Info for Students

High Tech Law Course Information

Certificate Programs

Students who want to pursue a concentrated course of study in technology law may receive a general certificate, or a specialization in intellectual property law, international law, or corporate law.

Students interested in becoming privacy professional can earn the Privacy Law Certificate by completing coursework, doing fieldwork in the privacy community, publishing a paper on privacy, and obtaining a certification from the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Tech Edge JD Program

The Tech Edge J.D. is a significant innovation in law school education. It combines legal, business, and technology education with hands-on skills development and individualized mentorship, while leveraging the school’s location in the Silicon Valley and renowned tech law and intellectual property curriculum. Read more.

Intellectual Property Moot Court Competitions

Santa Clara Law students participate in a variety of moot court competitions focused on intellectual property law, including the INTA Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition, the AIPLA Giles S. Rich Moot Court Competition, and others. Interested students are encouraged to contact Honors Moot Court External for more information on forming a team and competing.

JD/MSIS and JD/MBA Joint Degree Programs

Many in-house legal departments, law firms, and companies that provide services to the legal industry need attorneys who understand information systems and can apply that technical knowledge to legal issues and practice. The JD/MSIS joint degree with the Leavey School of Business allows students to develop a deep technological understanding of the legal issues in the information technology industry and to learn how to use technology effectively in a law practice. Read more.

Candidates for the combined program must make separate application to both the School of Law and the M.B.A. Program. It is unnecessary to apply to both programs simultaneously. Because the first year of the program is entirely in the law school, candidates typically apply to the M.B.A. Program after they have completed the first semester of law school. Read more.

LLM Candidates

Santa Clara Law offers two LLM programs in Intellectual Property. The LLM in Intellectual Property is a program for students who currently hold a JD degree from a US law school. The United States Law with a specialization in Intellectual Property Law program is for students who received their legal education outside of the United States.

Student Organizations

A number of student organizations focus on intellectual property and technology law. Students interested in activities related to these practice areas are encouraged to contact the organization representatives: Society for Artificial Intelligence and Law (SAIL), ChIPs, High Tech Law Journal, Internet Law Student Organization, Law & Business Society, Privacy Law Student Organization, Society for Interactive Entertainment and Gaming Law, Sports and Entertainment Law Society, Student Intellectual Property Law Association (SIPLA) and Blockchain & Compliance Legal Society.

High Tech Tuesdays

High Tech Tuesdays are periodic, student-facing, one-hour lunchtime events featuring lawyers, judges, policymakers, and business leaders in the tech community. Check out our Events page for upcoming High Tech Tuesday events.