2024-2025 Law School Catalog

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JD/Master of Science in Law: Life Sciences Dual Degree

The Master of Science in Law: Life Sciences (MSLL) degree offers a multidisciplinary curriculum that leverages the research, law, and industry expertise of faculty from Suffolk University Law School, Suffolk’s Sawyer Business School, and Suffolk’s College of Arts & Sciences, with a focus on:

  • Scientific and statistical principles relevant to biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors
  • Drug development process and administrative regulation
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Biotechnology business and the law

The JD/MSLL dual degree can be pursued full-time or part-time, as students are able to choose the schedule that best fits their needs. Part-time students should plan to have MSLL-related classes at least two days a week. Full-time students should plan to be in MSLL-related classes 3-4 days a week.

Most MSLL-related courses will be held at 4:30PM or later, although some courses may be offered during the day.

Overview

The JD/MSLL dual degree requires 15 credits in selected STEM courses, and 15 credits that must be taken from specific JD/MSLL law courses.

Requirements

A candidate must have satisfactorily completed at least 30 credits in the Suffolk University Law School (SULS) MSLL curriculum and have been a student at SULS for at least one academic year. MSLL students must satisfactorily complete all of the courses listed as required, unless exempted by the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.

A candidate's complete MSLL Law School record must show a cumulative weighted average of at least 2.00 or its equivalent under these Rules & Regulations in order to receive the degree of Master of Science in Law: Life Sciences.

Degrees are awarded by the Trustees of Suffolk University on the recommendation of the Law Faculty. Recommendations may be withheld by the Faculty for good cause.

General Requirements:

A. Part-time MSLL students must enroll in a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 9 credits per semester. Full-time MSLL students must enroll in a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 15 credits per semester. With the approval of the Faculty Director up to 6 credits earned in summer school may be applied to reduce these semester requirements.

B. A Part-time MSLL student may not register for less than 6 credits or for more than 9 credits per semester without the prior approval of the Faculty Director. A Full-time MSLL student may not register for fewer than 12 credits per semester or for more than 15 credits in a semester without the prior approval of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.

C. MSLL students who wish to transfer between the Part-time and Full-time Divisions must obtain the written approval of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean. Approval must be obtained prior to registration for the semester the transfer will take effect.

D. Full-time MSLL students are required to complete one MSLL Externship or Internship as approved by the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean. Part-time MSLL students are strongly encouraged to complete one MSLL Externship, unless the student is currently working in a professional capacity in the life sciences sector.

E. Transfer Credits and Waivers of Certain Requirements

    1. No more than 9 credits may be accepted as Transfer Credits from another similarly accredited MSLL Program or Summer School, a J.D. program, or an advanced degree program in one of the relevant scientific fields towards the MSLL at Suffolk University Law School. Such Transfer Credits must have been earned within a reasonable period of time before acceptance into the MSLL, and not already counted towards another program or degree. The award of Transfer Credits shall be at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.
    2. MSLL students may petition for a waiver of up to and including 9 credits of required MSLL course work upon demonstration of completion of the required subject matter in an undergraduate program at an accredited institution in a relevant scientific field. Such study must have been completed within a reasonable period of time before acceptance into the MSLL, and not already counted towards another program or degree. The granting of waivers shall be at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.
    3. Full-time MSLL students may petition for a waiver from the required Externship or Internship in Section II. General Requirements and Rules, Subsection D.  The granting of waivers shall be at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.

F. Admission to the MSLL Program does not entail admission to any other Suffolk University degree program. Admission to any other Suffolk University degree program is a separate decision to be made by the relevant school.

Credit Requirements:

No more than 6 credits from any ungraded activities may be counted toward the MSLL degree. Ungraded activities include an MSLL Externship or Directed Study.

 

 

Courses

  1. All International MSLL students must satisfactorily complete a Required Course, "Introduction to U.S. Law, Legal Reasoning and Writing" in the first semester of the program.
  2. MSLL students may be required to complete additional courses or satisfy additional requirements at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean, taking into consideration the educational backgrounds and experience of the MSLL students.

The JD/MSLL dual degree requires 15 credits in selected STEM courses, and 15 credits that must be taken from specific JD/MSLL law courses.

MSLL STEM Courses:

  • Introduction to Molecular Biology for Professionals
  • Applied Genetics
  • Statistical Analysis for Clinical Research
  • Pharmaceutical Development
  • Therapies

JD/MSLL Law Courses:

  • Biotechnology Business and the Law
  • Clinical Research and the Law
  • Compliance in Life Sciences
  • Intellectual Property Survey
  • Privacy/Data Security

By counting the 15 credits of JD/MSLL law courses toward both the JD degree and MSLL degree, full-time students are able to complete both degrees in approximately 3.5 years (or 3 years with summer school) and part-time students are able to complete both degrees in approximately 4.5 years (or between 3.5 years and 4 years with summer school). At graduation, successful students will receive both a JD and MSLL degree.

If conditionally accepted into the JD/MSLL program, full-time students will take foundational 1L law courses in the fall semester. If these students achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA in the fall semester, in the spring semester, these students will take the foundational MSLL science course, Introduction to Molecular Biology for Professionals, instead of Constitutional Law, and then take Constitutional Law in their second year. Part-time students will complete their first year of the part-time JD program in its entirety, and if they achieved a minimum 3.0 GPA at the end of their 1LE year, they will take the foundational science course, Introduction to Molecular Biology for Professionals in the fall of their second year of the part-time JD program. All students will need to achieve a grade of at least a “B” in the Introduction to Molecular Biology for Professionals course to continue in the program and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Please note that course titles are subject to change. Elective courses may be added as they become available.

*Students may waive out of certain coursework based on prior work or educational experience. MSLL students may petition for a waiver of up to and including 9 credits of required MSLL course work upon demonstration of completion of the required subject matter in an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited institution in a relevant scientific field. Such study must have been completed within a reasonable period of time before acceptance into the MSLL, and not already counted towards another program or degree.

The granting of waivers shall be at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.