Master of Laws (LLM) in Intellectual Property
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Master of Laws (LLM) Degree in Intellectual Property
is designed for attorneys who intend to practice in the fields
of patent, copyright, and trademark law. Students will
be selected from the pool of U.S. law school graduates, and
graduates of universities outside of the U.S. who hold a law
degree or its equivalent in education or practical experience.
Students in the LLM program will be selected from:
- JD graduates who did not have the opportunity to take
IP courses during their law school careers;
- JD graduates who took IP courses but want to fill in gaps
or broaden their IP training;
- Attorneys working in the IP field who want to accelerate
the progress of their careers;
- Attorneys not working in the IP field who want to break
into that field or otherwise enhance their professional careers;
- Government officials, attorneys, patent agents and corporate
officers in countries other than the U.S. who want to learn
about the U.S. intellectual property system.
The George Mason LLM in Intellectual Property program draws
on the extensive existing resources in the
Juris Doctor (JD) IP Track and the George
Mason IP Program.
While the strength and depth of the George Mason IP Program
is in patent law, significant offerings are available in the
areas of copyright, trademark and technology law.
This is one of the most comprehensive, diverse programs of
its kind among Washington area and Virginia law schools, according
to a GMU survey of law schools in this region. This curriculum
has depth as well as breadth.
The LLM program is designed to be a concentrated course in
intellectual property law to provide practicing lawyers with
a specialty in these fields for use in law practice, and in
addition to provide an opportunity to graduates from non-U.S.
law schools to study in the LLM program at George Mason for
use in practice or other legal purposes. Students are
expected to learn the basics of intellectual property law including
patent, trademark, and copyright law together with enforcement
and economic aspects of these fields and to enhance their graduate
education with an elective course in technology law.
The LLM in Intellectual Property Program is directed by Professor Bruce Kobayashi, bkobayas@gmu.edu.
The Law School
Located just two miles from downtown Washington, D.C., in the
heart of the fast-growing high-tech business region of Northern
Virginia, George Mason University School of Law offers its students
unparalleled opportunities and resources including outstanding
legal instruction; guest lectures by top law and policy leaders;
and year-round employment and internship opportunities with
government, including U.S. courts, USPTO and other state and
federal governmental agencies, as well as hundreds of private
law firms. In 2001, George Mason University School of Law had
100% job placement of IP students.
The Washington, D.C., metropolitan area is an established center
for the practice of intellectual property (IP) law, with the
government headquarters for patents, trademarks and copyright
located here. Leading centers of technology are located
in Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland.
Curriculum
The curriculum in the LLM program
includes 13 courses covering every aspect of intellectual
property law, from basic courses in patent, copyright, and trademark,
to enforcement, litigation and dispute resolution, among others.
Given that George Mason University
School of Law has a well-developed specialty in law and economics,
exemplified by its Law and Economics Center founded in 1974,
the required intellectual property courses include "Legal &
Economic Theory of Intellectual Property" and "Economic Foundations
of Legal Studies."
The program will offer an optional
master's thesis in intellectual property, so that students may
elect to write a master's thesis in the field or take an intellectual
property seminar course that requires research and a written
paper of shorter length than a thesis. For graduates of
non-U.S. law schools, a course in Legal Research, Writing, and
Analysis in the mode of American law will be offered.
The curriculum for the LLM program includes courses in
intellectual property law (all aspects of patent and copyright
law and related subject matter), and currently 14 elective courses
in technology law generally and information technology specifically,
including legal issues arising in cyberspace.
PLEASE NOTE: The George Mason LLM in Intellectual Property degree has
received the acquiescence of the Council of the Section of Legal
Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association.
The Council does not undertake to 'approve' programs, but may
provide its acquiescence when a law school initiates a degree
beyond the first degree in law.
The LLM in Intellectual Property is not designed to prepare
or qualify students who are not graduates of a U.S. law school
to engage in the practice of law in the United States, or to
qualify them to take a bar examination in the United States.
Sample Schedule for the LLM in
Intellectual Property
PLEASE NOTE: We understand that many LLM students
will be working during their studies and will not be able to
attend class full time. Since many of our JD students
also work during the day, most IP classes are offered in the
evening, and, as many LLM students will want to engage in
their studies part-time, we have tried to make the program as
flexible as possible to accommodate a wide range of possibilities.
The following sample schedule contains all of the required
courses, and it is illustrative of the general order in which
LLM students could take the courses if they were to complete
the program in three semesters. Some courses might not
be offered during a particular semester, so be sure to check
with the Records Office for a current schedule of courses.
It is possible to complete the program in as little as two
semesters, or as long as three years provided that the student
enrolls in two classes each semester. A limited number
of classes also will be available in the summer.
The required courses and the schedule of classes can be adapted
to each student's background and interest by approval of the
administration.
SAMPLE THREE-SEMESTER SCHEDULE
| Economic Foundations of Legal Studies[1]
|
3 |
| Patent Law I |
2 |
| Trademark Law |
3 |
| Copyright Law |
3 |
| Introduction to U.S. Law[2] |
0 |
| |
|
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS FOR SEMESTER 1 |
11 |
Spring Semester
| Patent Law II |
2 |
| Multinational Intellectual Property & Policy Seminar |
2 |
| Patent Litigation and Dispute Resolution |
2 |
| Legal and Economic Theory of IP |
2 |
| Trade Secrets Law |
1 |
| |
|
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS FOR SEMESTER 2 |
9 |
Fall Semester II
| Patent and Know-How Licensing |
2 |
| Elective[3] |
2-3 |
| Thesis, IP Seminar or Writing Course |
2-3 |
| |
|
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS FOR SEMESTER 3 |
6-8 |
| OVERALL TOTAL CREDIT HOURS: |
26-28 |
NOTES:
[1] This requirement plus three additional hours
of course work (a total of six credits) will be waived for
George Mason School of Law JD graduates.
[2] This class, which is required for students without
an American JD, involves the equivalent of 2-3 credit hours
of substantive instruction plus 2-3 hours of "laboratory"
instruction in U.S. legal writing. No credit is earned
toward the LLM degree, though general university credit
may be possible.
[3] Electives will be chosen from IP courses or technology
law courses. Other related courses may be substituted
with the approval of the Director.
Click a link for a complete listing of IP or Technology Law classes.
Degree Requirements
In order to remain in the LLM program,
the student shall present a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.15 for all course work taken for which a quality grade (i.e., a grade on the A+ to F scale) was awarded and
register for at least two courses each semester, unless granted
a leave of absence. In addition to the university's standard
graduation requirements, the following requirements must be
met within three calendar years for a student to receive the
LLM degree:
--Satisfactory completion of
no less than 26 credit hours of residential coursework;
--Completion of all required
courses, unless they are waived;
--Completion of a thesis of
publishable quality under the supervision of a thesis committee; or, in the alternative, taking an intellectual property seminar
course (including a writing requirement) or a writing course
prescribed in the curriculum.
Faculty
The LLM-level courses are taught by an experienced faculty,
including full-time professors and adjunct professors who have
practiced in the intellectual property field.
Our Intellectual Property faculty consists of full-time law
faculty and IP adjunct faculty. Our distinguished adjunct faculty
boasts a sitting Circuit Judge of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit; the Solicitor of the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office (USPTO); a former Commissioner of Patents
and Trademarks; a former Register of Copyrights; a former Examiner-in-Chief
and Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences Administrative
Judge; a former WIPO Director of Industrial Property Law; former
chief counsels of the principal subcommittees on intellectual
property in the United States Senate and House of Representatives;
and prominent practitioners from most of the leading intellectual
property law firms in the Washington, D.C., area.
Admission Requirements
1. Admission to the LLM program is highly competitive.
To be admitted to the program, applicants must possess a JD
from an ABA-accredited law school or equivalent degree from
a law school or other education or experience outside the United
States that is deemed acceptable by the Director of the LLM
program. No previous coursework in economics, science,
or engineering is required, although a technical degree is required
to qualify for the Patent Bar Exam. Applicants will be
evaluated primarily on their law school records, as well as
on the basis of any other undergraduate or graduate records,
but allowances will be made for those with exceptional nonacademic
qualification.
2. No student may be admitted to the LLM program
unless, in addition to other criteria as established by the
Admissions Committee of the Law Faculty:
(a) For students with JD degrees earned in the United
States: the applicant has a George Mason University School
of Law admissions index score within the range of the previous
year's class of entering JD students in the George Mason
School of Law intellectual property specialty track; or superior
performance (such as a top-10% class ranking at a reputable
American law school) in JD studies, as determined by the
George Mason Law School Admissions Committee of the Law Faculty.
(b) For students without JD degrees earned in the United
States:
(1) The applicant has a current LSAT score within the range
of the previous year's class of entering JD students at
George Mason University School of Law. Foreign applicants
who have not taken the LSAT may substitute other graduate
admissions tests, such as the GMAT or the GRE. In exceptional
cases applicants who have not taken any equivalent standardized
test may present substitute evidence of high intellectual
promise, such as a record of academic success, publications
in the field, or recommendations from persons highly regarded
in the field;
(2) The applicant has demonstrated English language proficiency
on the Test of English
as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) such that no accommodation to lack
of English language skills will be made in either admission
or instruction.
(3) Such applicants must be fully licensed to engage in the professional practice of law in a U.S. or non-U.S. jurisdiction at the time of their initial enrollment at GMUSL, or otherwise have demonstrated the possession of legal professional training and qualifications equivalent to a U.S. JD graduate meeting the criteria set forth in paragraph 1(a) above.
GMU IP Track Grads
Admission to this program under the standard curriculum set forth above is not available to George Mason JD graduates in the Intellectual Property Track or Intellectual Property Sequence, or comparably-trained applicants from other schools; however, at the discretion of the dean or his delegate, such applicants could be encouraged to apply for LLM intellectual property study under a customized curriculum of advanced courses from George Mason's existing intellectual property offerings, with the individualized approval of the LLM program director.
Acceptance is dependent on the availability of sufficient IP
courses and related electives to create a full and acceptable
curriculum. In addition, IP Track Grads must complete
the thesis option. A maximum of six credits of undergraduate
(JD) courses may be applied to the LLM program.
Interested IP Track Grads should submit an application and schedule an appointment
with the Director of the program to design a proposed curriculum.
Acceptance into the program is subject to approval of the proposed
curriculum by the GMUSL Admissions Committee. Contact
Katheryn Zupan at (703) 993-8004, kzupan@gmu.edu, for a streamlined application process.
LLM Application Process
Application Deadline:
The application deadlines are:
Spring 2008 September 15, 2007
Fall 2008 April 1, 2008
Application Form:
Click here for an LLM
Application Form.
You may type directly on this application as a PDF Form, which
you then print out, or you can print out the blank application
form and fill it out. Mail the original signed form to:
Office of Admissions
George Mason University School of Law
3301 Fairfax Drive MS 1G3
Arlington, VA 22201-4426
Application Process:
The following seven items are required from all LLM applicants:
1. Application and Application Fee
Applicants must provide a completed application form, accompanied by a $40 non-refundable application fee in the form of a check or money order payable to George Mason University. Payment by check or money order must be made with U.S. funds drawn on an American bank. Checks drawn on foreign banks, even if in U.S. dollars, are not acceptable. Applicants may transmit their application electronically through LSAC, or they may print a completed application and mail it to the law school.
2. Official Undergraduate Transcripts
Applicants must submit all transcripts from college- or
university-level degrees.
3. Official Law School or Equivalent Transcripts
In addition to transcripts from college- or university-level
degrees, applicants must also submit ONE of the following:
(a) An official law school transcript showing completion of a JD degree in the United States; or
(b) An official transcript (including grades) showing completion of a law degree in a country other than the U.S.*; or
(c) Other official proof of status as a lawyer in a country other than the U.S.*
* These items must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. Applicants with international credentials must register with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service. See Additional Requirements for Applicants with International Credentials.
4. 500-Word Statement
The applicant is required to submit a 500-word statement of educational and professional goals, double-spaced, that will serve as both a statement of purpose and a writing sample. The thoughts and words of the 500-word statement must be uniquely those of the applicant. With the exception of basic proofreading, no other(s) may assist in the creation of this statement.
5. Resume
Applicant should submit a resume listing education and work experience, volunteer experience, and any other relevant experience.
6. Two Letters of Recommendation
Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation assessing the applicant’s academic and professional potential. Applicants may have their recommendations sent directly to George Mason Law using George Mason Law’s recommendation form, which can be found at:
www.law.gmu.edu/admission/ltr_of_recommendation.pdf.
Recommendations must identify you as an LLM applicant. Recommendations submitted directly to George Mason Law must be in a sealed envelope and bear the author’s signature across the sealed envelope flap.
7. Application for In-State Tuition Rates (if eligible)
Applicants who believe they qualify for in-state rates must complete and include the Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Rates with the application. See Section 23-7.4, Code of Virginia, and registrar.gmu.edu/domicile regarding eligibility.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATES OF U.S. LAW SCHOOLS:
1. LSAT
For graduates of U.S. law schools, documentation of LSAT scores or a photocopy of the LSDAS report, which can be obtained from the registrar of the degree-granting institution, is required.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS WITH INTERNATIONAL CREDENTIALS:
In addition to the requirements for all applicants (items 1–7 above), George Mason Law requires the following additional items from applicants who have graduated with international credentials:
1. Register with LLM Credential Assembly Service
Applicants who graduated from non-U.S. schools are required to register with LSAC’s LLM Credential Assembly Service (www.LLM.LSAC.org). If you matriculate, you will be required to provide an original transcript.
2. GMAT or GRE
Foreign applicants who have not taken the LSAT may substitute other graduate admissions tests, such as the GMAT or the GRE. In exceptional cases, applicants who have not taken any equivalent standardized test may present substitute evidence of high intellectual promise, such as a record of academic success, publications in the field, or recommendations from persons highly regarded in the field.
3. English Proficiency
For applicants whose first language is not English, current TOEFL scores showing sufficient proficiency in the English language are required. TOEFL information is available at www.toefl.org. The George Mason Law institution code is 5827. Please arrange to have an official TOEFL score report sent to LSAC no later than October 1, 2007, for spring 2008 admission, or no later than March 1, 2008, for fall 2008 admission. Applicants must have taken the TOEFL within the two years prior to submitting the application.
4. Graduate International Student Information Form
If seeking F-1 or J-1 immigration status, the foreign applicant must submit a Graduate International Student Information Form (www.law.gmu.edu/admission/2007ForeignApp.pdf). Immigration documents I-20 or DS-2019 required for international students studying full time in the United States will not be issued until the student has completed the form and returned it along with the identification page of the passport and supporting documents to:
George Mason University School of Law
Admissions Office
3301 Fairfax Drive, MS 1G3
Arlington, VA 22201
Note: It is strongly suggested that foreign applicants submit a completed application as early as possible in order to ensure the timely processing of immigration documents.
George Mason Law Grads - Contact Katheryn Zupan at (703) 993-8004 or kzupan@gmu.edu for a streamlined application process.
Accepted Applicants:
Admissions decisions for most applicants will be made by:
November 1, 2007 for Spring 2008
May 15, 2008 for Fall 2008
Applicants who have been accepted into the School of Law will
receive a letter setting forth the conditions that must be met
in order to reserve a seat in the entering class. Such conditions
will include making nonrefundable seat deposits in the total
sum of $750 by established deadlines, providing an Intent Form
and Honor Code Certification, and ensuring that, prior to matriculation,
the School of Law receives official transcripts from each institution
at which any coursework was taken.
Tuition and Fees
The following table shows the estimated costs for part-time
evening LLM students at George Mason for the 2007-2008
academic year. These estimates are used in determining
financial aid packages for students.
Tuition rates are subject to change at any time.
| Category |
Estimated
Costs |
| In-State |
Out-of-State |
| Tuition, part-time* (Based on 16 credit
hours first year) |
$ 9,552 |
$16,304 |
| Estimated additional costs (room and
board, transportation, personal expenses and books) |
$21,134 |
$21,134 |
| Total Estimated Cost |
$30,686 |
$37,438 |
*In-state residents pay $597 per credit hour and out-of-state
residents pay $1,019 per credit hour. Tuition rates are subject
to change at any time.
Related Information
For more information about George Mason's intellectual property
programs and activities, go to IP Program.
Contact Us
Prospective applicants who have questions concerning admissions
details or the admissions process should contact Katheryn Zupan at (703) 993-8004 or kzupan@gmu.edu.
