OCU LAW - Certificate Programs

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

OCU offers four certificate programs. Two of the certificate programs are in Business Law: one with an Electronic Commerce Concentration and one with a Financial Services and Commercial Law Concentration. The third is a certificate in Public Law. The fourth is a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Upon satisfying the requirements of any of these programs, students will receive a certificate recognizing their special training in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.

If you would like to pursue one of these certificate programs, please complete and file a Declaration of Intent to Pursue a Certificate Program with the Student Services Office. The form is available from that office.

I. CERTIFICATES IN BUSINESS LAW (2)

Much of the work of lawyers involves counseling business entities and representing businesses in complex commercial litigation. With the globalization of the economy and increasing advances in information technology, the legal framework for business transactions is constantly changing. Law students who are well-grounded in these emerging legal issues will be better equipped to represent clients in transactions and dispute resolution.

A. ELECTRONIC COMMERCE CONCENTRATION

A student shall receive a Certificate in Business Law with an Electronic Commerce Concentration upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and completion of the following requirements:

(1) Completion, with a B- average, of six of the following courses, comprised of

(a) all three core courses:

i. Computer Law

ii. Electronic Commerce, and

iii. Intellectual Property;

(b) at least one Uniform Commercial Code-related course:

i. Commercial Paper

ii. Sales

iii. Secured Transactions

iv. Consumer Bankruptcy; and

i.	Agency and Partnership
ii.	Bankruptcy Reorganization
iii.	Consumer Law
iv.	Copyright Law
v	Corporations
vi.	Debtor-Creditor Law
vii.	Patent Law
viii.	The Law of Alternative Dispute Resolution
ix.	Trademark Law
x.	UCC courses listed in Section (1)(b)
xi.	Any other elective course with significant business law content approved by the program director;

(2) Completion, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor, a publishable paper (seminar, directed research, or law review note, but not a supervised paper), on an electronic commerce topic approved by the program director;*

(3) Editing of a major article with significant electronic commerce content (law review or equivalent format) to the satisfaction of the program director;* and

(4) Attending at least a one-day Continuing Legal Education program with significant electronic commerce content, to the satisfaction of the program director.*

* A paper, article edit, or CLE program attendance used for the Electronic Commerce Concentration may not also be used for the Financial Services and Commercial Law Concentration.

B. FINANCIAL SERVICES AND COMMERCIAL LAW CONCENTRATION

A student shall receive a Certificate in Business Law with a Financial Services and Commercial Law Concentration upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and completion of the following requirements:

(1) Completion, with a B- average, of six of the following courses:

a. Agency and Partnership

b. Banking Law

c. Bankruptcy Reorganization

d. Commercial Paper

e. Consumer Bankruptcy

f. Consumer Law

g. Corporations

h. Debtor-Creditor Law

i. Electronic Commerce

j. International Business Transactions

k. Products Liability

l. Sales and Leases

m. Secured Transactions

n. The Law of Alternative Dispute Resolution

o. Any other elective course with significant business law content approved by the program director;

2) Completion, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor, a publishable paper (seminar, directed research, or law review note, but not a supervised paper) on a commercial law topic approved by the program director;*

(3) Editing of a major commercial law article (law review or equivalent format) to the satisfaction of the program director;* and

(4) Attending at least a one-day commercial law Continuing Legal Education program, to the satisfaction of the program director.*

* A paper, article edit, or CLE program used for the Financial Services and Commercial Law Concentration may not also be used for the Electronic Commerce Concentration.

II. CERTIFICATE IN CLIENT REPRESENTATION IN ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

A student shall receive a Certification in Client Representation in Alternative Dispute Resolution upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and successful completion of the following courses:

(1) The Law of Alternative Dispute Resolution;

(2) Client Representation in Arbitration;

(3) Client Representation in Mediation; and

(4) Client Representation in Negotiation.

III. CERTIFICATE IN PUBLIC LAW

As the relationship between law and public policy becomes more complex and the role of attorneys in government agencies increases, there is a great need for attorneys with both an excellent grounding in the theory of law and political science and a well-rounded exposure to the doctrines of public law in diverse areas such as Environmental Law, Securities Regulation, and Federal Criminal Law. The Certificate in Public Law enables students, through a well-planned series of courses, extensive writing, and opportunities to do an externship in the field, to acquire excellent training in public law that will make them attractive not only to government employers, but to any employer who deals with public law issues.

A student shall receive a Certificate in Public Law upon completion of all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree and completion of the following requirements:

(1) Completion, with a B- average, of six of the following courses, comprised of

(a) Administrative Law;*

(b) at least one of the following courses:

i. Legislation,

ii. State Constitutional Law, or

iii. State and Local Government; and

i.	American Criminal Law and Restorative Justice
ii.	American Indian Law
iii.	Antitrust I
iv.	Antitrust II
v.	Applied Criminal Procedure
vi.	Capital Punishment
vii.	Constitutional Civil Rights
viii.	Environmental Law
ix.	Estate and Gift Taxation
x.	Federal Criminal Law
xi.	Federal Jurisdiction
xii.	First Amendment
xiii.	Immigration Law
xiv.	Income Taxation
xv.	Labor Law
xvi.	Religion and the Constitution
xvii.	Securities Regulation
xviii.	State Administrative Law
xix.	Any other elective course with significant public law content approved by the program director.

(2) Completion, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor, a publishable paper (seminar, directed research, or law review note, but not a supervised paper) on a public law topic approved by the program director; and

(3) Completion of one of the following:

(a) a Government Practice Externship or a Judicial Externship, to the satisfaction of the Director of Externship Programs; or

(b) a second paper (seminar, directed research, law review note, or a supervised paper) on a public law topic approved by the program director, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor; or

(c) a brief (for a moot court team approved for academic credit) on a public law topic approved by the program director, to the satisfaction of a full-time law faculty sponsor.

* For those seeking a certificate who first matriculated prior to Fall 2002, Constitutional Law II is also required for the successful completion of the program.