Law
Juris Doctor
Office: Ricketson Law Building
Mail Code: 2255 East Evans Avenue, Denver, CO 80208
Phone: 303-871-6000
Email: admissions@law.du.edu
Web Site: http://www.law.du.edu/
At the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, students don’t just study law, they experience it. As a leader in experiential learning, our practical skills offerings are among the top-ranked programs in the nation. Our seven in‐house clinics, multiple simulation-based classes, along with one of the largest externship programs in the country, provide students with abundant opportunities to develop their lawyering skills before entering the legal marketplace. We balance rigorous academics with the demands of the outside world and help students focus on what matters most: your career, your future and your life in law. Our nationally ranked specialty programs provide opportunities to pursue your passion in areas such as Animal Law, Constitutional Rights, Corporate and Commercial Law, Environmental & Natural Resources Law, International Law, Intellectual Property & Technology Law, and Workplace Law. With the legal practice experience you gain, you will be poised to distinguish yourself in a competitive job market even before graduation. Join us at Denver Law and begin your legal journey today.
Master's and LLM Degrees
Office: Ricketson Law Building
Mail Code: 2255 East Evans Avenue, Denver, CO 80208
Phone: 303-871-6249
Email: gradadmissions@law.du.edu
Web Site: http://www.law.du.edu/
Denver Law offers a number of advanced degrees (LLM and Masters) that can supplement a student’s law degree with specialized knowledge, introduce foreign lawyers and those educated in other disciplines to the U.S. legal system, or train students in the unique rigors of tax or legal administration. It is the goal of each academic program to bridge the objectives of its students to the curriculum and the University of Denver’s mission to make a meaningful impact, both locally and globally.
Juris Doctor
Degree and GPA Requirements
- To be enrolled at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, you must hold a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree from a regionally accredited college or university. No undergraduate field of study is favored, based on evidence that a strong student in any major can develop the skills of writing, analysis and persuasion necessary for success in law school.
Standardized Test Scores
English Language Proficiency Test Score Requirements
The minimum TOEFL/IELTS test score requirements for this degree program are:
- TOEFL Internet-based test: 5
- IELTS: 7.0
Additional Requirements for International Students
- LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
- If you have completed any post-secondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, these transcripts must be submitted to the LSAC to be translated and evaluated. A foreign credential evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and included with your CAS report.
- We will not accept any other translation or evaluation services for the admissions process.
- If you have questions, contact the office of admissions at admissions@law.du.edu
- If you have completed any post-secondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, these transcripts must be submitted to the LSAC to be translated and evaluated. A foreign credential evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and included with your CAS report.
Master of Laws in American Law Practice
Degree and GPA Requirements
- Bachelor's degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.
- Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.
- Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Other Requirements
- A Juris Doctorate (JD) or equivalent is required.
English Language Proficiency Test Score Requirements
The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/CAE test score requirements for this degree program are:
- Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80
- Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5
- Minimum CAE Score: 176
English Conditional Admission: In cases where minimum TOEFL/IELTS scores were not achieved or no English proficiency test was taken, the Sturm College of Law may offer English Conditional Admission (ECA) to academically qualified non-native English speakers.
Master of Laws in Global Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law
Degree and GPA Requirements
- Bachelor's degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.
- Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.
- Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Other Requirements
- A Juris Doctorate (JD) or equivalent is required.
English Language Proficiency Test Score Requirements
The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/CAE test score requirements for this degree program are:
- Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80
- Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5
- Minimum CAE Score: 176
English Conditional Admission: In cases where minimum TOEFL/IELTS scores were not achieved or no English proficiency test was taken, the Sturm College of Law may offer English Conditional Admission (ECA) to academically qualified non-native English speakers.
Master of Laws in International Business Transactions
Degree and GPA Requirements
- Bachelor's degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.
- Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.
- Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Other Requirements
- A Juris Doctorate (JD) or equivalent is required.
English Language Proficiency Test Score Requirements
The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/CAE test score requirements for this degree program are:
- Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80
- Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5
- Minimum CAE Score: 176
English Conditional Admission: In cases where minimum TOEFL/IELTS scores were not achieved or no English proficiency test was taken, the Sturm College of Law may offer English Conditional Admission (ECA) to academically qualified non-native English speakers.
Master of Laws in Clinical Education
Degree Requirements
- A Juris Doctorate (JD) or equivalent.
Other Requirements
- Membership in the Colorado Bar or willingness to petition for admission prior to the start date of the program.
- Acceptance into the Christopher N. Lasch Clinical Teaching Program, which requires, in addition to the criteria already cited, excellent written and oral communication skills, at least three (3) years of practice experience in the relevant area of law identified in the job posting, a commitment to inclusive teaching methods designed to effectively engage a diverse student population, and placement with an in-house clinic in the Student Law Office. More information about the Chrisopher N. Lasch Clinical Teaching Program can be found here: https://www.law.du.edu/academics/practical-experience/clinical-programs-student-law-office#lasch-clinical-teaching.
Master of Legal Studies
Degree and GPA Requirements
- Bachelor's degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.
- Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.
- Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Other Requirements
- A Juris Doctorate (JD) or equivalent is required.
English Language Proficiency Test Score Requirements
The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/CAE test score requirements for this degree program are:
- Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80
- Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5
- Minimum CAE Score: 176
English Conditional Admission: In cases where minimum TOEFL/IELTS scores were not achieved or no English proficiency test was taken, the Sturm College of Law may offer English Conditional Admission (ECA) to academically qualified non-native English speakers.
Master of Legal Studies in Global Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law
Degree and GPA Requirements
- Bachelor's degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.
- Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.
- Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
English Language Proficiency Test Score Requirements
The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/CAE test score requirements for this degree program are:
- Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80
- Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5
- Minimum CAE Score: 176
English Conditional Admission: In cases where minimum TOEFL/IELTS scores were not achieved or no English proficiency test was taken, the Sturm College of Law may offer English Conditional Admission (ECA) to academically qualified non-native English speakers.
Master of Science in Legal Administration with a Concentration in Law Firm Administration
Degree and GPA Requirements
- Bachelor's degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.
- Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.
- Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
English Language Proficiency Test Score Requirements
The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/CAE test score requirements for this degree program are:
- Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 90
- Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5
- Minimum CAE Score: 176
English Conditional Admission: No, this program does not offer English Conditional Admission.
Master of Science in Legal Administration in Legal Administration - Advanced Standing with a Concentration in Law Firm Administration
Degree and GPA Requirements
- Bachelor's degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.
- Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.
- Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Other Requirements
- A Juris Doctorate (JD) or equivalent is required.
English Language Proficiency Test Score Requirements
The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/CAE test score requirements for this degree program are:
- Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 90
- Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5
- Minimum CAE Score: 176
English Conditional Admission: No, this program does not offer English Conditional Admission.
Juris Doctor Program
Juris Doctor
Degree Requirements
The Sturm College of Law awards the degree of Juris Doctor to those students who successfully fulfill the following requirements:
- Completion of ninety [90] semester credit hours with passing grades. A grade of F or NP (No Pass) constitutes a failing grade for purposes of this requirement. Students receive no credit hours toward graduation for courses in which they earn a grade of F or NP.
