The University of Akron School of Law announces the creation of a joint Juris Doctorate (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) program in Intellectual Property.
“The J.D./LL.M. in Intellectual Property (IP) program is a unique and efficient academic opportunity,” says Lauri Thorpe, 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 also earn the M.B.A 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.”
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 Professor Jeffrey M. Samuels, director of the Akron Law Center for Intellectual Property Law and Technology.
"The new joint J.D./LL.M. program makes Akron Law’s IP program even more unique and desirable for potential students,” says Professor 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."
“When I first heard about the joint J.D./LL.M. Intellectual Property degree program, I did not think that it would have much value to me. As I looked into the details I realized that I would be able to graduate in the same amount of time as I had planned for just a J.D., but I would graduate with a J.D., a certificate in IP, and an LL.M. in IP," says current Akron Law student, Andrew J. Maas. "I feel like having an LL.M. in IP puts me in a different category of law school graduates. There are only a handful of programs in the U.S. that offer an LL.M. in IP, and Akron Law is well-recognized nationally and internationally. I have already received job interviews because I will graduate with not only a J.D., but an LL.M. in IP as well. The joint J.D./LL.M. in IP also allows me to keep my options open for future potential of teaching at any law school in the country.”
The Akron 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 of Master of Laws in IP Program.