The standard IP specialization prepares students for work in law firms and corporations, handling trademark, patent, and copyright issues. Students will choose 12 credit hours from among the core courses. Elective courses in business law, international intellectual property law, biomedical advancements, biotechnological innovation, and Internet law deepen students’ understanding in areas specific to their interest. Attorneys specializing in the field work as advisors to government agencies on issues of evolving intellectual property law, consultants on intellectual property for law firms and corporations, and practicing lawyers in intellectual property suits.
Core courses (choose 12 credits)
- Survey of Intellectual Property
plus two of the following: - Copyright Law
- Patent Law
- Trademark and Unfair Competition Law
and one of the following: - Antitrust
- Intellectual Property Antitrust
Elective courses
- Entertainment Law
- Federal Circuit Advocacy
- Intellectual Property Colloquium
- International Business Transactions
- International Intellectual Property
- Intellectual Property Law Transactions
- Internet Law
- Internet Law: Political and Legal Dimensions
- IP Practicum: Legal Aspects of Music
- Law and Biomedical Advance
- Seminar in Intellectual Property
- Seminar: Introduction to Biotechnological Innovation
Patent law specialization
An LLM in IP law with a patent law focus prepares students to work in law firms and as in-house counsel for corporations protecting technological inventions and innovations. Students will take Patent Law and Survey of Intellectual Property, along with two electives, such as Advanced Patent Law, Patent Trial Practice, and Patent Prosecution. The goal of this program is to provide students with the education necessary to practice patent law, including litigation skills, knowledge of areas of law that intersect with patent law, and study of modern developments in the field. Attorneys specializing in the field work as patent attorneys and advisors to government agencies on patent issues.
Core courses (choose 12 credits)
- Patent Law
- Survey of Intellectual Property
- Two additional courses from electives listed below
Elective courses
- Advanced Patent Law
- Federal Circuit Advocacy
- Intellectual Property Antitrust
- Intellectual Property Transactions
- Patent Trial Practice
- Patent Prosecution
The Law School is home to the Center for Intellectual Property Research, which was founded in 2011 to coordinate the law school’s intellectual property law curriculum, research, and outreach. The Center deals with the legal mechanisms that to promote innovation and creativity in virtually every sector of the economy. The Center gives students the opportunity to work as research assistants on in-depth projects and to participate in mentoring programs with upper-class students and practitioners. Additionally, the Law School's Intellectual Property Law Clinic provides students the opportunity to work with pro bono clients, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the faculty of the Center for IP Research on research, advocacy, and administrative practice.