Western Michigan University, Cooley Law School

Corporate Law & Finance overview

The WMU-Cooley Law Graduate Program in Corporate Law and Finance provides students with an opportunity to solve challenging, real-world business problems with guidance from our faculty of actively practicing litigation and transactional business law professionals. We provide classroom access to legal experts who not only understand the challenges confronting their business clients in today’s economy but also offer constructive and practical advice regarding the efficient delivery of legal services to both in the house and private practice clients. Our curriculum emphasizes the financial aspects of corporate practice, filling a gap that is often identified by employers as missing in today’s pool of future leaders. This program prepares students and lawyers to become more accomplished practitioners in the dynamic corporate arena, by providing a basic foundation in corporate law as well as a competency in the broader legal issues that impact a business.... [-]

Program overview

The General Studies LL.M. Program provides lawyers and law graduates the flexibility to study a wide range of legal subjects or focus on specific legal areas. Degree candidates design their own course of study based on their needs and objectives.

Degree overview

The General Studies LL.M. degree is earned by successfully completing 24 credit hours with an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Scholarly Writing for LL.M. Students is a two-credit course required for General Studies LL.M. degree candidates. (This course is waived if Scholarly Writing was successfully completed as a J.D. student.)

Homeland & National Security Law

WMU-Cooley Law School is one of the first law schools in the country to offer an LL.M. degree in Homeland and National Security Law. This Master of Laws degree includes intensive study in air and transportation security, border security, military operations within the United States, intelligence, and privacy issues, and technology and cyber-security. Practical courses on federal contracting and administrative law are also included. The unique and compelling courses within this program were developed through Director Michael McDaniel’s diverse experience, both civilian and military, and federal and state senior positions. Students within this program have the opportunity to serve on the prestigious HNS Law Review, a student-edited legal periodical published twice yearly.... [-]

Insurance Law overview

The Insurance Law curriculum has been developed in consultation with industry experts and is intended to provide exposure to the many and varied aspects of insurance and risk management. Upon completion of their studies, students will be able to form companies and oversee the regulatory and governance aspects of insurance company operations. In addition to the practical aspects of insurance law practice, students will graduate with a deep background in the issues and challenges confronting clients in the property and casualty, life, health and disability, reinsurance and surplus line of insurance. Students have access to insurance experts who not only understand the industry and the challenges of the future but also offer constructive and practical advice regarding the efficient delivery of legal services to insurance clients both in-house and in the private practice of law.... [-]

Intellectual Property Overview

WMU-Cooley’s Graduate Program in Intellectual Property Law is designed both for attorneys with scientific or engineering backgrounds seeking to gain the skills necessary to succeed on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Registration Examination and for attorneys with nontechnical backgrounds seeking to become proficient in copyright, trademark, licensing, and e-commerce issues. 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 intellectual property, including IP licensing, e-commerce, and IP management. Students may earn credit for developing skills in a practice setting through externship placements.... [-]

Tax Law overview

The Graduate Tax Program’s focus is to provide courses that give lawyers the knowledge and skills they need to accelerate their careers. All of our faculty have significant experience in a variety of tax practice settings and specialties. The curriculum focuses on the practical aspects of tax practice through the use of problem-oriented teaching. A mix of required courses provides broad exposure to tax as a subject. Specialization is available through a combination of electives and independent study for those who wish to have an emphasis in estate planning, tax, or corporate counsel. The tax program includes the opportunity to obtain practical experience through externships with the Internal Revenue Service, state taxing entities or specialty tax practices. We enhance the quality of the educational offerings and the career paths of the program’s graduates by maintaining connections with top tax attorneys. ... [-]