |
Capstone Competency Requirements
In the capstone portfolio assessment, students must demonstrate that they have fulfilled the following components within the above coursework or in other approved coursework or extracurricular experiences:
Writing Component Students must complete an academic research paper of high professional quality concerning a topic within the field of the emphasis area. Students may fulfill this requirement (1) in conjunction with any of the approved emphasis courses, (2) as part of the Law School’s Research and Writing requirement, (3) as part of an Independent Study, (4) through one of the Law School's journal offerings, or (4) through a research project pursued through an internship, externship, or other practical experience. Emphasis Faculty Advisors must approve of the topic and paper quality in order to satisfy this requirement. This paper may be written in conjunction with any of the required or elective coursework or students may submit a paper written as part of an independent study, another course, or an article written for the UMKC Law Review or other journal. Students must include this paper and may include other examples of written work product to demonstrate their writing skills as part of the portfolio assessment.
Research Component All students in the program must satisfy an advanced research requirement which provides familiarity with materials and sources frequently consulted by lawyers practicing in the estate planning and administration field. Subject to approval by the Emphasis Faculty Advisors this may entail a separate course, a component of an existing course, a separate lecture, seminar or workshop offering, or demonstrably satisfactory training on advanced research in connection with the Emphasis Writing Requirement. Work product demonstrating mastery of advanced research in the emphasis area must be included in the student's portfolio.
Practical Skills Component Students must satisfactorily complete a one-semester practical skills experience or its equivalent. Students may complete these requirement through the elective courses LAW 8656G, LAW 8746I, or LAW 8752S. Other field placement courses or clinics may be used to fulfill this requirement with approval of the emphasis advisor.
Ethics Component Each candidate for the Emphasis must attend at least 200 minutes (e.g., four 50-minute sessions) of instruction dealing with ethical issues that arise in the field of estate planning. Attendance at any session on an estate planning topic that qualifies for Missouri continuing education program ethics credits will count toward meeting this requirement, as will the viewing of such pre-recorded ethics sessions. The Emphasis Faculty Advisors may also approve other presentations that can count toward satisfying this Ethics Requirement. Students are required to include summaries and/or reflections on these presentations as part of their portfolios.