J.D. Certificate in Intellectual Property: Curriculum and Requirements

  1. Academics
  2. J.D. Program
  3. Areas of Study
  4. Intellectual Property Law
  5. J.D. Certificate in Intellectual Property: Curriculum and Requirements

Overview and Requirements

The Chicago-Kent IP program offers more than 20 courses related to intellectual property each year, taught by six full-time professors and numerous adjunct professors and lecturers who are among the leading practitioners in the IP field.

The Intellectual Property Law Certificate program consists of 20 credit hours of coursework, which includes three mandatory core courses (in copyright, patents, and trademarks) for a total of nine credit hours plus a capstone or practice experience, and optional courses (either full or partial IP credit).

In their final two years, IP certificate candidates participate in the Practice Experience, which involves skills training in the IP field with actual or simulated cases and problems, applying what they learned in previous coursework. The Practice Experience can be fulfilled by taking at least five credit hours from the following courses:

  • At least one of the following courses: Intellectual Property Clinic (3), Intellectual Property Externship (3), or Strategies in Intellectual Property Law (3).
  • At least 2 credits of any course listed in Section D below. 

How to Enroll in IP Certificate

1. To enter the program, students must submit a letter of intent to the director in their first or second year. Once registered as members of the program, IP students are given priority during registration for all IP courses and receive email notification of upcoming IP-related events.

2. During the final semester before graduation, students who will graduate must submit an application for the certificate, verifying the IP coursework has been completed.

Courses

A. Mandatory Courses
B. Optional Courses for Full IP Credit
C. Optional Courses for Partial IP Credit
D. Practice Experience
1. Copyright Law3 credit hrs
2. Patent Law3 credit hrs
3. Trademarks and Unfair Competition3 credit hrs
  
(Some courses are not offered every year) 
1. Acquiring IP3 credit hrs
2. Advertising & Marketing Law2 credit hrs
3. Biotechnology Patent Law3 credit hrs
4. Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing2 credit hrs
5. Intellectual Property Independent Research1 credit hr
6. Intellectual Property Moot Court1 credit hr
7. Intellectual Property Seminar2 credit hrs
8. Intellectual Property Trial Advocacy3 credit hrs
9. International Intellectual Property3 credit hrs
10. International Trademarks2 credit hrs
11. Legal Writing IV--Intellectual Property3 credit hrs
12. Patent Analytics and Landscape Reports**3 credit hrs
13. Patent Office Practice3 credit hrs
14. Trade Secrets3 credit hrs
15. Video Game Law2 credit hrs
16. Design Law2 credit hrs
17. Software Patents2 credit hrs
18. Chicago IP Colloquium1 credit hr
  
1. Administrative Law1 credit hr
2. Agency1 credit hr
3. Antitrust1 credit hr
4. Blockchain and Law1 credit hr
5. Conflicts1 credit hr
6. E-Commerce1 credit hr
7. Emerging Technologies1 credit hr
8. Entertainment Law1 credit hr
9. Evidence1 credit hr
10. Federal Courts1 credit hr
11. Food and Drug Law1 credit hr
12. Genetic Issues1 credit hr
13. International Business Transactions1 credit hr
14. International Trade1 credit hr
15. Internet Law1 credit hr
16. Privacy1 credit hr
17. Remedies1 credit hr
18. Sports Law1 credit hr
19. Start-Up Lawyering1 credit hr
20. Telecommunications1 credit hr
  
(May be satisfied by participating in 5 credit hours of the following courses, one of which must be Intellectual Property Clinic, Intellectual Property Externship, or Strategies in Intellectual Property Law)
1. Intellectual Property Clinic3 credit hrs
2. Intellectual Property Externship3 credit hrs
3. Strategies in Intellectual Property Law3 credit hrs
4. Patent Litigation**2 credit hrs
5. IP Moot Court2 credit hrs
6. IP Trial Ad2 credit hrs
7. Oral Advocacy for the IP Lawyer2 credit hrs
8. IPMM Patent Analytics and Landscape Reports**3 credit hrs
9. Legal Writing 43 credit hrs
10. Patent Office Practice3 credit hrs
11. IP and Technology Licensing2 credit hrs
12. Patent Practicum2 credit hrs
13. Any other course designated by the program director 

**Although this course is listed on more than one group list, it can only be used to fulfill one set of requirements.