Announced Thursday, Duke University School of Law will begin a new degree program aimed at synthesizing legal theory and principles of business innovation.
Beginning in the fall, the Law and Entrepreneurship LL.M. Program will include courses on innovation, intellectual property, finance and business law. In total, the program is two semesters and 23 credits. There is also a practicum, which places students with an emerging company or a law firm, and a capstone research project.
In advocating for the program, Dean David Levi stressed the importance of legal counsel in a start-up environment.
“In America and, increasingly, on a global basis, we look to the entrepreneurial sector for creativity and solutions,” said Levi in a school press release. “The ongoing economic shifts resulting from the crisis in the global capital markets are likely to accelerate this trend. As a result, we believe that this program, which focuses on how the law and lawyers can best support entrepreneurship, is extremely timely.”
Levi noted that such a program would prepare students for advising or leadership roles with a start-up. The law school also plans to “take advantage of strategic ties to entrepreneurial companies in the nearby Research Triangle Park.”
Admission to the LL.M. is limited to those who already hold a J.D. or LL.M. from an American Law School. The JD Journal also indicated that a similar degree will be offered on a smaller basis at the University of Colorado Law School.
