Santa Clara University School of Law offers programs for students looking to specialize and international students looking to obtain an LLM degree. Read below to obtain more information on the various options to enhance your law degree or to open new career opportunities.
Application Deadlines
Programs for Students Holding a United States JD Degree
LLM in Intellectual Property
Program Description
Santa Clara Law’s Intellectual Property and High Tech Law programs are top 5 in the nation. The campus offers experienced faculty, a broad-range of intellectual property and technology law course offerings, and a centralized location in the heart of the Silicon Valley enabling students to collaborate and be educated by a diverse group of legal practitioners, engineers, and other specialists.
Students may enroll in the LL.M. in Intellectual Property program on a full-time or part-time basis. The program requires a minimum of 2 semesters in residence at the Santa Clara University main campus.
Courses
Santa Clara Law’s curriculum represents the diversity of intellectual property and high tech practice areas. Students are introduced to concepts like copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and patents. Students also benefit from the biotechnology and privacy law curriculum that encompasses coursework and experiential learning opportunities.
Courses available to LLM Students include, but are not limited to: Venture Capital, Technology Licensing, Sports Law (focusing on both agent and litigator perspectives), International IP Law, Antitrust, Patent Prosecution, and Legal Issues of Start-Up Business.
Experiential Learning and Clinics
LL.M. students are encouraged to take part in off-campus externships at Bay Area law firms, organizations and companies. On campus, SCU has a number of clinical opportunities. Specifically, the Entrepreneurs’ Law Clinic exists to serve the local start-up community and gives law students the opportunity to enhance their own lawyering skills through working on a variety of transactions that are specific to start-ups.
LLM in International and Comparative Law
Program Description
Santa Clara Law’s International and Comparative Law program offers students the opportunity to experience the evolving legal culture of the world from the vantage point of our overseas programs in dynamic centers of commerce and learning throughout the world.
The program not only offers courses at the Law School, but social and professional contact with other leading legal authorities, judges, and captains of industry.
Graduation Requirements
Participants seeking the LLM degree in International and Comparative Law must complete 24 semester hours of credit. These units must include:
- Successful completion of the academic portion of at least one Santa Clara University School of Law summer study abroad program; OR enrollment as a full-time law student for one semester at a law school with which the School of Law has a cooperative agreement. These classes will satisfy part of the 24 units required for the degree, and satisfy one or more of the area of study requirements outlined below.
- To achieve a well-balanced background in international and comparative law, students should take at least one course from each of the following categories of classes: (i) public international law; (ii) private international law; and (iii) comparative law. The specific list of approved courses may be found on the International Law Certificate website under the heading “Current List of Approved International Law Certificate Courses.” The student’s overall course of study must be approved by the Director of Graduate Legal Programs. Courses outside this list, unless taken on one of our study abroad programs, must also be approved in advance by the Director of Graduate Legal Studies.
- Students must complete a written research paper either in conjunction with a class approved by the Director of Graduate Legal Programs or as Independent Research (course # 298) under the supervision of a faculty member.
Elective Courses: Most upper-division courses are open to enrollment by LLM candidates. The program assumes as a minimum one academic year plus one summer in residence. The requirements for the degree must be completed within two academic years from matriculation.
Programs for Students with Primary Degrees in Law from Outside the US
LLM in United States Law
Santa Clara University School of Law offers programs for lawyers who received their legal education outside of the United States to secure a Master of Laws (LLM) degree. Candidates may select from four programs:
- United States Law – General Studies
Students craft a program that matches professional needs - United States Law with specialization in Intellectual Property Law
Specialize by taking most courses in the area of Intellectual Property/High Tech Law, including Patent Law, Copyright Law, Trademarks and Trade Secrets - United States Law with specialization in Human Rights Law
Students focus their studies in U.S. Human Rights Law, with an extensive range of human rights and social justice courses to choose from - United States Law with specialization in International and Comparative Law
Students take advantage of Santa Clara’s extensive study abroad program and rich curriculum to study the law of the United States, International Law (public or private) and the law of another nation.
Learn more about obtaining your LLM from Santa Clara Law with a non-US law degree on the LLM Program for International Students page.
