Legal Innovation & Technology Courses

Core Courses

Students must take each of the following three (3) required core courses in order to complete the Legal Innovation & Technology Concentration:

  1. Twenty-First Century Legal Profession (2 Credits)
  2. Process Improvement and Legal Project Management (2 Credits)
  3. One (1) course that is either:     
    1. Lawyering in an Age of Smart Machines (3 Credits)
    2. Legal Tech: Small Firm (3 Credits)

In the event a LIT Concentration student elects to take both Lawyering in an Age of Smart Machines and Legal Tech: Small Firm, one of the courses can count as an Elective Course under section "Elective Course Requirements."

Required Externship or Clinic

Externships are a vital component of the Concentration. They enable students to connect their classroom work with practical experience and training in legal technology and innovation. The experience also affords students the opportunity to reflect upon the career paths they may wish to pursue.

Concentrators must complete a minimum three (3) credit externship or clinical program requirement. The requirement may be satisfied by:

  • Completion of an appropriate externship in a placement related to Legal Innovation & Technology through the Externship Program that has been approved by the LIT Concentration Director
  • Completion of the Legal Innovation and Technology Clinic
  • Completion of a non-credit summer or semester externship in a placement related to Legal Innovation & Technology that has been approved by the Concentration Director
  • An approved Externship Waiver of the externship requirement for qualifying Evening Division students, as approved by the LIT Concentration Director, such as evening students with a full-time position already relating to Legal Innovation & Technology

Elective Course Requirements

In addition to completing the three (3) required courses and the externship requirement, students must take at least three (3) more courses, totaling at least seven (7) credits, that enhance their understanding of the changing nature of law practice.

Note that some elective courses may only be offered certain semesters or as Winter Intersession courses, and offerings may change from year-to-year.

Although the courses listed below are grouped into broad, topical categories for guidance, students may satisfy the three (3) course requirement by taking any three (3) of the courses in any category:

  1. Business of Practice & Start Ups Elective Courses
    1. Business of Practice: Hit the Ground Running (2 Credits)
    2. Business Planning: Formation and Financing of Start Up Businesses (2 Credits)
    3. Business Start Ups - Entrepreneurship Course - MGES-800 (3 Credits)
      This course is currently offered at the Sawyer Business School and Concentration students may register for Sawyer courses by using the JD Enrollment in SBS Graduate Courses form, which is found under the Academic Concentration/Specialization tab
    4. Decision Making and Choice Management (3 Credits)
    5. Design Thinking for Lawyers & Business Professionals (3 Credits)
    6. Law Practice Planning (3 Credits)
    7. Private Placement and Venture Capital Practicum (2 Credits)
    8. Writing the Business Plan - Entrepreneurship Course - MGES-826 (3 Credits)
      This course is currently offered at the Sawyer Business School and Concentration students may register for Sawyer courses by using the JD Enrollment in SBS Graduate Courses form, which is found under the Academic Concentration/Specialization tab
    9. Lawyers as Leaders (2 Credits)
  2. Law & Technology Elective Courses
    1. Coding the Law (2 Credits)
    2. E-Discovery Law (2 Credits)
    3. Emerging Issues in Law, Information Technology and Transnational Business (2 Credits)
    4. Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, and the Law (1 Credit - Intersession)
    5. Online Dispute Resolution (2 Credits)
    6. Privacy/Data Security Requirements (3 Credits)
    7. Digital Evidence (2 Credits)
    8. Shakespeare and Knowledge Technology (3 Credits)
    9. Race, Ethical AI, and Cyber Civil Rights (2 Credits)
  3. Innovation Elective Courses
    1. Global Innovation and New Product Development in Virtual Team - International Business Course - MGES 906 (3 Credits)
      This course is currently offered at the Sawyer Business School and Concentration students may register for Sawyer courses by using the JD Enrollment in SBS Graduate Courses form, which is found under the Academic Concentration/Specialization tab
    2. Problem Solving (2 Credits)
    3. Problem Solving: Legal Writing and Research for Practice (2 Credits - Intersession)
    4. Problem Solving for Small Businesses - Entrepreneurship Course - MGES-844 (3 Credits)
      This course is currently offered at the Sawyer Business School and Concentration students may register for Sawyer courses by using the JD Enrollment in SBS Graduate Courses form, which is found under the Academic Concentration/Specialization tab
    5. Biotechnology Business & the Law (JD/MSLL Course). 
  4. Intellectual Property Elective Courses
    1. Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Clinic (5 Credits)
    2. Intellectual Property Survey (3 Credits)
    3. Journal of High Technology (2 Credits)
    4. Advanced Legal Writing: Innovation & Tech (3 Credits)