- Maintenance of the required cumulative grade point average: a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher
- Successful completion of all required courses (as defined in the chart that follows this section). A student who receives a grade of F in a required course must retake the course and earn a passing grade. Both grades remain on the student’s transcript and affect the student’s cumulative GPA.
- Completion of the Upper Level Legal Writing requirement
- Completion of the Public Service requirement
- Completion of Experiential Coursework Requirement. All students must successfully complete a curricular offering of six or more semester credit hours. A list of qualifying courses will be made available each semester prior to registration.
- Students may not exceed 25 or more total Out-of-Class credits. Out-of-class credits include clinics, directed research or experiential projects, externships, Semester in Practice, journals, and non-JD courses. The following additional limits apply:
- Clinics-25 credits or less
- Directed Experiential Project-5 credits or less
- Directed Research-5 credits or less
- Externships-15 credits or less (19 for Semester in Practice)
- Journals-6 credits or less
- Non-JD courses-8 semester credits (12 quarter credits) or less. Dual degree students may take up to 10 semester credits (15 quarter credits)
- Completion of Career & Professional Development requirement
- Completion of ABA Standard 303(c) Requirement
- Resolution of all financial obligations to the University of Denver
- Completion of all credit hours within a specified time period following initial matriculation at law school. Students are expected to complete their legal education within seven years from the time of matriculation. Full-time day-division students at the Sturm College of Law normally meet all JD requirements by the end of their third year. Part-time evening or weekend-division students at the Sturm College of Law normally complete all JD requirements by the end of their fourth year.
Good Standing
All students who enter the Sturm College of Law must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.3 to remain in good standing.
Students may check their Degree Audit on My.DU.edu. Students have the responsibility to check their Degree Audit carefully and to contact the Registrar’s Office if they note any discrepancy between their understanding of their degree requirements and their Degree Audit. Students have the sole responsibility to ensure that they have completed all graduation requirements.
Coursework Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
1L Courses: | ||
| LAWS 4120 | Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LAWS 4164 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAWS 4175 | Contracts | 4 |
| LAWS 4195 | Criminal Law | 4 |
| LAWS 4385 | Lawyering Process I | 3 |
| LAWS 4386 | Lawyering Process II | 3 |
| LAWS 4490 | Property | 4 |
| LAWS 4610 | Torts | 4 |
Upper Level: | ||
| LAWS 4025 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAWS 4235 | Evidence | 4 |
| LAWS 4425 | Legal Profession | 3 |
| or LAWS 4426 | AI & the Future of the Legal Profession | |
| Electives | 50 | |
| Total Credits | 90 | |
Public Service Requirement
All law students must satisfy the Public Service Requirement (PSR) in order to graduate. To satisfy the requirement, each student must perform a minimum of 50 hours of supervised, uncompensated, legal public service work that is approved through the Director of Externships & Public Interest Initiatives. Generally, you must complete 28 academic credit hours prior to satisfying the requirement. However, if you have completed at least one academic year, even if you have not completed 28 academic credit hours, you may satisfy the PSR via Option #4 (Volunteer Legal Experience) below.
You can satisfy the requirement in one of the following ways:
-
Registering for, and passing, an externship for credit at a government agency, judicial chambers, nonprofit organization, or private firm (as long as the 50 hours is pro bono at the firm) via the Legal Externship Office.
-
Registering for, and receiving a grade of C or better, in a clinic via the Student Law Office.
-
Registering for, and receiving a grade of C or better, in an eligible course. Eligible courses are indicated as such on the course schedule and may include: Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, Wills Lab, and Youth Rights Workshop.
-
Volunteering, and engaging in 50 hours of supervised, uncompensated legal work, at a government agency, judicial chambers, nonprofit organization, or private firm, as long as the work at the firm is pro bono. This is known as a Volunteer Legal Experience.
**In order to satisfy the requirement via option #4, a Volunteer Legal Experience, you must abide by all rules and regulations for the Public Service Requirement indicated on the website. You must complete an online student certification and evaluation form about your volunteer experience. Your supervisor, who must be licensed to practice law for at least three years, must complete an online supervisor certification and evaluation form which asks for the number of hours worked (must be at least 50), the timeframe in which the work was completed, and an evaluation of the student’s work. When both of these forms are completed and submitted online, and it is confirmed that the work satisfies the requirement, your Degree Audit will be updated to reflect that you satisfied the PSR. Students engaging in this option are strongly encouraged to check in with the Public Interest Office prior to do the work to confirm it is eligible.
Please note: You are not required to complete the steps outlined above if you are satisfying the public service requirement via options #1, 2, or 3 above. For these options, your Degree Audit will reflect that you satisfied the PSR at the conclusion of the relevant semester.
Students are strongly encouraged to complete this requirement before their last semester of law school.
For more information about the PSR, visit this page and/or contact the Public Interest Office at publicinterest@law.du.edu.
Upper Level Legal Writing Requirement
All law students must satisfy the Upper Level Legal Writing requirement prior to graduation. The requirement provides students additional instruction and practice in research, organization and expression.
To satisfy the requirement, each student must*:
-
Complete a written product of at least ten (10) pages on an appropriate legal subject determined by a professor and the student.
-
Secure the professor’s written comments as to the substance and style of the student’s written project
-
Prepare a second draft of the written project in response to the professor’s comments to the professor’s satisfaction.
Students may satisfy the Upper Level Legal Writing requirement in the following ways:
-
Advanced Legal Writing Course
A student can enroll in and successfully complete the upper level legal writing course entitled “Advanced Legal Writing.” -
Designated Seminar Classes or Clinics
A student can enroll in and successfully complete a seminar or clinical course that satisfies the Upper Level Legal Writing requirement. Eligible courses are indicated on the course schedule. Not all clinics and seminars satisfy this requirement. -
Directed Research Projects
The student may enroll in and successfully complete a Directed Research Project with a full-time faculty member. -
Certification by Professor
Any full-time or adjunct professor can offer a student the opportunity to complete the Upper Level Legal Writing requirement within a course taught by that professor. Upon successful completion of the Upper Level Legal Writing requirement, the professor must certify to the Registrar that the student has completed the requirement. A student who elects to fulfill the Upper Level Legal Writing requirement under this option must make certain that the Registrar’s Office receives certification from the professor that the student successfully fulfilled the Upper Level Legal Writing requirement. Only after the Registrar’s Office has received official certification has the student completed this graduation requirement. *A student may not use the same curricular offering to satisfy both the upper level writing requirement and the experiential requirement
Experiential Coursework Requirement
-
All law students must successfully complete a curricular offering of six or more semester credits hours of experiential coursework*.
-
Experiential courses include simulations, clinics, and field placements. To satisfy this requirement, the course must be primarily experiential in nature and must (a) integrate doctrine, theory, skills, and legal ethics, and engage students in the performance of professional skills, which include knowledge and understanding of the law, legal analysis and research, problem-solving, written and oral advocacy, and the exercise of proper professional and ethical responsibilities to clients and the legal system; (b) develop the concepts underlying the professional skills being taught; (c) provide multiple opportunities for performance; and (d) provide opportunities for self-evaluation.
