This information is intended to help you select courses based on your career goals. The High Tech Law Institute also provides individual counseling; reach out to us at htli@scu.edu to schedule an appointment.
Please note that this document does not modify the High Tech Law Certificate requirements and some courses listed below do not qualify for the High Tech Law Certificate. Also, not every course listed below is offered regularly. Visit our Course Frequency doc for more information.
Please note also that there is no “one size fits all” approach to course selection. Some students take as many courses in the high tech curriculum as possible, while others take some high tech courses and also explore other parts of the law school curriculum. Either approach can be the right one for you depending on your goals. When in doubt, seek advice from the Office of Career Management, High Tech faculty members, mentors, and/or lawyers practicing in relevant areas of specialization.
We encourage all students to complement their classroom learning with experiential learning via the Entrepreneurs’ Law Clinic, externships, and/or other part-time legal work. Also, employers frequently lament the writing abilities of new law graduates, so practice and improve your writing skills as much as you reasonably can.
This document is broken down by practice area. Note: some practice areas typically do not hire recent law graduates, so talk with the Office of Career Management to optimize your job search.
| Patent Prosecution | |
|---|---|
| Highly Recommended | Other Relevant Courses Include |
|
Intellectual Property Survey
|
Administrative Law |
| IP Litigation (including Patent Litigation) | |
|---|---|
| Highly Recommended | Other Relevant Courses Include |
|
Intellectual Property Survey
|
Antitrust Good experiential learning opportunities include a High Tech Moot Court program and a judicial externship. Highly motivated students who are interested in computer-related litigation or e-discovery, but lack significant experience with software, might consider the JD/MSIS joint degree. |
| Trademark Prosecution/Counseling | |
|---|---|
| Highly Recommended | Other Relevant Courses Include |
|
Intellectual Property Survey International IP
|
Administrative Law |
| Technology Licensing | |
|---|---|
| Highly Recommended | Other Relevant Courses Include |
|
Intellectual Property Survey |
Advertising & Marketing Law |
| Privacy/Compliance | |
|---|---|
| Highly Recommended | Other Relevant Courses Include |
|
Privacy Law |
Advertising & Marketing Law Highly motivated students should consider earning the Privacy Law Certificate. Those who lack significant experience with software might also consider the JD/MSIS joint degree. |
| Corporate Transactions | |
|---|---|
| Highly Recommended | Other Relevant Courses Include |
|
Intellectual Property Survey |
Capital Markets and Financial Highly motivated students might consider the JD/MBA joint degree. |
| Life Sciences/Biotech | |
|---|---|
|
Note: many “Life Sciences” or “Biotech” jobs involve patent prosecution, technology licensing, or corporate transactions, so cross-reference those sections above as applicable. |
|
| Highly Recommended | Other Relevant Courses Include |
|
Intellectual Property Survey |
Assisted Reproduction, Cloning, & |
| Entertainment/Sports Law | |
|---|---|
| Highly Recommended | Other Relevant Courses Include |
|
Intellectual Property Survey |
Advertising & Marketing Law Highly motivated students should consider earning the Sports Law Certificate. |