Certificates of specialization allow current JD students to customize their legal education and focus on a specialized area of the law. In order to earn a certificate, students must meet specific requirements, including completing required all course credits. Learn more about our certificates below.
CERTIFICATES IN SPECIALIZED STUDY
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in business law may receive a certificate in business law in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7050 -Business Organizations (3-4 cr)
- LAW 7060 -Commercial Law (4 cr)
- LAW 7070 -Federal Income Tax (3 cr)
- LAW 7571 -Contract Drafting (3 cr) - OR - LAW 7573 - Real Estate Drafting (2 cr)
- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with a business law, estate planning, or tax law focus (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list, CLICK HERE.
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Apply for Certificate in Specialized Study
Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements. Inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in criminal law may receive a Certificate in Criminal Law in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7030 - Criminal Procedure: Investigation (3 cr)
- LAW 7040 - Evidence (4 cr)
- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with a criminal law focus (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- * LAW 7990 - Criminal Process (year-long course, 3 cr) AND LAW 7925 - Field Placement Credit. These are to be taken concurrently.
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- Criminal Process has prerequisites: LAW 7040 - Evidence AND LAW 7072 - Trial Advocacy.
- *Exception: For good cause shown, such as when a student does not intend to pursue a career as a prosecutor or defender, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may waive this requirement or allow a substitute field placement.
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- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list, CLICK HERE.
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Apply for Certificate in Specialized Study
Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements. Inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in environmental or natural resources law may receive a certificate in environmental and natural resources law in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7300 - Administrative Law (3 cr)
- LAW 7240 - Environmental Law (3 cr) - OR - LAW 7200 - Natural Resources Law (3 cr)
- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with an environmental or natural resources law focus (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list, CLICK HERE.
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Apply for Certificate in Specialized Study
Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements. Inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in intellectual property law may receive a certificate in intellectual property in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7760 - Patent Law (3 cr)
- LAW 7876 - Copyright Law (3 cr)
- LAW 7890 - Trademark & Unfair Comp. (2 cr)
- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with an intellectual property law focus (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list, CLICK HERE.
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Apply for Certificate in Specialized Study
Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements. Inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in international law may receive a certificate in international law in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7270 -International Law (3 cr)
- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with an international law focus (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list, CLICK HERE.
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Apply for Certificate in Specialized Study
Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements. Inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in litigation and dispute resolution may receive a certificate in litigation and dispute resolution in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7040 - Evidence (4 cr)
- LAW 7076 - Pre-trial Practice (3 cr) - OR - LAW 7031 - Criminal Procedure: Adjudication (3 cr) - OR - LAW 7010 - Mediation/Advanced Negotiation (3 cr)
- Field Placement - OR - Clinical Placement
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- Completion of three (3) credit hours and placement must be with a litigation or dispute resolution focus.
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- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with a litigation or dispute resolution focus (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list, CLICK HERE.
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Apply for Certificate in Specialized Study
Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements; inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in advocating for traditionally underrepresented individuals, communities, and interests may receive a certificate in public interest law and policy in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7300 - Administrative Law (3 cr) - OR - LAW 7020 - Legislative Process (2 cr) - OR - LAW 7886 - Statutory Interpretation (2 cr)
- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with a public interest law and policy focus* (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- Field Placement or Clinical Placement
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- Completion of three (3) credit hours of an arranged field placement or clinical placement with a public interest law and policy focus.
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- Students must earn the Certificate of Service by completing at least 50 hours of pro bono activities under the auspices of the Pro Bono Initiative.
- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list, CLICK HERE.
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Apply for Certificate in Specialized Study
Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements. Inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.