Competition, Innovation, and Information Law

The Big Picture

One of law's greatest challenges is promoting and managing innovation. Inventions and new cultural products have long enriched our physical well-being, cultural life, and economy. Today, the generation of information is becoming one of the most important sources of wealth for nations around the world.

Combining state-of-the-art policy and technical expertise with sophisticated legal analysis, the LL.M. in Competition, Innovation and Information Law (CIIL) is unique in its approach to training students by developing an integrated understanding of the dynamic forces that shape contemporary economic activity and innovation. In the program, students develop in-depth knowledge in one of two areas of concentration—antitrust and competition policy or intellectual property—while studying at least one course in the other area. Students are also required to prepare a scholarly research paper, whether completed in conjunction with a seminar or other course, or through independent research. Typically in the fall semester, full-time students undertake basic courses in their chosen area of concentration that must be completed in order to access some of the advanced classes and seminars offered during the spring. Students who undertake the program on a part-time basis usually complete it in 2 to 3 years of study.

The rich curriculum provides ample options for varied interests. Courses are offered on topics such as U.S. antitrust law, comparative competition law, developing countries and markets, European Union law, and government regulation, as well as basic intellectual property courses on copyright, patents, and trademarks. The cutting-edge Colloquium on Innovation Policy explores the law’s role in promoting creativity and invention. Offered annually in the spring semester, students learn from top academics around the country who are invited to the Law School to speak about their recent research or publications. Last year’s colloquium explored the impact of international intellectual property obligations on development.

Antitrust and Competition Policy

The Law School offers many courses in competition law and policy annually, as well as a number of specialized seminars in related areas. Our professors approach their classes with a keen sense of balancing academic and theoretical discussions with practical, real-world examples of the evolving implementation of regulation and policy in the U.S. and abroad. Examples of some of the more advanced classes taught during the 2013-14 academic year are:

Intellectual Property and Information Law

Students who undertake this concentration not only will take the basic intellectual property law classes, but also may choose from a wide selection of advanced topical seminars. A sampling of these classes for the 2013-14 academic year follows:

Careers

The Office of Career Services assists students with their job search process, offering services and training to prepare them for entry into positions in the private law market. A key part of this process is the annual International Student Interview Program, designed to bring students together with employers from around the globe. The Office also sponsors an annual roundtable discussion with graduates of the Program to provide students with more specific information about careers in the field.

The Public Interest Law Center is the focal point for public service at the Law School. Those who have an interest in pursuing positions in government, NGOs, international organizations, or other public interest employment attend the Public Interest Legal Career Fair, the largest of its kind in the nation. They may also apply for the International Finance and Development Fellowship Program, which provides a select number of LL.M. graduates with funding from the Law School to pursue a short-term fellowship at an international organization, such as the World Intellectual Property Organization.

For those with an interest in law teaching, the Academic Careers Program provides a comprehensive curriculum that educates students and assists them with entry into academia.

Competition Law Workshop

The workshop provides an opportunity for young scholars to present papers to faculty and students interested in competition law.

During 2012-13 academic year the following papers were presented:

1) D. Daniel Sokol, visiting professor University of Minnesota Law School, “Mergers and Chinese Antimonopoly Law”

2) Ariel Ezrachi, Slaughter and May University Lecturer in Competition Law at the University of Oxford, "Upstream Horizontal Mergers and (the Absence of) Retail Price Effects."

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