Laptop Requirements
Overview
The School of Law has joined other leading law schools in implementing a student laptop computer requirement for first-year J.D. students. Use of computers has become essential to research, classroom and clinical work. Furthermore, by requiring the purchase of a computer, we are able to include the cost in your financial aid package.
Maryland Carey Law requires all students to possess a laptop which meets the following minimum requirements:
Note: Updated for the Fall 2022 Semester. Please note the requirement of Windows 10 and Mac OS 10.15 or higher (Catalina) for our Exam software
Required |
Recommended | |
---|---|---|
Operating System |
Windows 10 (Version 20H2 or higher), macOS 10.15 Catalina or higher |
Windows 10 (Version 21H2 or current version) or Windows 11 macOS 12.x.x Monterey |
Memory | 8GB | 16GB or higher |
Hard Drive Capacity |
128GB |
512 GB SSD |
Webcam |
Webcam highly recommended for online collaboration | |
Screen Size |
N/A | 13" or larger recommended. Screen size is student preference |
WiFi | 802.11N (Wi-Fi 4) | 802.11AC (Wi-Fi 5 or later) |
Warranty | N/A | Next-day, on site warranty recommended. Warranty replacements can take quite some time if not in person. |
Requirement of Administrative Rights
All students must have administrative rights on their laptop. This allows for the installation of Exam4 and the ability to troubleshoot your machine if an issue arises. IT cannot assist students who do not have administrative access to their PC or Mac.
Software Requirements
All students shall have the following software preinstalled on their laptop:
- Antivirus software
- UMB Provides Symantec antivirus to all students for a nominal fee. Windows defender is another suitable antivirus product that is included with Windows 10 at no cost. More information on obtaining Symantec antivirus can be found here: https://www.umaryland.edu/cits/software/
- Microsoft Office Software
- PDF Software
- Adobe Reader, Apple Preview, or other compatible PDF viewing software
- Windows 10
- UMB provides a digital download of Windows 10 Education to students free of charge. You can order it via the campus software sales website: UMB Software Sales
Use of Tablets
A tablet such as an iPad is not a satisfactory alternative to a fully-featured laptop/notebook computer.
- Electronic exams may not be taken on Chromebooks, Linux systems, tablets, or mobile devices
- Legal research websites are not fully supported on tablets or mobile devices
- Tablets do not provide sufficient word processing capabilities for efficient composition of complex legal documents
Tablets and mobile devices can be useful and convenient for tasks such as note taking, email, and web access. However, if you plan to bring a tablet or other device, you must treat it as a companion to, not a replacement for, a traditional laptop computer (Windows or Mac).
New Operating System Releases
Exam 4 has been slow to approve new operating system releases for macOS. Please do not upgrade your macOS past Big Sur without getting IT approval first. IT typically will email all students once the latest version of macOS has been approved and verified working with Exam4.
Bootcamp/Dual-Boot laptops
Dual Boot or Bootcamped laptops cannot be supported for Law school coursework. Exam4 will block these machines prior to launching an exam. If in doubt, always test Exam4 with your laptop prior to exam period. Instructions can be found here: Exam Preparation