JD Concentration in Intellectual Property Law
UIC Law's nationally ranked Intellectual Property Law program offers JD candidates interested in developing specialized expertise in intellectual property law an opportunity to enhance their degree and employability with a JD Concentration in Intellectual Property Law. Our concentration program offers two tracks: a patent track for JD candidates with technical backgrounds interested in patent law practice and a trademark/copyright track for JD candidates interested in a trademark and copyright law.
Faculty Advisor Heading link
William K. Ford
Phone:
Email:
Declaration to Pursue the Concentration Heading link
Students who intend to pursue this concentration are strongly encouraged to consult the academic advising coordinator at the end of the semester in which they complete 30 credit hours, in order to ensure that they will be able to complete the concentration.
Requirements Heading link
JD students may earn only one concentration. Degree candidates interested in enhancing their career opportunities with the JD Concentration in Intellectual Property Law must complete a minimum of 16 intellectual property law credit hours and must graduate with a cumulative overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.25 in intellectual property law coursework. JD candidates may take up to 8 credits from the LLM in Intellectual Property Law course offerings.
Students who matriculated prior to August 16, 2019, are subject to degree requirements in place when they first enrolled, provided they complete those requirements within the time limit for degree completion and do not interrupt their enrollment without formal approval. Students should consult the appropriate concentration faculty director regarding their concentration requirements.
Curriculum Heading link
Required Courses
Concentration candidates may choose to focus their concentration in Patent Law or Trademark/Copyright Law. The related required courses for each track are outlined below.
Track 1: Patent Law
One of the following practical courses:
- Clinic: Patent Class (TADR 494, 2 Credits)*
- Clinic: Patent Clinic (TADR 495, 3 Credits)*
- Legal Writing for Intellectual Property (IP 444, 2 Credits)
- Patent Law Planning & Practice (LAW 489, 3 Credits)
- RIPL Comment (LAW 583, 1 Credit)
Track 2: Trademark/Copyright Law
One of the following practical courses:
- Clinic: Trademark Class (JD 540, 2 Credits)*
- Clinic: Trademark Clinic (JD 544, 3 Credits)*
- Legal Writing for Intellectual Property (IP 444, 2 Credits)
- RIPL Comment (LAW 583, 1 Credit)
- Trademark & Copyright Law Planning & Practice (LAW 488, 3 Credits)
*Concentration candidates who elect to take the Patent or Trademark Clinic must take both the Class and Clinic components.
Elective Courses
- Art & Cultural Heritage Law (JD 427/IP 427, 3 Credits)
- Business Franchise Law (JD 431/IP 431, 3 Credits)
- Clinic: Patent Class (TADR 494, 2 Credits)*
- Clinic: Patent Clinic (TADR 495, 3 Credits)*
- Clinic: Trademark Class (JD 540, 2 Credits)*
- Clinic: Trademark Clinic (JD 544, 3 Credits)*
- Entertainment Law (JD 434/IP 434, 2 Credits)
- International Intellectual Property Law (LAW 510, 3 Credits)
- Intellectual Property in a Digital Environment (JD 428/IP 428/PTL 428, 3 Credits)
- Intellectual Property in Start-Up Companies (JD 486, 2 Credits)
- Intellectual Property Licensing (JD 438/IP 438, 3 Credits)
- Intellectual Property Litigation (TADR 447, 3 Credits)
- Music Copyright & Licensing (JD 443/IP 443, 1 Credit)
- Patent Law: Statutory & Regulatory Fundamentals (JD 445/IP 445, 2 Credits)
- Patent Law Planning & Practice (LAW 489, 3 Credits)
- Patent Office Practice (JD 449/IP 449/IBT 449, 3 Credits)
- Publishing Law (JD 448/IP 448, 1 Credit)
- Right of Publicity & Protection of Personality (JD 457/IP 457, 3 Credits)
- Special Topics in Intellectual Property Law (IP 594, 2 Credits)†
- Sports Law (JD 464/IP 464, 2 Credits)
- Trademark & Copyright Law Planning & Practice (LAW 488, 3 Credits)
- Trial Advocacy: Accelerated for IP Attorneys (TADR 404/IP 404, 3 Credits)
- U.S. Copyright Law (JD 409/IP 409, 3 Credits)
- U.S. Intellectual Property Survey (JD 468/IP 594, 3 Credits)
- U.S. Patent Law (JD 432/IP 432, 3 Credits)
- U.S. Trademark Law (JD 400/IP 400, 3 Credits)
- U.S. Trade Secrets Law (JD 469/IP 469, 3 Credits)
- Video Game Law (LAW 457, 2 Credits)
Please review each course description to determine what prerequisites apply.
†Special Topics in Law course subjects must be related to intellectual property to qualify for elective credit. Please contact the Center for approval.