-
Eligible courses are indicated on the course schedule. *A student may not use the same curricular offering to satisfy both the upper level writing requirement and the experiential requirement
Career & Professional Development Requirement
-
The Career & Professional Development Requirement ensures that Denver Law students will graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in the entry-level job market. All incoming JD students need to complete a total of seven Career & Professional Development experiences through a combination of qualifying programs and individual career advising appointments in order to graduate.
-
To satisfy the CPD Requirement, each 1L student must complete 5 sessions of their choice during the 1L year from any or all of the following core competency areas:
-
Career & Academic Planning
-
Interviewing and Networking
-
Job Search Documents
-
Professional Development
-
Wellness / Personal Development
-
The Office of Career Development & Opportunities (“CDO”) will maintain a list of qualifying programs. Students may satisfy up to 2 of the 1L sessions through individual career advising appointments with the CDO.
-
-
In addition, each JD student must participate in at least 2 individual career advising appointments after the 1L year.
-
Students who have secured postgraduate employment and are no longer seeking employment may opt-out of the CPD requirement at any time by providing all ABA-required employment information to the CDO. The CPD requirement is administered and tracked by the Office of Career Development & Opportunities (“CDO”) and recorded by the Office of the Registrar. Completion of this requirement is indicated on the Degree Audit.
ABA Standard 303(c) Requirement
-
All students must complete education on bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism that meets the requirements of ABA Standard 303(c) by completing the following:
-
applicable mandatory orientation programming and one of the following:
-
successful completion of a non-credit bearing program designed to meet the standards of ABA Standard 303(c), or
-
successful completion of a clinic run by the Student Law Office (SLO), or
-
successful completion of an externship through the Externship Office, or
-
successful completion of a a class designated by the law school as meeting the requirement. Class offerings in this area will vary.
-
-
Note: Students involved in a class working with live clients (e.g law clinics, field placements, etc.) must complete the ABA Standard 303(c) education prior to or concurrently with enrollment in the live-client experiential class.
Master of Laws Programs
Master of Laws (LLM) in American Law Practice
Degree Requirements
Coursework Requirements
This customizable LLM degree introduces foreign-trained attorneys to the U.S. legal framework and allows for area specializations with a particular emphasis on Sturm College of Law’s Experiential Advantage Curriculum. Course plans vary based on individual student's objectives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| LAWS 4064 | Introduction to the American Legal System | 2 |
| LAWS 4032 | Legal Analysis Strategies | 3 |
| LAWS 4425 | Legal Profession | 3 |
| LAWS 4034 | Legal Research and Writing for Graduate Students (Legal Research and Writing for Graduate Students) | 2 |
| All students must also choose at least two courses from the following list | 8 | |
| Civil Procedure | ||
| Constitutional Law | ||
| Contracts | ||
| Corporations | ||
| Criminal Law | ||
| Evidence | ||
| Property | ||
| Torts | ||
| Training in US Law Practice & Research: | ||
| Students must pursue one of the following options during the first year of study: 1) a minimum of 50 hours of experiential training through an internship (LAWS 4589); or 2) completion of LAWS 4287 Legal Research Skills; or 3) completion of a 10-15 page paper with the Associate Dean of Graduate and International Legal Programs or their designee as part of a non-credit directed research study (LAWS 4999). | ||
| Elective Courses | 6 | |
The remaining 6 credits may be taken in any course in the curriculum that is available to JD students and is offered as an in-person class. | ||
| Additional Degree requirements: | ||
| 1. Students must complete the degree in no fewer than two full-length semesters. | ||
| 2. Students may not complete more than 4 semester credits in any summer term while in the program. | ||
| 3. Students must complete requirements within 24 months of matriculation. | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Master of Laws (LLM) in Global Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law
Degree Requirements
Coursework Requirements
Minimum Number of Credits Required: 24
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Coursework Requirements | 3 | |
| LAWS 4220 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| or LAWS 4450 | Natural Resource Law | |
| US Law Practice & Research: | 0-4 | |
| 1) Enter the LLM having obtained a Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA-accredited institution in the United States, or | ||
| 2) Students who received their first law degree outside of the United States must pursue one of the following options during the first year of study: 1) a minimum of 50 hours of experiential training through an internship (LAWS 4589); or 2) completion of LAWS 4287 Legal Research Skills, or 3) completion of a 10-15 page paper with the Associate Dean of Graduate and International Legal Programs or their designee as part of a non-credit directed research study (LAWS 4999). Additionally, students who received their first law degree outside of the U.S. must also complete the following two classes: | ||
| Legal Research and Writing for Graduate Students | ||
| Introduction to the American Legal System | ||
| Elective Requirements | 17-21 | |
| The College of Law offers over forty courses in advanced degree programs in both international and domestic issues. For the remaining elective course requirement, students will customize their course of study to meet their individual professional goals. Students will choose from the courses below to create an informal specialization within the LLM, in consultation with an advisor and/or the Associate Dean of Graduate and International Programs. Courses subject to availability. Not all courses listed are offered every year. | ||
| Animal Rights | ||
| Administrative Law | ||
| Legal Analysis Strategies | ||
| Legal Research for Practice | ||
| European Union Environmental Law and Policy | ||
| Alternative Dispute Resolution | ||
| Real Estate Transactions | ||
| Animal Law Survey | ||
| Civil Procedure | ||
| Comparative Law | ||
| Constitutional Law | ||
| Constitutional Law Writing Seminar | ||
| Contracts | ||
| Construction Law | ||
| Corporations | ||
| Environmental Law Clinic | ||
| Energy Law | ||
| Environmental Justice | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Navigating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) | ||
| Federal Courts | ||
| Wildlife Law | ||
| Global Climate Change Law and Policy | ||
| Legal Research Skills - International | ||
| International Business Transactions: Survey Course | ||
| International Commercial Arbitration | ||
| International Environmental Law | ||
| International Human Rights Law | ||
| International Law | ||
| International and Comparative Petroleum Law | ||
| International Mergers and Acquisitions | ||
| Land Use Planning | ||
| International Trade Law | ||
| Tribal Nations and the Law | ||
| Sustainable Cities Practicum | ||
| Legal Profession | ||
| Mining Law | ||
| Natural Resource Law | ||
| Negotiation and Mediation | ||
| Negotiating Natural Resources Agreements | ||
| Oil and Gas Law | ||
| Property | ||
| Public Lands | ||
| Renewable Energy for the 21st Century: Law, Policy & Markets | ||
| Renewable Energy Law | ||
| Sustainable Dev & Trade | ||
| Local Government Law | ||
| Torts | ||
| Water Law | ||
| Special Topics | ||
or LAWS 4702 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4703 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4704 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4705 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4706 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4707 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4708 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4709 | Special Topics | |
| Environmental Law Clinic Seminar | ||
| Water Law Review | ||
| Directed Research 1 | ||
| Externship 2 | ||
| Semester in Practice 2 | ||
| Legal Externship Seminar 3 | ||
| Or any other relevant course, with approval from the Associate Dean of Graduate and International Legal Programs. | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
- 1
Relevant topics, with approval of advisor or Director of Program.
- 2
Placement must be approved by advisor or Director of Program as relevant to the degree.
- 3
As approved, titles vary.
