Inaugural LLM Class Embarks on Intensive Program

Colorado Law School has become a leading institution in the teaching and research of technology and entrepreneurial law and policy. In continuing to provide innovative legal programs, Colorado Law is proud to welcome its inaugural classes of the newly launched LLM in Entrepreneurial Law and LLM in Information Technology & Intellectual Property Law.

On Monday morning, following orientation and a reception and welcome dinner, the six students of the inaugural class began their one-year, 26-credit hours of intense study and research.

Colorado Law’s LLM in Entrepreneurial Law is one of the only LLM programs of its kind nationwide and provides the expertise needed to serve emerging companies as both outside and in-house counsel. It has already received national media attention (Want to Become an Entrepreneur? Get a Degree in it, at Law School! – January 22 | The Wall Street Journal Law Blog; LLMs in entrepreneurial law reflect shifting view of profession's role – January 21 | The National Law Journal).

“Graduates will have a competitive advantage in how they understand the needs of a growing business from both a legal and business perspective,” says Professor J. Brad Bernthal, director of the LLM in Entrepreneurial Law Program. “They will be able to move a client’s business forward in today’s complicated and fast-changing environment.”

The program focuses on critical aspects of transactional practice such as intellectual property, securities, deals and general corporate law. Rigorous academics are combined with experiential learning opportunities through the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic and substantial legal research and scholarship.

“I look forward to the diverse, challenging and practical components of this forward-thinking program, says Michelle Coen, who holds a JD and a Master of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. “I joined this LLM program to gain a greater understanding and broader perspective into Entrepreneurial Law.”

“The new LLM program in Entrepreneurial Law shows why the Colorado Law School remains on the leading edge of both public and private law schools in the country,” says James Martin, LLM student and Colorado Law JD Class of 1988. Martin served as CU Regent and a member of the CU Foundation Board, amongst many other boards.

Kent J. Lund says, “This LLM program has great faculty, strong academic components and real world, relevant opportunities that will fill substantive gaps in my formal education and give me the experience and skills to achieve my targeted professional goals." Kent, who was an Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for a regional securities broker dealer, holds an MBA from CU and a JD from Drake University Law School.

Colorado Law’s LLM in Information Technology & Intellectual Property Law provides graduates a competitive advantage as technology and intellectual property attorneys who both are legitimate scholars in their fields and have a superior understanding of their client’s needs.

"With the rapid advances in the fields of technology, science and health care, it is the perfect time to focus on technology and intellectual property law and policy,” says Professor Paul Ohm, director of the LLM in IT & IP Program. “Technology and intellectual property lawyers focus on cutting-edge issues, work with exciting and energetic clients, and rank among the most satisfied in the legal profession.”

The program provides the full range of transactional practice areas such as copyright, patent, trademark, telecommunications, information privacy and computer law. LLM students will produce a significant work of scholarship and connect with future clients through the Technology Law & Policy Clinic.

“As IT and IP law rapidly changes due to technological progress, these areas are highly relevant and constantly fascinating to study,” says Nicole Friess, a 2010 graduate of Colorado Law. “I discovered my passion for these areas relatively late in law school, so I am pursuing the LLM to gain the experience and knowledge needed to pursue a career in these areas.”

“I want to continue my studies in IT and IP law and Colorado Law’s combination of renowned faculty and unique interdisciplinary approach of legal study created the perfect environment for me to pursue an LLM," says Keith E. Clayton II, who is a 2010 graduate of Boston College Law School.

"The LLM program will equip me with advanced, specialized legal training in the field of intellectual property law,” says Katie Sullivan, a registered patent agent and 2010 graduate of the University of Montana School of Law.