Akron, Ohio, April 22, 2004 - Building on its highly acclaimed intellectual property law program, The University of Akron School of Law will launch a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree program in intellectual property in fall 2004. The LL.M. program was approved today by the Ohio Board of Regents. It is the only LL.M. in IP offered in Ohio, and joins 16 others in the nation.

According to Richard Aynes, dean of the UA School of Law, the LL.M. responds to an increasing demand for law expertise in a fast-growing and rapidly changing area of legal practice.

"Intellectual property law is a complex field needing highly trained practitioners," says Aynes. "UA's School of Law is uniquely well-positioned to offer an LL.M. program. "Over the past decade we have continually increased our focus and resources in this area of law."

Members of the legal profession welcome the new program.

"In the knowledge-based world in which we live, the laws protecting intellectual property are critically important," says Gerald J. Mossinghoff, a former Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks and a member of the law school's IP Advisory Council. "The new LL.M. in IP program at The University of Akron will equip advanced law students there to better serve society in the 21st century. It is a welcome addition to the already rich curriculum there."

Former U.S. Register of Copyrights Ralph Oman, who also serves on the IP Advisory Council, says a specialization in IP law provides unique opportunities.

"In the digital age, the demand for highly qualified and motivated intellectual property lawyers will continue to grow," says Oman. "Armed with an LL.M. in intellectual property, students from The University of Akron will jump to the head of the line in the high tech legal marketplace."

To earn the LL.M. degree, a student must successfully complete a total of 30 credit hours of study.

"Our expert faculty will provide an extensive program that can be completed on a full- or part-time basis," says Jeffrey M. Samuels, director of UA's Center for Intellectual Property Law and Technology. "One distinguishing factor of the curriculum will be a six-hour internship or externship focusing on some area of public policy relating to intellectual property. We anticipate our students working for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or some other government agency focusing on a particular issue."

According to Samuels, the program will serve a select number of new students each year.
"I think our audience will include not simply new law graduates, but to a large extent we will attract practicing attorneys who want to take more IP courses or who have found the nature of their law practices changing to require more IP expertise," he says.

For more information on the LL.M. in IP, contact Jeffrey H. Samuels at 330-972-7988 or Lauri File at 330-972-7331.

The University of Akron School of Law is committed to excellence in teaching and scholarship, and offers joint degrees in business, taxation, public administration and human resource management. It also offers certificate programs in litigation and intellectual property. The UA School of Law offers concentrated studies in intellectual property and technology, offering an extensive curriculum and devoting more full-time faculty to the area than any law school in a six-state region.

From its beginnings in 1921, the UA School of Law has provided access to legal education through evening programs, access to legal services for traditionally underrepresented populations, and service to the bench, the bar and the broader community through volunteer leadership and consultation.

The University of Akron is the public research university for Northern Ohio. Founded in 1870, it is the only university in Ohio, public or private, with a science and engineering program ranked in the top five nationally by U.S. News & World Report. The University of Akron excels in such areas as polymer science, global business, marketing and intellectual property law.

Serving approximately 24,300 students, the University offers more than 350 associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral and law degree programs and 100 certificate programs at its main campus in Akron, its Wayne College branch campus in Orrville, and at sites throughout Medina and Summit counties.