UA School of Law announces creation of J.D./LL.M. program

08/15/2011

A study group makes use of the atrium in the School of Law.


The University of Akron School of Law has announced the creation of a joint Juris Doctor (J.D.) and master of laws (LL.M.) program in intellectual property.

"The J.D./LL.M. in Intellectual Property (IP) program is a distinctive and efficient academic opportunity," says Lauri Thorpe, the law school’s assistant dean for admissions. "Students may earn both the J.D. and the LL.M. in IP in three years (if full-time) or in four years (if part-time), including summers. Students earn 76 J.D. credits plus 12 IP credits at the J.D. level plus 12 IP credits at the LL.M level for a total of 100 credits. This 100 credit hour requirement is only 12 more credits than our traditional 88 credit hour J.D. program. And there are some students who are also on track to earn an MBA at the same time. It's a no-brainer for students interested in IP to earn the J.D./LL.M., which can create a competitive edge in this challenging job market while also saving precious tuition dollars and valuable time."

Well-rounded curriculum

IP courses that students can or will take include Fundamentals of IP, Patent Policy, Copyright Law, Trademark and Unfair Competition Law, International IP Law, Entertainment Law and more. The full curriculum is available to view at http://www.uakron.edu/law/curriculum/llm/index.dot.

This new joint program was developed under the leadership of Jeffrey M. Samuels, professor and director of the UA School of Law Center for Intellectual Property Law and Technology.

"The new joint J.D./LL.M. program makes UA School of Law's IP program even more unique and desirable for potential students," says Samuels. "It will enhance our ability to attract students interested in IP and provide such students with the knowledge and skills they will need to be successful.”

The UA School of Law Center for Intellectual Property Law and Technology, one of few such centers in the United States, is one of the focus areas of the law school and contributes to the school's national impact. The center invites distinguished speakers to campus, hosts the annual Richard C. Sughrue Symposium on Intellectual Property Law and Policy, the annual IP Scholars Forum, and administers a certificate program in IP Law, as well as the master of laws in IP program.

About The University of Akron School of Law

The University of Akron School of Law promotes justice, the protection of individual liberty and the rule of law through commitment to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. A regional school of national impact, the law school features renowned programs in intellectual property, professional responsibility and trial advocacy, and is home to one of four Constitutional Law Centers in the United States, established by the U.S. Congress in 1986. To learn more, visit www.uakron.edu/law.


Media contacts: Diana Vickers, 330-972-2063 or diana@uakron.edu, or Laura Massie, 330-972-6476 or massie1@uakron.edu.