American University Washington College of Law is perennially recognized as among the top places in the world to study intellectual property and technology law. The program builds on AUWCL's other major strengths, including international law, public interest law and clinical legal education.
Internationally Renowned Faculty
Washington College of Law has one of the largest intellectual property and technology faculties in the world. Over a dozen full time professors teach a comprehensive range of intellectual property, technology, and related courses.
Full time faculty teach each of the core subjects of Patent, Copyright, Trademark, National Security, Cybersecurity, and Cyberlaw. Students also learn from over a dozen senior practitioners from the World Intellectual Property Organization, World Trade Organization and leading global intellectual property law firms and visiting scholars.
Extensive Curriculum
AUWCL’s intellectual property and technology curriculum is one of the largest in the country – with over 40 intellectual property, technology, and related courses. Classes are offered day and night, all year long – giving students the flexibility to tailor their schedule to other commitments.
Dynamic Programs
AUWCL is home to the path-breaking Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property(PIJIP), an academic and research center promoting the public interest in intellectual property policy debates around the world. PIJIP hosts the U.S. affiliate of Creative Commons, engages in public impact research projects, brings together scholars and practitioners for public events and seminars, and publishes the infojustice.org news and analysis blog.
Supervised Externships
Among the many advantages of studying law in Washington, D.C. is the opportunity to integrate practical experience with academic study of the law. AUWCL’s acclaimed Supervised Externship Program provides students the opportunity to receive academic credit for substantive legal work combined with a specialized seminar. AUWCL students regularly work with over 100 government and non-profit IP Externship Employers.
Location, Location, Location
AUWCL's new Tenley Campus affords students the opportunity to study in a modern state-of-the-art 8 ½ acre campus, situated in a bustling, historic neighborhood with easy metro access to downtown Washington D.C. -- a global center of intellectual property policymaking and legal practice.
Global Alumni Network and Employment Opportunities
Students gain access to one of the largest IP alumni networks in the world. AUWCL alumni are partners in nearly all of the top 50 IP firms in the DC area, include dozens of IP specialist judges – including the Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals -- and serve in IP-focused careers in scores of Federal administrative agencies.
Active Student OrganIzations
AUWCL law students run myriad organizations focusing on intellectual property and related topics.
- The Intellectual Property Law Society keeps students informed and connected through a weekly digest of activities and employment announcements and organizes events and speakers series;
- The IP Brief gives students the opportunity to edit and publish both short and full length articles, including as a first year or LL.M. student;
- The Communications Law Society, Sports & Entertainment Law Society and Fashion Law Society provide opportunities for students to join specialized networks in those fields;
- The Moot Court Honor Society supports participation in the Giles Southerland Rich Memorial and Saul Lefkowitz moot court competitions;
- The American University Law Review publishes an annual volume reviewing the jurisprudence of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit;
- The International Law Review publishes an annual focus issue on international intellectual property law;
- The Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law is an annual co-sponsor of the IP-Gender Symposium.
Engaged Career and Academic Counseling
Over a dozen AUWCL faculty members participate in the Intellectual Property, Communications, Media and Sports Law Faculty Practice Group, which links students to faculty, alumni and upper level student career mentors. Practice Group faculty make themselves available to students for individual career and academic counseling and work with the Office of Professional and Career Development to sponsor workshops and events explaining career paths.