Dual Degree Option
Dual JD/ LLM degree available to those pursuing a JD at the Sturm College of Law.
Master of Laws in International Business Transactions (Roche IBT LLM)
Degree Requirements
Coursework Requirements
Minimum number of credits required: 24
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Coursework Requirements | 3-7 | |
| LAWS 4315 | International Business Transactions: Survey Course | 3 |
| US Law Practice & Research | ||
| 1) Enter the LLM having obtained a Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA-accredited institution in the United States, or | ||
| 2) Students who received their first law degree outside of the United States must pursue one of the following options during the first year of study: 1) a minimum of 50 hours of experiential training through an internship (LAWS 4589; or 2) completion of LAWS 4287 Legal Research Skills, or 3) completion of a 10-15 page paper with the Associate Dean of Graduate and International Legal Programs or their designee as part of a non-credit directed research study (LAWS 4999). Additionally, students who received their first law degree outside of the U.S. must also complete the following two classes: | ||
| Introduction to the American Legal System | ||
| Legal Research and Writing for Graduate Students | ||
| Drafting/Negotiation Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| LAWS 4178 | Contracts Drafting | 3 |
| LAWS 4181 | Corporate Drafting Seminar | 3 |
| LAWS 4182 | Negotiation and Drafting in an International Business Context | 4 |
| LAWS 4341 | International Commercial Arbitration | 3 |
| LAWS 4462 | Negotiating Natural Resources Agreements | 3 |
| Elective Requirements | ||
| For the remaining elective course requirement students may customize their course of study from the list of approved courses below, depending upon individual professional goals. The College of Law offers over forty courses in advanced degree programs, divided equally between international and domestic issues. | 14-18 | |
| Accounting for Lawyers | ||
| Legal Analysis Strategies | ||
| Legal Research for Practice | ||
| European Union Environmental Law and Policy | ||
| Agency Partnership & LLC | ||
| Alternative Dispute Resolution | ||
| Antitrust and Unfair Competition | ||
| Bankruptcy | ||
| Patent Law | ||
| Trademark Law | ||
| Civil Procedure | ||
| Comparative Law | ||
| Constitutional Law | ||
| Contracts | ||
| Corporations | ||
| Employment Law Survey | ||
| Copyright Law | ||
| Forced Migration & Human Trafficking | ||
| Introduction to Intellectual Property | ||
| International Environmental Law | ||
| International Human Rights Law | ||
| International Law | ||
| International Commercial Arbitration | ||
| International and Comparative Petroleum Law | ||
| International Sales | ||
| International Mergers and Acquisitions | ||
| Labor Law | ||
| International Investment Arbitration Practice & Procedure | ||
| International Practice and Procedure | ||
| International Trade Law | ||
| Legal Profession | ||
| Negotiation and Mediation | ||
| Oil and Gas Law | ||
| Property | ||
| Renewable Energy for the 21st Century: Law, Policy & Markets | ||
| Renewable Energy Law | ||
| Securities Law | ||
| Secured Transactions | ||
| Vis International Commercial Arbitration-Moot | ||
| Sustainable Dev & Trade | ||
| Torts | ||
LAWS 4701-4709 Special Topics courses--Titles Vary, as approved | ||
| Int'l Law Journal | ||
| Directed Research (Directed Research) | ||
| Externship (Relevant placement, with approval from Associate Dean of Graduate & International Legal Programs. ) | ||
| Legal Externship Seminar (As approved, titles vary) | ||
| Semester in Practice (Relevant placements, with approval from advisor or Director of Program) | ||
| Semester in Practice Seminar (Titles vary, as approved.) | ||
| Fundamentals of Taxation | ||
Or any other relevant course, with approval from the Associate Dean of Graduate and International Legal Programs. | ||
| Total credits | 24 | |
Dual JD/ IBT LLM degree available to those pursuing a JD at the Sturm College of Law.
Master of Laws in Clinical Legal Education
Graduate fellows in the Clinical Teaching LLM program enroll in a three-year program during which they are in residence in a particular clinic at the Student Law Office, the College of Law’s in-house clinical program. Fellows earn between four and six credits per semester for each of the eight semesters they are enrolled. Over the course of their three-year term, fellows also supervise JD students enrolled in the clinics, work on cases and other legal matters, assist in teaching clinic seminars, and engage in scholarship.
Fellows earn academic credit for supervision of students and for scholarship, which culminates in the production of a publishable quality article. Fellows also participate in a teacher training courses as well as structured teaching rounds and scholarship workshops. Fellows must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing and graduate from the program.
Degree Requirements
All students must complete a minimum of 48 credits in the program curriculum and complete a final, publishable quality paper.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation: | ||
| LAWS 4000 | Lasch Clinical Teaching Fellowship Orientation | 4 |
| Seminars: | ||
| LAWS 4900 | Introduction to Clinical Pedagogy & Scholarship (First Semester-Year 1) | 2 |
| LAWS 4900 | Introduction to Clinical Pedagogy & Scholarship (Second Semester-Year 1) | 2 |
| LAWS 4905 | Scholarship Seminar I | 4 |
| LAWS 4921 | Clinical Pedagogy & Design I (First Semester-Year 2) | 1 |
| LAWS 4921 | Clinical Pedagogy & Design I (Second Semester-Year 2) | 1 |
| LAWS 4925 | Scholarship Seminar II | 4 |
| LAWS 4931 | Advanced Clinical Pedagogy & Design (First Semester-Year 3) | 1 |
| LAWS 4931 | Advanced Clinical Pedagogy & Design (First Semester-Year 3) | 1 |
| Student Supervision: | ||
| LAWS 4910 | Co/Shadow Supervision Practicum | 8 |
| LAWS 4920 | Supervision Practicum II | 8 |
| LAWS 4930 | Supervision Practicum III | 12 |
Non-course requirement: | ||
| Students must submit a final paper of publishable quality to the scholarship mentor for approval, ideally by end of second year. | ||
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Master of Legal Studies Programs
Master of Legal Studies (General)
Degree Requirements
Coursework Requirements
A minimum of 24 credits is required for the degree
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Coursework Requirements | ||
| LAWS 4064 | Introduction to the American Legal System | 2 |
| LAWS 4034 | Legal Research and Writing for Graduate Students | 2 |
| Students must select one of the following courses: | 3-4 | |
| Administrative Law | ||
| Civil Procedure | ||
| Constitutional Law | ||
| Contracts | ||
| Criminal Law | ||
| Legal Profession | ||
| Property | ||
| Torts | ||
| Elective Requirements | 16-17 | |
| For the remaining course requirements, students may customize their course of study depending upon individual professional goals and availability of courses in the JD program. Possible areas of specialization include: finance and trade law and policy, intellectual property, international law, family law and workplace law. Students may also elect to pursue certain courses in the MSLA curriculum, with approval from the MLS Program Director or the Associate Dean of Graduate and International Legal Programs. | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Formal Dual Master of Legal Studies-Master of Social Work program and other flexible dual degree options are available.
