The Quarter System
Baylor Law School’s Quarter System: A Unique Path to Your JD
What is the Quarter System?
Our academic year is divided into four quarters: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Unlike traditional semester-based programs, our quarter system gives you more opportunities to start and finish your JD at a pace that works for you.
Start When You’re Ready
You can apply to begin your law school journey in the fall, spring, or summer, allowing you to plan around your own timeline. Each academic year consists of three quarters, which must be completed consecutively when you start. After your first three quarters, you’re free to take a break if needed during the regular year or keep going to complete your JD in as little as 27 months.
Stay on Track
With shorter, nine-week quarters, you’ll get more frequent progress assessments, allowing you to adjust and improve earlier without one class heavily impacting your GPA. Plus, exams at Baylor Law School cover just nine weeks of material, compared to the longer 14 or 15 weeks covered in semester-based exams. If you find a class challenging, recovering and keeping your academic performance on track is more manageable.
Ready for Real Life
Baylor’s quarter system mirrors the fast-paced life of a legal professional. Like in a law firm, where you’ll manage multiple cases and deadlines, our system keeps things moving with shorter breaks between quarters and classes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This schedule helps you transition smoothly from student life to the demands of legal practice, where frequent changes in caseload are the norm.