Overview
IP law includes patent; copyright; trademarks; trade secrets; and right of publicity. All of these areas are related in that they deal with protecting products of the mind but in other ways they are very different.
Intellectual Property is available as a Concentration or Area of Focus.
Courses
Introductory Course Sequence
All students are required to take the following entry level course. It is strongly recommended that students take this course before taking any other Intellectual Property Concentration courses:
Required Course
Must complete 2 of the following courses prior to graduation:
Skills/Experiential Learning Courses
In addition to the Introductory Sequence, students must take at least one (1) skills/experiential learning course chosen from the following approved list:
Courses:
| LAW-2265 | Advanced Legal Writing | 3 |
| LAW-0005 | Directed Study | 2 |
| LAW-2058 | Biotech for Lawyers and Business | 2 |
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| Externship in an Intellectual Property Field | |
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| Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Clinic | |
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| Intellectual Property and Licensing | |
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| Intellectual Property or Patent Law Thesis | |
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| Intellectual Property Transactional Skills | |
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| Journal of High Technology Law | |
Externship in an Intellectual Property Field: This course is graded on a credit/no credit basis and student participation, and is subject to prior approval by one of the Concentration Faculty Directors.
Intellectual Property or Patent Law Thesis: The Thesis may be graded on either a credit/no credit or letter grade basis, at the discretion of the faculty member serving as the Thesis advisor. Students must obtain prior approval from their Thesis advisor before registering for the Thesis course.
Journal of High Technology Law: This is course is graded on a credit/no credit basis and is subject to the student being selected as a journal staff member. Once on the journal, staff members must complete required work and have it certified by the journal's advisors, Professors Rustad and Beckerman-Rodau. Staff members may only count two (2) credits of journal work toward completion of the IP Law Concentration, even though they may receive additional credits for completion of the J.D. degree.
Participation In:
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| Giles Rich Patent Law Moot Court Competition | |
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| Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Moot Court Competition | |
| LAW-2831 | Patent Litigation Practice | 2 |
| LAW-2301 | Patent Prosecution I - Drafting Formerly: Patent Application Practice I | 2 |
| LAW-2944 | Patent Prosecution II: PTO Practice | 2 |
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| Research Assistant | |
| LAW-2457 | Trademark Practice: PTO | 2 |
| LAW-2986 | Transactional Skills | 3 |
Giles Rich Patent Law Moot Court Competition and Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Moot Court Competition: These courses are graded on a credit/no credit basis and participation is subject to being selected as a team member.
Research Assistant: This course is graded on a credit/no credit basis and is subject to the student being selected as a research assistant for a full-time faculty member conducting research in an intellectual property law field.
Advanced IP Electives Menu
Students must take additional Intellectual Property courses, including at least one course from the following list, in compiling their eighteen (18) credits for the IP Law Concentration.
Electives:
LAW-5: This course requires prior approval by one of the Concentration Faculty Directors.
How to enroll
Enrollment in the Intellectual Property Law Concentration is accomplished by filing a Notice of Enrollment form.
Concentration enrollment may occur as soon as a student completes the first year in law school in good standing.
The latest date students may enroll in a Concentration is October 1st for students graduating in January, and Feb. 1 for students graduating in May.
Formal enrollment in the Intellectual Property Law Concentration is not complete until the Notice of Enrollment form is filed. Once enrolled in the Concentration, students will be invited to participate in a variety of programs and special events of interest to intellectual property law practitioners.
Qualified students may pursue a specialized Patent Law Specialization certificate within the Intellectual Property Law Concentration.
Requirements
Continued enrollment in the Intellectual Property Law Concentration is contingent upon the student:
- Completing the three (3) required core courses;
- Completing a Concentration skills course;
- Completing at least one (1) Concentration elective course
- Completing such other Concentration skills and elective credits so that it is possible to complete the required eighteen (18) credits in approved Intellectual Property Law Concentration courses by the time the student graduates;
- Periodically reviewing the student's progress in attaining the requisite grade point averages with one of the Concentration Faculty Director(s) and/or the Assistant Dean for Academic Services; and
- Obtaining the Concentration Faculty Directors' approval of the student's plan for completing the Concentration's writing requirement.
Upon completion of the required courses, skills course, elective courses, the writing requirement and total credit hours required by the Intellectual Property Law Concentration, students must complete and file a Notice of Concentration Completion form with the Office of Academic Services.
The latest date students may file Concentration Completion forms is November 1 for January graduates, and March 1 for May graduates.