Master of Legal Studies in Global Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law
Degree Requirements
Coursework Requirements
Minimum of 24 credits required for the degree
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Coursework Requirements | ||
| LAWS 4034 | Legal Research and Writing for Graduate Students | 2 |
| LAWS 4064 | Introduction to the American Legal System | 2 |
| LAWS 4220 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| or LAWS 4450 | Natural Resource Law | |
| Elective Requirements (at least 17 credits of pre-approved course) | 17 | |
| For the remaining elective course requirements, students may customize their course of study, depending upon individual professional goals, from the approved courses listed below. | ||
| Animal Rights | ||
| Administrative Law | ||
| Legal Research for Practice | ||
| European Union Environmental Law and Policy | ||
| Alternative Dispute Resolution | ||
| Real Estate Transactions | ||
| Comparative Law | ||
| Contracts | ||
| Construction Law | ||
| Environmental Law Clinic | ||
| Energy Law | ||
| Environmental Justice | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Navigating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) | ||
| Federal Courts | ||
| Wildlife Law | ||
| Global Climate Change Law and Policy | ||
| Tribal Nations and the Law | ||
| International Business Transactions: Survey Course | ||
| International Environmental Law | ||
| International Human Rights Law | ||
| International Law | ||
| International Commercial Arbitration Moot | ||
| International and Comparative Petroleum Law | ||
| International Mergers and Acquisitions | ||
| Land Use Planning | ||
| International Trade Law | ||
| Legal Profession | ||
| Mining Law | ||
| Natural Resource Law | ||
| Negotiation and Mediation | ||
| Negotiating Natural Resources Agreements | ||
| Property | ||
| Oil and Gas Law | ||
| Public Lands | ||
| Renewable Energy for the 21st Century: Law, Policy & Markets | ||
| Renewable Energy Law | ||
| Sustainable Dev & Trade | ||
| Water Law | ||
| Special Topics | ||
or LAWS 4702 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4703 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4704 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4705 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4706 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4707 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4708 | Special Topics | |
or LAWS 4709 | Special Topics | |
| Water Law Review | ||
| Directed Research | ||
| Externship (In relevant placment, as approved by Program Director) | ||
| Semester in Practice (In relevant placement, as approved. ) | ||
| Legal Externship Seminar (Titles vary, as approved.) | ||
| Or any other relevant LAWS course with approval of the Associate Dean of Graduate International Legal Programs. | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Master of Science in Legal Administration Programs
Master of Science in Legal Administration with a Concentration in Law Firm Administration
Degree Requirements
Coursework Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. MSLA Core Courses-Required | 12 | |
| Accounting and Financial Management in Legal Business | ||
| Communication, Writing, and Research in Legal Business | ||
| Applied Leadership and Management Theory | ||
| Capstone: Externship/Project | ||
| B. MSLA Specialized Courses-Required | 12 | |
| Project Management | ||
| Law Firm Communications and Technology | ||
| Legal Practice Seminar-Law as a Business | ||
| Law Firm Administration | ||
| Minimum Number of Credits Required for Degree | 24 | |
Advanced Standing Master of Science in Legal Administration with a Concentration in Law Firm Administration
Degree Requirements
Coursework Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. MSLA Core Courses-Required | 9 | |
| Applied Leadership and Management Theory | ||
| Communication, Writing, and Research in Legal Business | ||
| Accounting and Financial Management in Legal Business | ||
| B. MSLA Specialized Courses-Required | 12 | |
| Law Firm Communications and Technology | ||
| Legal Practice Seminar-Law as a Business | ||
| Law Firm Administration | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Minimum Number of Credits Required for Degree | 21 | |
Graduate Certificate Programs
Certificate in Law with a Concentration in Animal Law
Coursework Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses: 1 | ||
| LAWS 4019 | Animal Rights | 3 |
| or LAWS 4119 | Animal Law Survey | |
| or LAWS 4999 | Directed Research | |
| Advanced Animal Law courses (students must choose at least one of following): | 3 | |
| Environmental Law | ||
| Wildlife Law | ||
| Global Climate Change Law and Policy | ||
Or any other relevant course approved by the Director of the Animal Law Program. | ||
| Complete for credit one of the following live-client experiences or simulations: | 1 | |
Animal Activist Legal Defense Project or | ||
An externship approved by Animal Law Faculty Director and coordinated through the Denver Law externship office, or | ||
Any practicum, live-client, or simulation course approved by the Animal Law Program Faculty Director, or | ||
| Environmental Law Clinic (and) | ||
| Environmental Law Clinic Seminar | ||
| Human Justice/General Electives (Students must select their remaining courses to meet the minimum 15 credit requirement from the following list): | 8 | |
| Topics in Constitutional Law: Individual Rights | ||
| Topics in Constitutional Law-First Amendment | ||
| Constitutional Law II | ||
| Criminal Procedure | ||
| Federal Courts | ||
| Access to Justice | ||
| Natural Resource Law | ||
| Advanced Torts | ||
| Trial Practice I: Basic Courtroom Skills | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- 1
LAWS 4999 on an Animal Law topic with approval of Faculty Director.
Certificate in Law with a Concentration in Environmental and Natural Resource Law
Certificate Requirements
Coursework Requirements
Minimum 15 credits required
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete at least one of the following core courses: | ||
| LAWS 4220 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| or LAWS 4450 | Natural Resource Law | |
| Experiential Requirement: | ||
| Complete (for credit) one of the following live-client experiences or simulations in the ENRLP program: | 3-9 | |
| Environmental Law Clinic 1 | ||
or LAWS 4802 | Environmental Law Clinic Seminar | |
An ENRL-related full semester externship through the legal externship program (or) | ||
A simulated experience course such as the Natural Resources Distinguished Practitioner Seminar, or other relevant experiential course as approved by Faculty Director. | ||
| Writing Requirement: | ||
| Complete a research paper satisfying the upper-level writing requirement on an ENRL topic, either through a course or directed research (with approval from the faculty director) | ||
| Electives: | 6-9 | |
| Complete remaining elective credits to fulfill minimum 15 credit requirement by completing eligible ENRL electives below: | ||
| Animal Law Survey | ||
| Energy Law | ||
| Navigating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) | ||
| Wildlife Law | ||
| Global Climate Change Law and Policy | ||
| Tribal Nations and the Law | ||
| International Environmental Law | ||
| International and Comparative Petroleum Law | ||
| Land Use Planning | ||
| Sustainable Cities Practicum | ||
| Public Lands | ||
| Local Government Law | ||
| Sustainable Dev & Trade | ||
| Water Law | ||
Or any other relevant course as approved by Faculty Director. Approved courses are indicated on the web course schedule. | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- 1
Maximum of 9 clinic credits can apply towards certificate
Certificate in Law with a Concentration in Constitutional Rights and Remedies
Coursework Requirements
Minimum of 19 credits required
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| LAWS 4164 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAWS 4025 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| Complete three (3) of the following courses: | 9 | |
| Topics in Constitutional Law: Individual Rights | ||
| Topics in Constitutional Law-First Amendment | ||
| Criminal Procedure | ||
| Constitutional Law II | ||
| Constitutional Litigation Seminar | ||
| Federal Courts | ||
| Remedies | ||
| Or, other other courses-including special topics (LAWS 4700-4709)-as approved by Faculty Director. See online course schedule for more information. | ||
| Complete at least one experiential learning opportunity from the following: | 3 | |
| Criminal Defense Clinic | ||
or LAWS 4809 | Civil Rights Clinic | |
Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, or | ||
A Constitutional Rights & Remedies Capstone course (as approved by the CRRP Faculty Director) or | ||
A Constitutional Rights & Remedies-related Externship (through the Legal Externship Program, as approved by CRRP Faculty Director) or | ||
Other experiential learning opportunity (minimum 3 credits) approved by the CRRP Faculty Director | ||
| Total Credits | 19 | |
Certificate in Law with a Concentration in Corporate & Commercial Law
Certificate Requirements
Coursework Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following two (2) core courses: | ||
| LAWS 4006 | Accounting for Lawyers | 3 |
| LAWS 4190 | Corporations | 4 |
| Or can substitute relevant course for one of the above with approval of Faculty Director based on prior education and/or experience. | ||
| Complete two (2) of the following courses: | ||
| LAWS 4048 | Agency Partnership & LLC | 4 |
| LAWS 4090 | Bankruptcy | 4 |
| LAWS 4411 | Mergers & Acquisitions | 4 |
| LAWS 4528 | Securities Law | 3 |
| LAWS 4530 | Secured Transactions | 3 |
| Or can substitute relevant course for one of the above with approval of Faculty Director. | ||
| Experiential Learning Opportunity: | ||
| Complete one of the following options: | ||
| Option 1 – (1) Complete a Critical Thinking Seminar from list below, and (2) Complete an approved Corporate & Commercial Law program Upper Level Writing Requirement course; and (3) Complete an approved Externship emphasizing Corporate or Commercial Law. | ||
| Option 2 - Complete the full year (12 credits) Community Economic Development Clinic | 12 (year long, 6 per semester) | |
| Community Economic Development Clinic | ||
| Community Economic Development Clinic Seminar | ||
| Complete at least one (1) additional Business Law course (from list above or below) of not less than 2 credit hours. (Note: Some students may need to take addtitional courses to fulfill 26 credit hour minimum requirement.) | ||
Critical Thinking Seminar Courses: | ||
| Agency Partnership & LLC | ||
| Antitrust and Unfair Competition | ||
| International Commercial Arbitration Moot | ||
| International Investment Arbitration Practice & Procedure | ||
| Negotiating Natural Resources Agreements | ||
| Negotiation and Mediation | ||
| Private Equity Seminar | ||
| Securities Law Seminar | ||
| Workplace Law Practicum: Sports & Entertainment Law | ||
LAWS 4701-4709 | (Special Topics course. As approved by Faculty Director. Titles vary. Examples include Corporate Transactions Practicum, International Business Negotiations, Transactional Negotiations, Venture Law. See website for more details.) | |
Corporate & Commercial Law Writing Courses: | ||
| Business & Commercial Law Seminar | ||
| Contracts Drafting | ||
| Corporate Drafting Seminar | ||
| Negotiation and Drafting in an International Business Context | ||
| International Sales | ||
| International Trade Law | ||
| Mergers & Acquisitions | ||
| Private Equity Seminar | ||
LAWS 4701-4709 | (Special Topics Course. As approved by Faculty Director. Titles vary.) | |
Other Business Law courses: | ||
| Commercial Space Law | ||
| Construction Law | ||
| Copyright Law | ||
| Employment Discrimination Law | ||
| Employment Law Survey | ||
| Federal Income Taxation | ||
| International Business Transactions: Survey Course | ||
| International Mergers and Acquisitions | ||
| Labor and Employment Writing Seminar | ||
| Labor Law | ||
| Land Use Planning | ||
| LLCs and Operating Agreements | ||
| Mergers & Acquisitions | ||
| Patent Law | ||
| Privacy Law | ||
| Trademark Law | ||
| Representing the Marijuana Client | ||
| Representing Clients Before the SEC | ||
| White Collar Crime | ||
LAWS 4701-4709 | (Special topics Course. As approved by Faculty Director.Titles vary. See website for more details. Approved courses include: Asset Management Regulation; Compliance; Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, & Incident Response Practicum; White Collar Crime) | |
Or other LAWS or TAX course, or relevant course from the Korbel School for International Studies or Daniels College of Business, with approval of Faculty Director. | ||
Other CCLP courses approved to meet 26 minimum credit hour requirement | ||
| LAWS 4700-4709 Special Topics. Titles Vary. Approved courses include: Insurance Money & Litigation Bootcamp, Introduction to the Regulation of Crypoassets,Taxation of Business Entities | ||
| Minimum Number of Credits Required | 26 | |
A minimum of 26 credits is required.
Certificate in Law with a Concentration in Intellectual Property & Technology Law
Certificate Requirements
Coursework Requirements
Minimum 15 credits required
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete two (2) of the following core courses: | 6 | |
| Privacy Law | ||
| Patent Law | ||
| Trademark Law | ||
| Copyright Law | ||
| Introduction to Intellectual Property | ||
| Law and Emerging Technologies | ||
| Complete two additional courses from the list above and/or following list: | 6 | |
| Antitrust and Unfair Competition | ||
| Employment Law Survey | ||
| Entertainment Law | ||
| Media Law | ||
| Patent Prosecution | ||
| Patent Litigation | ||
| Directed Research (with approval from Faculty Director) | ||
Or, relevant Special Topics courses (LAWS 4700-4709) or any other relevant course as approved by Faculty Director. Approved courses are indicated on the web course schedule. | ||
| Complete an experiential learning opportunity, through: | 3 | |
i.Two (2) IP capstone courses | ||
| Intellectual Property Capstone (or) | ||
ii. Up to 3 credits (excluding seminar) from an externship approved by the one of the Intellectual Property & Technology Law Faculty and coordinated through the Denver Law externship office, or | ||
iii. Another experiential learning opportunity of at least 100 clock hours as approved by the Intellectual Property & Technology Law Faculty Director(s). | ||
Note: Students may need to take additional approved elective courses to meet minimum 15 credit requirement for the certificate. | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Certificate in Law with a Concentration in International Law
Certificate Requirements
Coursework Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course: | ||
| LAWS 4320 | International Law | 3 |
| Complete two Core Courses (or minimum of 6 credits) from the following: | 6 | |
| Comparative Law | ||
| International Criminal Law Prac: Genocide, War Crimes, and Crimes Against Humanity Case-Building | ||
| International Business Transactions: Survey Course | ||
| International Environmental Law | ||
| International Human Rights Law | ||
| International Commercial Arbitration | ||
| International Sales | ||
| International Trade Law | ||
| Complete remaining credits from either additional Core Courses (above) or Elective courses from the following list: | 6 | |
| Negotiation and Drafting in an International Business Context | ||
| Global Climate Change Law and Policy | ||
| Holocaust Seminar | ||
| Immigration Law | ||
| International and Comparative Petroleum Law | ||
| International Mergers and Acquisitions | ||
| International Investment Arbitration Practice & Procedure | ||
| International Practice and Procedure † | ||
| Mining Law | ||
| Vis International Commercial Arbitration-Moot † | ||
| The Spanish Speaking Lawyer: Introductory Legal Skills and Vocabulary in Spanish | ||
| Sustainable Dev & Trade | ||
| Immigration Law and Policy Clinic 1 | ||
or LAWS 4826 | Immigration Law and Policy Seminar | |
| Int'l Law Journal † | ||
| Directed Research 2 | ||
| Or, other special topics courses (LAWS 4700-4709) as approved by Faculty Director. Approved courses will be indicated on web schedule. | ||
| Note: Students may also petition Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for approval of courses taken during study abroad to count towards fulfillment of elective course requirement. (This is separate from the approval process for study abroad credits to be counted towards the JD). | ||
| Upper Level Writing Requirement: | ||
| Students must complete either one of the courses in the above lists that is ULW eligible, or complete a directed research on an international law topic. If the latter, the topic must be approved by the Faculty Director of the certificate. | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- †
Participation in the Jessup Moot Court competition, the International Commercial Arbitration (Vis) Moot or the Denver Journal of International Law and Policy (DJILP) may count for up to two (2) hours of elective credit per activity
- 1
Maximum of 3 total clinic hours can apply towards certificate
- 2
Must be on an international, comparative, or foreign law topic.
