Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Washington College of Law is perennially recognized as among the top places in the world to study intellectual property law. The program builds on Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵWCL's other major strengths, including international law, public interest law and clinical legal education.
INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED FACULTY
Washington College of Law has one of the largest intellectual propertyÌýfacultiesÌýin the world. Over a dozen full time professors teach a comprehensive range of intellectual property and related courses.
Full time faculty teach each of the core subjects of Patent, Copyright, Trademark, Communications Law, and Cyberlaw. Students also learn from over a dozen senior practitioners from the World Intellectual Property Organization, World Trade Organization and leading global intellectual property law firms and visiting scholars.
EXTENSIVE CURRICULUM
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵWCL’sÌýintellectual property curriculumÌýis one of the largest in the country – with over 43Ìýintellectual property and related courses. Classes are offered day and night,Ìýgiving students the flexibility to tailor their schedule to other commitments. Summer sessions in Washington D.C. and Geneva, Switzerland, allow students to earn credits through concentrated short courses.Ìý
DYNAMIC PROGRAMS
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵWCL is home to the path-breaking Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property (PIJIP), an academic and research center promoting the public interest in intellectual property policy debates around the world. PIJIP hosts theÌý, engages in public impact research projects, brings together scholars and practitioners forÌýpublic eventsÌýand seminars, and publishes theÌýÌýnews and analysis blog.
SUPERVISED EXTERNSHIPS
Among the many advantages of studying law in Washington, D.C. is the opportunity to integrate practical experience with academic study of the law. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵWCL’s acclaimedÌýSupervised Externship ProgramÌýprovides students the opportunity to receive academic credit for substantive legal work combined with a specialized seminar. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵWCL students regularly work with over 100 government and non-profitÌýIP Externship Employers.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵWCL's newÌýÌýaffords students the opportunity to study in a modern state-of-the-art 8 ½ acre campus, situated in a bustling, historicÌýÌýwith easy metro access to downtown Washington D.C. -- a global center of intellectual property policymaking and legal practice.
GLOBAL ALUMNI NETWORK AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Students gain access to one of the largestÌýIP alumniÌýnetworks in the world. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵWCL alumni are partners in nearly all of the top 50 IP firms in the DC area, include dozens of IP specialist judges – including the Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals -- and serve in IP-focused careers in scores of Federal administrative agencies.
ACTIVE STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵWCL law students run myriadÌýorganizationsÌýfocusing on intellectual property and related topics.
- TheÌýIntellectual Property Law SocietyÌýkeeps students informed and connected through a weekly digest of activities and employment announcements and organizes events and speakers series;
- TheÌýÌýgives students the opportunity to edit and publish both short and full length articles, including as a first year or LL.M. student;
- TheÌýCommunications Law Society,ÌýSports & Entertainment Law SocietyÌýand Art & Cultural Heritage Law SocietyÌýprovide opportunities for students to join specialized networks in those fields;
- The Moot Court Honor SocietyÌýsupports participation in theÌýÌýandÌýÌýmoot court competitions;
- Ìýpublishes an annual volume reviewing the jurisprudence of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit;
- TheÌýÌýpublishes an annual focus issue on international intellectual property law;
- TheÌýÌýis an annual co-sponsor of the IP-Gender Symposium.
ENGAGED CAREER AND ACADEMIC COUNSELING
Over a dozen Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵWCL faculty members participate in theÌýIntellectual Property, Communications, Media and Sports Law Faculty Practice Group, which links students to faculty, alumni and upper level student career mentors. Practice Group faculty make themselves available to students for individual career and academic counseling and work with the Office of Professional and Career Development to sponsor workshops and events explaining career paths.