Masters of Studies in Law Degree Program Proposal Associate Dean Paul Ohm School of Law
A New Class of Legal Professional • Increasing demand for professionals who use law but do not practice law – Patent Agents – Compliance Officers (CPO, CISO, CIO) – HR Specialists • Analogous to shift from MD to NP/PA • No need for JD and bar exam 2
LL.M • History – Regents approval: Spring 2010 – Four consecutive graduating classes • Enrollments: 6, 8, 4, 4 – Almost 100% graduation and employment • Pros – Successful administrative execution with minimal impact on JD program • Cons – Low enrollment and unlikely to grow 3
Workforce Demand • The Demand for Patent Agents – Registered patent agents: ~10,000 – AIPLA Statistics: • Average salary in private firms: $90,000 • 75 th Percentile: $126,250 • Denver firms follow national trends – Growth: • “America Invents Act” dramatically increases PTAB litigation • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Denver Office 4
Student Demand • Eligible pools – College graduates looking to improve employment opportunities – Students already enrolled in complementary Masters’ programs (CU and beyond) – Employed college graduates looking to improve advancement opportunities • In future, a platform to experiment with – Online courses – Part-time students 5
MSL Structure and Enrollment • One year, 28 credit hours • Bachelors degree, 3.0 GPA, LSAT/GMAT/GRE strongly encouraged, interview, TOEFL • Separate Tracks (initially: Patent Agent) • Curriculum: – New courses: Intro to U.S. Law (3 cr); Legal Writing for non-JD students (3 cr) – Existing electives – Externships (2-4 cr) (e.g. TTO and USPTO) 6
Duplication • DU Sturm College of Law – 2013 Enrollment: 110 – Specialties: Taxation, Legal Administration, Environmental and Natural Resources Law • Other programs – 62 ABA-accredited law schools with similar program (many new in last two years) 7
Budget • Revenue is projected more than twice the direct costs of offering the degree • Expenses are not a projection: Established track record from LL.M – Two new courses offered at adjunct pay – Minimal financial aid – Equivalent of one additional administrative support personnel 8
Why MSL? • Innovative source of alternative revenue • Consistent with Goals of Flagship 2030 – Changing role of legal knowledge in a 21 st century workplace – “Greater emphasis on the master’s degrees as a primary track” – More diversity of all kinds • Consistent with Law School mission statements – More specialists in student body (e.g. STEM) – Innovator in legal education – Diversity 9
QUESTIONS? 10
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