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Master of Laws in Law and Entrepreneurship

Program Code: LAW-LLM-LE
Degree Designation: Master of Laws
Department: School of Law
Website: law.duke.edu/study/jdllmlerequirements

Program Summary

LLM in Law and Entrepreneurship

The Law and Entrepreneurship LLM Program is a one-year advanced legal studies program designed for students who have already earned their JD degree and want to be entrepreneurial lawyers. This program is currently on hiatus and is not accepting applications.

JD/LLM in Law and Entrepreneurship

The JD/LLM in law and entrepreneurship allows students to earn both the JD and LLM degrees in three years, with a summer of additional coursework. More information is available on the Juris Doctor program page.

Academic Requirements

The Law and Entrepreneurship LLM Program is a two-semester, 24-credit program that builds on Duke Law's existing strengths in the fields of business law, intellectual property law, and innovation policy. The program includes five required courses for a total of 16 credits; eight remaining credits must be taken as electives, and other electives may be taken if core course requirements have been met during the JD program.

  • Required Courses (6 courses)

    • LAW 203 Business Strategy for Lawyers

    • LAW 210 Business Associations

    • LAW 319 Analytical Methods

    • LAW 384 Securities Regulation

    • LAW 409 Entrepreneurship Immersion

    • LAW 534 Advising the Entrepreneurial Client

  • Finance and Private Equity (2 courses)

    • A comprehensive list of courses is available to students in the degree audit system.

  • Intellectual Property (4 credits)

    • A comprehensive list of courses is available to students in the degree audit system.

  • Winter Session (1.5 credits)

    • Any LAW courses between 800 and 900

  • Skills, Practicum, Clinic and Experiential Courses (6 credits)

    • At least 1 Skills-based course

    • At least 1 Practicum and Clinic course

    • A comprehensive list of courses is available to students in the degree audit system.

  • Electives (13 credits)

    • A comprehensive list of elective courses is available to students in the degree audit system.

First Semester

During the first semester, all students will be required to complete a rigorous three-course core curriculum. This core includes the following: Law and Entrepreneurship (2 credits); Advising the Entrepreneurial Client (3 credits); and Business Strategy for Lawyers (3 credits). Students must also take at least one elective from a menu of courses available through the program (see below). If students have already taken Business Strategy for Lawyers, or if they have an MBA, they can select additional electives from the courses available through the program.

Second Semester

During the second semester, all students will be required to take the following: Venture Capital Financing (3 credits) and the Entrepreneurship and the Law Practicum (5 credits). Students may then fulfill their remaining credit requirements via electives.

Detailed requirements are available at law.duke.edu/study/jdllmlerequirements.

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