Research Guides: Computer Services: Law Student Technology Requirements

Note: In addition to these requirements, students should review information from the main University Information Technology department page. This page will provide additional information on University services and resources that apply to School of Law students.

Requirements

School of Law students are required to own a laptop computer that is compatible with software used for instruction and exams, and to own a headset that is compatible with their computer. The following information will assist you in ensuring that you are in compliance with these requirements.

Laptop Computer

Both PCs and Macs are supported. The following table provides both minimum requirements and recommendations for each type of computer

Specification	PC	Mac
Operating System	Recommended: Windows 10* Minimum Required: Windows 10* versions: 2004, 20H2, or 21H1	Recommended: OS 11* (Big Sur) Minimum Required: OS X 10.15* (Catalina)
Processor (CPU)	Recommended: Intel i5 or i7 or equivalent, or Apple M1 Minimum Required: Intel i3
Memory (RAM)	Recommended: 8 GB or higher Minimum Required: 4 GB or higher
Screen size & resolution	Recommended: 14” or larger; 1440 x 900 Minimum Required: 12”; 1280 x 768, scaling at 100%
Hard Drive	Recommended: 256 GB or higher Minimum Required: 128 GB
Webcam with microphone (most laptops have this built in)	Required: Minimum resolution of 640 x 480 or greater
Software	Required: Microsoft Office 365 and antivirus software (available for free to UND students)
Additional Requirements	· Students must have administrator access to their computers (this will typically be the case unless you are using a computer owned by someone else). · Computers purchased in another country must have an English language pack installed.
*NOT SUPPORTED	· Chromebooks, iPads, and tablets are not compatible with the software UND School of Law uses for exams and, therefore, do not meet the laptop requirement. Additionally the test taking software does not support touchscreen input devices on Mac or Windows laptops. · Only genuine versions of Windows and Mac operating systems are supported. · Alternate versions of Windows 10, such as Windows RT and Windows 10 S are not supported. · Virtual operating systems such as VMWare, Parallels, etc. are not supported.

Headsets

Students are required to purchase a headset that is compatible with their computer for use when virtual learning is required. You may choose any headset that you’d like. However, to assist you, we have listed a few options:

Wired: Logitech H390; Logitech H540; Mpow
Wireless: Logitech H600; Airpods; Beats by Dre; Jabra Evolve 65

Internet Access

Students must have reliable Internet access when off-campus. The minimum required speed is 3 Mbps; we recommend a speed of 15 Mbps.

Backup Devices

It is recommended that students back up their files regularly. This can be done using an external hard drive, a flash drive, or a cloud-based system such as OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive. OneDrive is included free in your University Office account.