Advising

You’ve got just two years and 24 credits for your degree, so making the right course choices is critical.

Connecting with your advisor is incredibly important.

Schedule an appointment with Professor Jennifer Carter-Johnson, Co-Associate Director of the Intellectual Property, Information & Communications Law Program, to discuss your course choices and plan your program.

Email Professor Carter-Johnson

Curriculum

Students are required to successfully complete a total of 24 credits for this program. Required courses include:

• Research, Writing & Advocacy: International LL.M. (3 cr.) – for international LL.M. and M.J. students, OR Research, Writing & Advocacy: Intellectual Property Focus – for domestic M.J. students (3 credits)
• A minimum of 14 credits from the list of Intellectual Property, Information & Communications Law (IPIC) program advanced courses including at least two of the following basic courses:
  • Communications Law and Policy (3 cr.)
  • Copyright Law (3 cr.)
  • Patent Law (3 cr.)
  • Trademark Law and Unfair Competition Law (3 cr.)

Students must complete their degree in no more than two years.

Course offerings may vary from year to year.

Faculty

Need to contact your professor? Review our faculty profiles »

You’ll need multiple forms for advising, course registration, and applying for graduation.

Careers

Our Alumni

IPIC grads are in demand. IPIC law offers intellectually stimulating work with an impressive return on investment. Our graduates find work at leading intellectual property law firms over the world, protecting the intellectual property rights of inventors and innovators. Spartan lawyers also work as in-house counsel for some of the world’s most iconic brands.

MSU Law students benefit from networking relationships with our alumni at top firms across the country. They maintain close ties to the IPIC program when they graduate, providing job leads to our students, speaking at events, and supporting our programming.

Professional Development

MSU College of Law students receive one-on-one career advising, mentoring and lessons in the practical, “real life” skills needed to succeed beyond the classroom. Professional development opportunities include the following:

• Weekly graduate student lunches
• Access to the CASE job postings database
• Social media training
• Resume-writing workshops
• Personal career advising with Career Services Office staff
• Mentoring from alumni and professors
• Networking opportunities
• Access to career fairs
• Annual etiquette dinner

Learn more about MSU Law Career Services »

Taking a Bar Examination

Foreign lawyers generally will not qualify to take a U.S. bar examination with an LL.M. in Intellectual Property, Information & Communications Law unless they are otherwise qualified. If you wish to pursue this degree AND take a U.S. bar examination, you need to speak to the Board of Law Examiners in the state in which you wish to practice to make sure that you will qualify without an LL.M., or with an LL.M. in this field. Plan to have this conversation before you begin classes, so that you can apply to our LL.M. in the American Legal System or Advanced Standing J.D. program if necessary.

Students obtaining their Masters of Jurisprudence in IPIC will not qualify to take a bar because they do not have a first degree in law.

Getting involved in campus groups, both at MSU Law and across campus, is the best way to fully experience law school outside the classroom, but also benefits you in your studies by linking you to others with similar interests. Those networking opportunities can have lasting career impact.

Intellectual Property, Information & Communications Law students can join the IPIC-focused student group, assist with IPIC seminars and other series, attend career events focused on this specific field of law, and attend other events on campus.

Our events are posted on the television monitors across from the elevators on every floor, and list daily and weekly events. You’ll also be notified in the College’s Daily Docket, an electronic events calendar sent to you several times a week.

Learn more about the Intellectual Property Student Association.

Review full list of MSU Law student organizations »

Learn more about MSU student groups and events.

Our SEVIS and Admissions Coordinator is here to guide you through all the necessary steps to staying in visa status. It’s critical to be in touch with the coordinator often so that you stay on track and don’t miss important SEVIS registration and other deadlines. Lisa can also help you with applications for Optional Practical Training (OPT), Curricular Practical Training (OPT), and other matters.

Learn more about getting your Visa »

Commencement is held each May for Fall, Spring and Summer graduates. Graduates who finish their program in Fall, for instance, may walk in Spring (May) Commencement. If you need a letter from the school confirming your graduation so that your relatives abroad can get visas to attend, please email grad.admissions@law.msu.edu.

International students may not enroll in courses after they have fulfilled their degree requirements. For example, an LL.M. students who has completed 24 credits as of May must graduate that semester, and may not re-enroll for Summer or Fall semester.

Learn more about ordering your graduation regalia and other details.