Certificate in Law with a Concentration in Workplace Law
Certificate Requirements
Coursework Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete two of the following three courses: | 6 | |
| Employment Law Survey | ||
| Employment Discrimination Law | ||
| Labor Law | ||
| Complete a capstone experience in the Workplace Law curriculum. Capstone options include: | ||
a. An employment/labor related clinical experience through the SLO. | ||
b. A workplace-related externship approved by the Program Director. | ||
c. Completion of a research paper satisfying the College of Law’s upper-level writing requirement through a Workplace Law class or through directed research with a Workplace Law faculty member. | ||
d. Publishing a note on a workplace law topic in the Denver University Law Review under the supervision of a Workplace Law faculty member. | ||
e. In the event that the SCOL obtains or establishes a workplace law publication, serving as a student editor for the review or journal. | ||
f. Completion of a designated experiential advantage course in the Workplace Law curriculum. | ||
| Minimum Number of Credits Required | 12 | |
A minimum of 12 credits is required.
Law (LAWS)
LAWS 4033 Representing the Spanish Speaking Client (3 Credits)
This course is a survey of the substantive law of matters likely to be encountered by attorneys representing Spanish-speaking clients in the United States. Topics may include, among others, immigration law, family law, criminal law, employment law, wills and estates, and consumer rights. The course will introduce vocabulary required to communicate with Spanish-speaking clients in the United States, as well as, survey the basic substantive law in each area. The course will be taught in Spanish.
LAWS 4270 LLCs and Operating Agreements (1 Credit)
This course provides an overview of limited liability companies, including the attributes and characteristics of LLCs, the pros and cons of the LLC form, and a comparison of LLCs to other types of entities. The course also covers the structure and components of the operating agreement, including an in-depth examination of various provisions included in operating agreements. In conjunction with the course content, students will also be exposed to client interview techniques for in person client meetings, as well as client conference calls.
LAWS 4395 Military Law (3 Credits)
This course will review the history, nature and sources of military law; the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the functions and procedures of military courts-martial, including the rights and status of military personnel. It will also cover an overview of the laws of armed conflict; national security and domestic application of operational military law; and the policies and international treaties affecting the detention and prosecution of enemy combatants and other foreign nationals. The course materials will rely on primary sources including statutes, cases, treaties, and selected law review and other articles, which will be provided electronically to each student. The course will review these military law topics with an emphasis on case studies and policy discussions in the context of recent current events.
LAWS 4410 Public Sector Employment Law (2 Credits)
In Public Sector Employment Law, students will learn the law unique to public employment. Particular emphasis will be placed on constitutional legal claims brought under 42 USC Sec. 1983, including claims for violation of the freedoms of speech and association, equal protection, due process, and privacy. The class will also cover public administrative remedies, various governmental immunities, and open records laws. The course materials will be taught through a combination of traditional Socratic method and practical real world exercises, including the drafting of pleadings, interviewing of parties, and arguing of substantive legal motions.
LAWS 4411 Mergers & Acquisitions (4 Credits)
This course investigates the legal framework and strategies for structuring mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”). The class will be taught in the “modern learning” format to help students develop practical skills that will improve their readiness upon graduation for the practice of law in diverse business contexts. Among other topics, the course will address structuring various acquisition transactions, negotiating terms of the deal, drafting deal documents, conducting due diligence, advising boards on fiduciary obligations, interpreting relevant state law and federal securities laws, and exploring litigation to thwart potential business combinations. Throughout the course, students will engage in a variety of research, drafting, interviewing, counseling, and advocacy exercises. Through those exercises, group reflections on various assignments, and class discussions of other assigned readings, students will enhance their ability to think critically about a variety of M&A issues from both transactional and litigation perspectives. Pre-req: LAWS 4190.
LAWS 4412 Sustainable Cities Practicum (3 Credits)
Communities around the west are increasingly working to accommodate population growth without promoting sprawl. From transit oriented development in the suburbs to urban infill projects in the city center, cities are exploring ways of promoting new, more sustainable forms of development – sometimes in places that are not ready to accept increased density and amidst changing notions of what Americans really want. This course will explore issues of sustainability, as they relate to land use, and will help prepare students to work in the field of urban planning and development. Partnering with a local organization and utilizing the concept of "Action Learning," students will work in teams as they engage in real-time problem solving of a complex issue involving land use and sustainability. It is anticipated the course will include a field trip and work with practitioners engaged in the issue of concern. A research paper and final presentation will be required.
LAWS 4413 Trail Tactics (3 Credits)
This course is intended for those who truly desire to be a trial lawyer. It is an advanced, hands-on course which is designed to teach you how to be successful in trial – not just trial practice, but overall trial strategy. This course will teach you not just what to do in trial, but will also answer the question as to why you do what you do. It involves the strategy of trying cases, including trial themes, as well as preparation and participation in doing voir dire, opening statements, direct and cross examination of witnesses, when to make objections and when not to make objections, as well as closing. You will learn to use various trial techniques included in the text Rules of the Road, and will learn all the ins and outs of trying a case in front of a jury.
LAWS 4414 Private Equity Seminar (3 Credits)
In this course students will learn legal doctrine and practical skills through the examination of various aspects of private equity groups. The class will focus on legal issues arising in private equity investment cycles, including raising a fund, investing the fund, managing the investment, and exiting the investment. Students will consider the legal foundations of fund formation, business law, and structuring investments, including state and federal laws affecting business associations and corporate transactions. The class will also highlight tax and regulatory considerations of private equity groups and their investments. The class will have a heavy emphasis on practical skills, including critical thinking, and best practices for beginning lawyers, including structuring transactions, drafting transactional documents, and negotiating deals.
LAWS 4416 Representing the Marijuana Client (3 Credits)
This class is designed to provide students with an understanding of the realities of representing a marijuana client (either private or public) in the current turbulent legal environment. We will study the background of marijuana regulation at the state and federal levels in the United States, with particular attention paid to the federalism implications of the dispute between state and federal law in this area. We will then turn to specific areas of law impacted by marijuana law reform in the states, from legal ethics, to regulatory compliance, to criminal law enforcement, to the financial and tax aspects of running a marijuana business in the current legal regime.
