With one of the strongest intellectual property and information law programs in the United States, Cardozo gives graduates of its LL.M. in Intellectual Property (IP) an invaluable edge in their understanding of this complex, dynamic, and increasingly important field. With its breadth and depth of courses, speakers, and symposia and its prestigious and dedicated group of full-time and expert adjunct faculty, Cardozo’s LL.M. in IP Law leads to a genuine mastery of the field that simply cannot be attained as part of the J.D. program at any law school.
Degree Requirements
- A minimum of 24 credits overall (26 credits for foreign-educated LL.M. students to meet NY Bar requirements)
- A minimum of 14 credits of IP coursework
- Graduates of foreign law schools who plan to take the NY Bar exam must also take Introduction to U.S. Law, Professional Responsibility, Advanced Workshop in Legal Research and Writing (2 semesters), and minimum of six credits in NY Bar subjects..
Cardozo’s Intellectual Property curriculum includes basic and advanced offerings in each of the three major IP areas: copyright, patent and trademark. In the first semester of study, a student must take the basic course in at least two of these primary areas of study. The basic course requirement may be waived if the student took an equivalent course at another law school within five years of enrolling at Cardozo. Students supplement the basic courses with advanced courses in IP and related areas such as entertainment, media, communications law and cyber law.
Students also have the option of doing an independent research project (for one or two credits) or a more substantial thesis (three credits) under the supervision of a faculty member.
Practical Programs
The Intellectual Property Externship Program places LL.M. and upper-level J.D. students in part-time, nonpaying positions at New York City law firms, corporations and not-for-profit organizations working on copyright, patent and trademark issues. Credit is earned through a paper related to the internship work.
Students have been placed in positions at DC Comics; Kate Spade; Estée Lauder; PolyGram Records; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson; and Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen, among many others.
LL.M. students may also participate in the Filmmakers Legal Clinic, which offers independent filmmakers, directors and producers the legal expertise to succeed in a digital era and gives students the opportunity to represent clients in transactional work.
Joint J.D./LL.M. Program in IP Law
J.D. students at Cardozo may obtain both J.D. and LL.M. degrees in IP Law in a total of seven consecutive full-time academic semesters. Students who have taken relevant courses at Cardozo as part of their J.D. program (including students earning a J.D. from another law school who visit Cardozo for two semesters) may be permitted to apply up to 12 credits toward the LL.M., reducing the time normally needed to complete both degrees by one semester. Contact the Office of Admissions for further information.
Extracurricular Offerings in Intellectual Property Law
In addition to extensive classroom offerings, the law school publishes the most widely circulated journal in the field, the Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Law Journal, and has two active student organizations—the Intellectual Property Society and the Entertainment Law Society—that present lectures, panels and conferences. The IP Program is host to an annual speaker series and a wide variety of symposia each year.
Learn More About Our Program
Download detailed information on the curriculum for the Intellectual Property LL.M.
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Cardozo's Intellectual Property Law LL.M.