Study in Silicon Valley. Gain a Competitive Edge. Begin Your Tech Law Career.
About Tech Edge J.D.
You have choices for your legal education.
Why choose Santa Clara University School of Law’s Tech Edge J.D.?
This is not an ordinary certificate 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. This program reflects the reality of 21st century lawyering; that to be an effective counselor, a lawyer should understand the business and technology challenges of the client.
The Tech Edge J.D. focuses on providing students with an edge over other law school graduates – specifically, the critical skills desired by employers in technology industries. The first cohort of students in the Tech Edge program was admitted in the Fall semester of 2018.
Tech Edge J.D. Leadership Team
|
|
|
|
Marian WilliamsTech Edge JD Certificate Requirements
Effective starting with the 2024-25 Academic Year
A TEJD certificate candidate must satisfy the following requirements:
- Graduation Application
- Orientation
- Career Plan
- Mentor Meetings
- Law School Advisor Meetings
- Entrepreneurs’ Law Clinic
- Externships
- Milestone Experiences
- Further details about the Tech Edge J.D. Program
Faculty Advisors
Each student in the Tech Edge J.D. program will be assigned a faculty advisor.
Mentors
The Tech Edge JD mentor program is a cornerstone of the Tech Edge program.
Tech Edge mentors play an important role in helping Tech Edge cohort members discover which legal careers they want to pursue and help them achieve their goals, through one-on-one consultation, acquainting mentees with professional experiences, and introducing mentees to professional networks. The ideal mentor is someone who wants to help a motivated student position themself for success, and eventually, find meaningful employment in Silicon Valley.
Employers
Why would you want to hire Tech Edge J.D. graduates?
The Tech Edge J.D. is designed to produce graduates that are better prepared for a career working in or with technology companies. The Tech Edge J.D. graduates:
- Have a long-standing and demonstrated commitment to technology law.
- Are deeply invested in their own professional development.
- Are hard-working, as demonstrated by undertaking a program that required hundreds of extra hours of work.
- Are knowledgeable about the business context surrounding legal questions.
How can I get involved with Tech Edge J.D. students before they graduate?
There are many ways for potential employers, alumni, and friends to get involved with the Tech Edge J.D. program, and to get a sneak peek at these talented students! Ways to participate:
FAQs
How can I apply?
Applications for the Tech Edge J.D. program will be open to students applying for admission to Santa Clara Law. Please visit the admissions website for the online application. Applicants must submit additional essays to complete the Tech Edge application. If necessary, applicants will be asked to attend an interview via video conference call. Priority consideration will be given to applications received before December 31. Please note, LSAT test dates have changed. Visit LSAT, for updates on testing dates.
Can I transfer into the Tech Edge J.D. program after I have already started law school?
No. Transfer students will not be considered for this program. The Tech Edge JD is a 3 year program, with requirements that start prior to orientation. There are important opportunities and requirements within all three years of the program. Missing any portion of Tech Edge JD program would be a disadvantage for a transfer student.
What if I don’t have a technology-related undergraduate degree?
A technology-related undergraduate degree is not required for admission to the Tech Edge J.D. program.
Is this open to part-time students?
The Tech Edge J.D. has rigorous time commitments, which should be considered when applying to the program. Applicants participating in the FLEX J.D. may also apply to the Tech Edge J.D. program. We will assess each applicant’s ability to successfully complete the requirements of this program as part of the screening process.
Is the Tech Edge J.D. program just for patent or intellectual property lawyers?
No! This program will focus on preparing students for many different roles in the tech industry, such as mergers & acquisitions, venture capital, licensing, compliance, privacy, and litigation. The skills acquired in this program are applicable to many different jobs in the tech industry.
Does this certificate program cost any more to the student?
No. Students in this program should not have additional costs beyond those normally incurred in law school at Santa Clara.
Who can I contact for more information?For questions regarding Tech Edge, contact Program Manager Marian Williams – techedge@scu.edu