Intellectual Property (IP) law is one of the most dynamic and fast-growing of any of the legal specialties. The LL.M. will enable those interested in this exciting field to keep abreast of the latest developments and, thus, more effectively serve their clients.

In addition, an LL.M. in IP would allow one to further professionalize oneself in IP law, to shift the emphasis of one's practice area to IP from another specialty area, or add IP to an already existing specialty area (e.g., a litigator might pursue an LL.M. in IP to add IP litigation to his/her practice area). Also, the LL.M. will allow one to prepare for more advanced and complex work, teaching positions, IP practice group lead positions, and, in a more global sense, to consolidate one's IP education, especially if the educational background is not extremely technical and/or IP law based.

2. When may I apply to enter the LL.M. program?

Students may enter the LL.M. program in either the fall semester, which begins in August, or the spring semester, which begins in January. There is no set application deadline, but the application fee varies with the time of year in which you apply as follows:

$50 if candidate applies by March 1 for fall admission or by September 1 for spring admission

-or-

$100 if candidate applies after March 1 for fall admission or after September 1 for spring admission

Click here to proceed to the LL.M. application page.

3. What is considered for admission?

All LL.M. candidates must have at least an "entry level" law degree. In the United States, this degree is the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. In many countries outside the United States, the entry level law degree is a Bachelor of Laws and Letters (LL.B.) degree.

Click here to view the LL.M. Admissions Criteria Page.

4. Who decides on whether or not I will be admitted?

The LL.M. admissions committee composed of law faculty members and the Assistant Dean of Admission will review files and determine a final decision regarding whether or not a candidate will be admitted.

5. How soon could I expect to receive a decision from the LL.M. admissions committee?

Once the application file has been completed, it is likely that a decision will be reached within two to three weeks.

6. How many students are expected to matriculate in each entering class?

Since fall 2004 marked the entry of the very first LL.M. class and since applications could be accepted only a few months prior to this start date, it was expected that approximately ten students would matriculate in August 2004. Students may enter the LL.M. program in the fall or spring semester. The entering LL.M. class size will increase gradually from year to year.

7. How long will it take for me to complete the LL.M. program?

The full-time program could be completed in one year. Students would enroll in 12 credits for fall, 12 credits for spring, and 6 credits for summer. Summer course work would be completed in the form of an internship

The part-time program could be completed in two, possibly three years. Students would enroll in 6 credits for fall, 6 credits for spring, and 3 credits for summer. Summer course work would be completed in the form of an internship.

8. Am I eligible to receive financial aid loans?

Yes. Begin the process by filing the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The University of Akron School Code is 003123.

You may continue to borrow through the Federal Stafford Loan program as long as you meet eligibility requirements set forth by the federal government. Visit www.studentaid.ed.gov for more information.

Click here for a schedule of tuition and fees.

The Federal Stafford Loan program enables a student to borrow up to $18,500 annually. If you would like to borrow beyond the $18,500 up to the maximum loan amount, you may do so through a private law school loan lender such as Access Group, Law Loans, or KeyBank.

9. Are scholarships available for the LL.M. program?

At this time, scholarship funds are not available for the LL.M. program. Fortunately, as a result of our affordable tuition rates, The University of Akron School of Law has been recognized as the #1 and #2 Best Value Law School in America by The National Jurist and by Pre-Law Insider.

10. Since internships are an integral part of summer enrollment, what type of internships could I expect to consider? Who arranges these internships? How are they structured?

Under the program, all students have to enroll in either an internship or an externship. We envision placing students in such agencies as the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright Office, the Office of the U.S. trade Representative, etc. Students may also be placed with relevant congressional committees and with such international organizations as the World Intellectual Property Organization and the World Trade Organization. The idea is to expose students to current public issues affecting IP law. The internships/externships will be coordinated by the IP faculty in consultation with each student.

11. Will I have an academic advisor?

Yes, each student will have a faculty member as an academic advisor.

12. What types of Career Planning Resources will be available for LL.M. graduates?

Each student will have access to all of the resources and staff available at our Career Planning Office. We envision that this office will be able to serve LL.M. students and graduates in the same way in which it servese our traditional J.D. students and graduates.

13. If I am an international student, do I need to take the TOEFL and/or TSE?

If English is not your first language OR you attended a school in which the majority of classes were not conducted in English, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE). Visit www.ets.org for more information on the TOEFL and the TSE.

The preferred score for the TOEFL is 650 on the written exam or a 280 on the computer-based exam.

The TOEFL and TSE may be waived if you have earned a degree from a college or University in the United States, or from a foreign college or University at which the majority of your classes were taught in the English language; or if your first language is English.