Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law LLM

Concentrations in: Cybersecurity, Intellectual Property or Privacy

Technology and intellectual property lawyers focus on cutting-edge issues, work with exciting and energetic clients, and rank among the most satisfied in the legal profession. Rapid advances in the fields of technology, science, and health care make now the perfect time to focus on technology and intellectual property law and policy. In addition, with tightening budgets, companies are focusing on protecting the intellectual property they have more than ever before.

LLM students gain exposure to the full range of transactional practice in areas such as copyright, patent, trademark, telecommunications, information privacy, and computer law. Working closely with faculty who are established leaders in these fields, students can take advantage of cutting-edge research and scholarship opportunities. In addition, students will connect with their future clients through cross-disciplinary opportunities, clinical offerings, and networking into the flourishing local community. The LLM program’s objective is to provide graduates a competitive advantage as technology and intellectual property attorneys who both are legitimate scholars in their fields and have a superior understanding of their client’s needs.

Colorado Law’s LLM in Technology and Intellectual Property is designed to provide the breadth of exposure and depth of expertise needed to excel in this exciting field.

• Cutting-Edge Research. Hone your research and writing skills while working on a sustained research project answering novel technology law and intellectual property questions. Under the supervision of thought-leaders and acknowledged experts, you will be taught how to produce a publishable work, and you will have the chance to make a direct and meaningful contribution to innovative legal fields. Your research will demonstrate your ability to tackle difficult questions and make you a stand-out candidate for judicial clerkships, academic employment, or law firm positions.
• Robust Curricular Offerings. Take courses covering all legal aspects of technology law and intellectual property theory and practice. Expert faculty teach the necessary building blocks and offer advanced courses in areas such as information privacy, computer crime, standards setting, and quantitative methods and the law. The Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program offers cross-listed courses that provide expert instruction in network science, computer programming, and telecommunications.
• Position Students for Success. Jump start your career as a technology and intellectual property lawyer through the program’s internships, extra-curricular offerings, and networking opportunities. With such well-known telecommunications companies as DISH Network, DirecTV, and many others in the area, Colorado is a great market for lawyers specializing in technology and intellectual property.

Requirements and Curriculum

To earn a LLM in Technology & Intellectual Property, students must complete 26 credit hours in technology or Intellectual Property-related courses including the Capstone Courses. International students will take two additional courses in the summer prior to starting the LLM.

Courses

• Bioethics and Law
• Computer Crime
• Copyright
• Information Privacy
• Introduction to Intellectual Property Law*
• Telecommunications Law and Policy
• Intellectual Property and Technology Contracting
• Law and Economics of the Information Age
• Law and Economics of Utility Regulation
• Trademark and Unfair Competition Law
• Patent Litigation
• Patent Law
• Standards & Standardization Wars
• Computer and the Law

Capstone Courses**

• Advanced Thesis Writing Seminar
• Technology Law & Policy Clinic
• Internship

Cross-Listed Courses

• Foundations of Telecommunications Law and Policy
• Applied Network Security

International Students***

• Introduction to the American Legal System
• Introduction to American Legal Research, Reasoning, and Writing

Not all courses are offered each semester.
* Introduction to IP is required
**Capstone courses are completed during the summer
***Taken the summer before starting the LLM

Advanced Thesis Writing Seminar

LLM students will spend a substantial amount of their program producing a significant work of scholarship related to technology or intellectual property law. This research and writing component will give the student an opportunity to delve into the nuances of cutting-edge technologies, all the while exploring their legal and policy implications. Students will have the opportunity to work closely with renowned, knowledgeable, and approachable faculty members to develop thesis topics and will tackle noteworthy and crucial legal questions related to technology law and intellectual property.

Faculty involved with the technology and intellectual property LLM program are accomplished scholars and have made significant contributions to this area of law. Considered experts in their fields, these faculty members specialize in telecommunications, computers and the law, computer crime law, information privacy, and intellectual property. Leveraging this expertise and knowledge to create scholarship of publishable quality, students will demonstrate their ability to carefully and thoughtfully analyze novel and unique legal issues. By skillfully answering ground-breaking legal questions, our students will establish themselves within the national and local technology and intellectual property community.

Faculty

Resident Faculty
J. Brad Bernthal: Entrepreneurial Law Clinic, Technology Law and Policy Clinic, Telecommunications Law and Policy, Venture Capital and Private Equity, Moot Court Competitions
Paul Ohm: Introduction to Intellectual Property Law, Information Privacy, Copyright, Computer Crime, Quantitative Methods for Lawyers
Scott Peppet: Contracts, Legal Negotiation, Counseling Families in Business, ADR Ethics
Harry Surden: Patent Law, Intellectual Property Law, Torts, Computers and the Law

Adjunct Faculty
Jason Haislmaier: Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing
Andrew Hartman: Trademark and Unfair Competition Laws
Wayne Stacy: Copyright, Patent Laws
Natalie Hanlon-Leh: Patent Litigation
Nina Wang: Patent Litigation

Work and Careers

Colorado Law students and graduates have received internships or permanent employment at the following firms and organizations from 2004-2009: