The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law is launching a new Master of Legal Studies degree, initially focused on intellectual property, that will start in the summer of 2014. The program is not intended to train students for careers as attorneys, but instead to expose professionals to the law and provide expertise for their profession in 15 months.
“As the legal profession evolves, the need for non-J.D. professionals with a working knowledge of the law is increasing,” said law school Dean Daniel F. Attridge. “Our M.L.S. degree will serve the educational needs of this expanding group of professionals, including legal support staff, scientists, and engineers, and others working in heavily regulated fields.”
The 26-credit program will offer students both a general understanding of the American legal system and a specific knowledge of their chosen field of interest.
The program aims to meet demand in the Washington, D.C., area by professionals who want to develop specialized knowledge and enhanced understanding of the critical role the law plays across various industries and disciplines.
The program is designed to accommodate part-time students who may work full-time. It will generally require two summers, one fall and one spring semester to complete. Some courses will be taken alongside J.D. students. Initially the degree program will offer an area of emphasis in Intellectual Property Law. The program is expected to expand into other areas in the future.
In addition to working professionals and graduates of American universities and colleges, the Master of Legal Studies degree program is also accepting applications from graduates of foreign universities.
