Suffolk Law Student Handbook

Involuntary Leave of Absence

The Law School may place a student on an Involuntary Leave of Absence in certain

circumstances. The process for an Involuntary Leave of Absence is more fully described in

the section entitled, “Involuntary Leave of Absence” within this publication and on the Law

School’s website.

VI. READMISSIONS

A. Consideration of Readmission Applications and Petitions

Non-Academic Separations

. A student who has previously voluntarily withdrawn from the

law school with decanal approval or who has been previously dismissed for administrative

or disciplinary reasons must submit a petition seeking readmission in order to reenter the

law school. Such petitions, which must be submitted on a form provided by the Admissions

Office, will be considered by the Admissions Office in consultation with the Dean of

Students and Associate Deans . In the case of a student dismissed for disciplinary reasons,

the Admissions Office will make a recommendation to the faculty, which will determine

whether to readmit the student. A student who is readmitted to the law school after having

withdrawn or having been dismissed for administrative or disciplinary reasons is subject

to the academic requirements and regulations in force upon reentry.

All petitions seeking readmission after a non-academic separation must address, in detail,

the reasons for the student’s prior withdrawal or dismissal and provide a statement

explaining why the prior circumstances will no longer affect the student’s ability to

successfully study law and practice law.

Academic Separations

. A student who has previously been dismissed for academic reasons

and wishes to reenter the law school must submit a written petition for readmission. Such

petition, submitted on a form provided by the Admissions Office, will be considered by the

Faculty Academic Standing Committee or its designees. The Academic Standing

Committee shall not act favorably upon a readmission petition unless the petitioner has

demonstrated to the Committee’s satisfaction by clear and convincing evidence that the

petitioner possesses the requisite ability to succeed in the study of law.

The petition shall be in three parts:

Part I shall inform the Committee of the reasons for the petitioner’s academic deficiency

while enrolled in the law school. Full documentation of the circumstances must accompany

the petition. If such reasons involve physical or psychological incapacity before or during

examinations, full documentation of the problem from a treating professional must

accompany the petition.

Part II shall inform the Committee of all events in the petitioner’s life since the date of his

or her academic dismissal that bear on the petitioner’s ability to succeed in the study of