LAWS 4417 Representing the Spanish Speaking Client (3 Credits)
This course is a survey of the substantive law of matters likely to be encountered by attorneys representing Spanish-speaking clients in the United States. Topics may include, among others, immigration law, family law, criminal law, employment law, wills and estates, and consumer rights. The course will introduce vocabulary required to communicate with Spanish-speaking clients in the United States, as well as, survey the basic substantive law in each area. The course will be taught in Spanish.
LAWS 4418 Workplace Law Practicum: Sports & Entertainment Law (3 Credits)
This course will expose students to contemporary sports law practice as an aspect of general entertainment law from a of labor and employment perspective. Students will learn relevant doctrine regarding such matters as collective bargaining, individual contract rights, administrative law, interest and grievance arbitration and the impact of the anti-trust laws on labor and employment relations at the professional and collegiate levels. They will have the opportunity to develop practical skills by drafting documents for a simulated NLRB union organizing or unfair labor practice proceeding, reading and interpreting actual transcripts of NLRB or arbitration proceedings, acting as an advocate in a mock baseball arbitration, and engaging in simulated negotiations by drafting bargaining proposals and arguing for those proposals in a bargaining session among classmates.
LAWS 4470 Banking Law (3 Credits)
This course provides an overview of the banking system, including the economic function of banks, the role of the central bank, and U.S. banking history. This course will cover the evolution of banking regulation, as well as recent developments that have intensified scrutiny on banks. Additionally, a "Real Deal" Workshop will provide students with an opportunity to a) gain hands-on training in transactional practice, (b) experience a “deal” from a lawyer’s perspective and learn about what transactional practice entails and (c) learn to draft stock purchase agreements, credit documents and other fundamental transactional agreements. Topics that will be covered include permissible activities of banks, the role of the FDIC, the Federal Reserve Board, and the Comptroller of Currency; and the regulatory response to crises in the banking system.
LAWS 4485 Business & Commercial Law Seminar (3 Credits)
Topical seminars scheduled periodically to afford students the opportunity for focused study of business and commercial law matters such as: consumer credit; mergers and acquisitions; corporate practice; bankruptcy; antitrust; quantitative evidence; representation of minority--and women-- owned business firms.
LAWS 4510 Transactional Legal Research (2 Credits)
This course will introduce the legal material, research methodologies, and resources used in conducting transactional legal research. Students will gain experience locating and using law and guidance produced by government agencies, business-oriented legal treatises, transactional materials, and company/industry research. This class will take an integrative approach between the different business-related disciplines to provide students with a well-rounded knowledge base.
LAWS 4560 Colorado Legal Research (1 Credit)
This course will focus on Colorado-specific primary and secondary sources using a problem-based approach, so as to simulate the type of work performed at law firms. It is geared toward students who have some experience with research and want to improve their skills and writing ability before they finish law school. Students will gain hands-on experience researching judicial (case law), legislative (statutory), and executive (administrative) legal materials and will learn research methodologies and strategies to tackle research problems effectively. Classes will combine instruction with hands-on scenarios using print and electronic resources and students will complete research and writing projects for this course, which runs for the first seven weeks of the semester. Students are required to bring their laptops to class.
LAWS 4563 Environmental Law, Energy, & Natural Resources in Indian Country (3 Credits)
This Seminar explores energy and natural resources development on Native American tribal lands in the United States, and how tribes, states and the federal government regulate and enforce environmental quality within Indian Country. The Seminar is open to all interested students and does not require any previous study or experience in American Indian law. It provides an introduction to tribal sovereignty and self-determination, along with some of the basics of Indian Country jurisdiction and tribal sovereign immunity. Students will examine the federal governments trust responsibility to Indian tribes and nations. The Seminar also examines the legal framework used to regulate and enforce environmental quality, traditional and renewable energy development, and the use and stewardship of other natural resources on Indian lands. The goal of this Seminar is for students to gain a greater awareness of Indian tribes and nations and the critical role they play in overall U.S. environmental, energy, and natural resource law and public policy.
LAWS 4564 Immigration Law in Spanish (3 Credits)
Immigration Law in Spanish is a survey of the fundamental concepts of U.S. immigration law. In addition, students learn and practice the vocabulary required to appropriately communicate these concepts to Spanish-speaking clients. The class is taught entirely in Spanish, and requires a working-level written and spoken proficiency in the language.
LAWS 4565 Intellectual Property Capstone (1-3 Credits)
The intellectual property capstone is a simulation based course that crosses different intellectual property disciplines. Several different adjuncts are asked to prepare real world problems in different substantive and procedural contexts. The problems vary from year to year, but generally deal with patent, copyright and trademark law from litigation, administrative (i.e. representation before the patent and trademark office) and business perspectives. Students are expected to have taken at least one prior intellectual property course. This course fulfills the experiential component of the IP Certificate requirement.
LAWS 4570 Introduction to Contracts and Torts (3 Credits)
This online course provides an introduction to the foundational principles of Contract Law, including the restatement of contracts and the relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, and foundational principles of Tort Law, including intentional torts, negligence, and strict liability. This course is available to non-JD students only.
LAWS 4571 Introduction to Forensic Engineering and Construction Dispute Resolution (3 Credits)
This online course introduces students to the forensics industry and how forensics applies to claims and disputes in design and construction issues. The course addresses common disputes such as insurance claims, contract disputes, negligence claims, etc. This course will also discuss the different dispute resolution forums and venues, from insurance appraisals, to mediation, to arbitration or litigation. This course is available to non-JD students only, and is required for students in the Master of Legal Studies in Forensic Engineering.
LAWS 4572 Forensic Scheduling (1 Credit)
This online course covers the five standard forensic scheduling methods: Impacted As-Planned Method, As-Planned v. As-Built Method, Time Impact Analysis, Windows Analysis, and Collapsed As-Built Method. This class will use Primavera P6 scheduling software. This class is limited to non-JD students only.
LAWS 4574 Expert Report Preparation (1 Credit)
Forensic consultants need to understand how to outline, assemble, and clearly communicate issues and opinions within expert reports. This course reviews standard report templates and covers how to prepare report sections including-but not limited to-executive summaries, summary of opinions, assignment, documents reviewed, analysis, conclusions, and demonstratives.
LAWS 4575 Civil Trial Practice-Forensic Engineering (3 Credits)
This online class will cover the main aspects of civil litigation and trial practice as they relate to forensic engineering including discovery, trial, examination and cross-examination, and expert testimony. Pre-requisite: LAWS 4571.
LAWS 4576 Building Envelop & Civil Construction Review (1 Credit)
This course would review the components of building envelope and civil design. It would also review standard contract drawing details, manufacturer’s recommendations, and code requirements for various building components.
LAWS 4639 Survey of Trusts and Estates (3 Credits)
This course will provide a broad introduction to trusts and estate planning, including an overview of property disposition through intestate succession, wills, and trusts.
LAWS 4925 Scholarship Seminar II (4 Credits)
This is a semester-long, four-credit, intensive course taken after completion of the second academic year in which students produce and present drafts of scholarly articles along a timeline set out at the start of the semester.