Future LLM StudentsLLM
The Thomas M. Cooley Law School
300 S. Capitol Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933, USA
Phone: 517.371.5140 | Website: cooley.edu
Introduction
The Thomas M. Cooley Law School was founded in 1972 and is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The school's mission is to educate law students and lawyers in the knowledge, skills, and ethics needed for successful practice. The school carries out this mission by offering a rigorous and practical education.
Law School Enrollment
- Total JD enrollment: 3,627
- Total LLM enrollment: 117
Physical Facilities
Cooley Law School has four campuses in Michigan: Lansing, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Auburn Hills. A campus in Tampa Bay, Florida, opened in May 2012 offering JD classes. Cooley's distinct campuses are unmatched in size and functionality. Each campus has a full complement of faculty, staff, libraries, and services. Our buildings and technology were designed to meet the academic and research needs of today's legal community. High-tech courtrooms and classrooms are equipped with the latest technology to enhance the educational experience. Cooley's library facilities are among the nation's largest and finest. The 600,000+ volume collection includes research materials from all 50 states as well as federal and international materials.
Housing
Information on housing can be found on the Housing Services website.
LLM Programs/Areas of Specialization
Cooley offers Graduate Programs in Tax, Intellectual Property, Corporate Law and Finance, Insurance Law, US Legal Studies for Foreign Attorneys, and Self-Directed Legal Studies. These programs are designed for busy professionals and may be completed in a manner, pace, and location conducive to balancing family and work schedules. The Graduate Programs are designed for both part-time and full-time study with classes primarily offered on nights and weekends. Students can complete the 24-credit-hour program requirements in one to five years of study. The US Legal Studies LLM program is designed for full-time study for one calendar year.
Tax
The Graduate Tax Program provides a practice-oriented curriculum, designed to help lawyers expand their opportunities by obtaining both a better understanding of tax law and a respected credential in the tax field. Our focus is to give lawyers the knowledge and skills to accelerate their careers. To this end, all our full-time and adjunct faculty have significant experience in a variety of tax practice settings and specialties. Our curriculum is designed to produce results for practitioners, as we use problem-oriented teaching. We permit specialization within tax law through special mixes of electives and independent study for those who wish to specialize in estate planning, state and local tax, or corporate tax.
Intellectual Property
Cooley's Graduate Program in Intellectual Property Law prepares students to launch a career as an intellectual property attorney, or to focus an existing practice on IP Law. The program is designed both for attorneys with scientific or engineering backgrounds seeking to gain the skills necessary to succeed on the US Patent and Trademark Office Registration Examination, and for attorneys with nontechnical backgrounds seeking to become proficient in copyright, trademark, licensing, and e-commerce issues. Through an experienced faculty and innovative, practical instruction, the program provides a sound foundation in intellectual property law while exploring the latest emerging developments in this rapidly changing field. Courses are designed to address the legal issues that arise when advising corporations and individuals in the fields of patents, copyright, trademarks, and trade secrets. Students learn the fundamental principles of intellectual property law, including the requirements for establishing IP rights. The curriculum also emphasizes legal issues relating to the commercial exploitation of IP rights, including licensing of IP, e-commerce, and IP management. Students may earn credit for developing skills in a practice setting through externship placements.
Corporate Law and Finance
The Corporate Law and Finance LLM is designed and taught by experienced and diverse corporate practitioners and law professors. Professional responsibility and global principles are incorporated throughout our practice-oriented curriculum, which is designed for the student or practitioner who desires to specialize in corporate law. We are also committed to incorporating recent developments occurring in the corporate law area through our interaction with an Advisory Board of accomplished professionals.
Insurance Law
The Insurance Law LLM provides student access to industry experts and legal specialists who practice in a wide variety of insurance-related settings. Through a combination of classroom and online work, as well as externship experience in regulatory, corporate, and private law practice settings, graduates will be prepared for placement in insurance-related jobs. Cooley LLM graduates will be able to form and structure insurance entities and guide their regulatory and legal compliance. Students will understand the complexities of risk transfer and the principles of contract formation, claims defense, and the markets in which insurance products and reinsurance arrangements are traded.
US Legal Studies
The US Legal Studies for Foreign Attorneys LLM Program is intended for well-qualified lawyers and law graduates from countries outside the United States who desire to immerse themselves in the study of the common law and then plan to return to their country to practice law. The 24-credit degree blends common law subjects with elective courses chosen by the student. LLM students choose 12 credits from common law courses typically studied during the first year of law school—contracts, property, and torts. In addition, they study US constitutional law and legal research, analysis, and writing in classes specifically designed for foreign attorneys. The final required course is international law. The remaining six credits consist of elective courses from Cooley's curriculum chosen by the student and approved by the director.
Self-Directed Legal Studies
Individuals with a specialized legal passion may customize an LLM degree through the Self-Directed LLM Program. Working with a faculty advisor, the student completes a combination of electives and supplements classroom work with self-directed learning, teaching, and real-world experience. Past students have chosen to focus their studies in areas such as Criminal Trial Advocacy, Environmental Law, Gay Rights Law, Immigration Law, and Family Law.
Student Services and Organizations
The Thomas M. Cooley Law School is home to nearly 50 student organizations, including the Tax Law Society, Student Intellectual Property Law Association, Black Law Students Association, Entrepreneurial Law Society, and International Law Society.
Career Services
The Thomas M. Cooley Law School Career and Professional Development Office is committed to the success of Cooley graduates and alumni, and is available to counsel and coach students regarding their legal careers.