This Business Law Certificate Program is designed to enable students to practice law in matters involving companies and trade associations. Understanding the fundamental language of business is emphasized, as students explore aspects of:
- International business
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Business start-ups
- Bankruptcy
- Taxation
- Accounting
Students who complete the Business Law emphasis requirements will receive a certificate and transcript notation.
Business Law Certificate in Detail
The Business Law program at Chapman was designed and is directed by Dr. Tom Campbell, a former dean of UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Fowler School of Law is the only law school in the nation with a former Top-10 business school dean on its faculty.
Professor Campbell leads a highly-experienced faculty of attorneys and legal scholars who have worked extensively in the business world and actively contribute to national economic dialogue.
Certificate Requirements
Successful completion of the Business Law Certificate Program requires the law student to
- Earn a minimum 2.6 overall cumulative GPA
- Earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in the certificate courses
- Complete the core courses
- Complete at least nine (9) credit hours of approved electives distributed across all four of the categories listed
Core Courses
Business Associations* (4 credits) - California Bar Tested
This course offers coverage of both fundamental agency law principles and an in-depth
study of the law governing various business forms/entities, including sole proprietorships,
general partnerships, corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies,
and limited liability partnerships.
In addition to addressing basic questions of formation, students will acquire an understanding
of the law governing various aspects of business operations and growth, the means
by which investors and other stakeholders may legitimately obtain a return on their
investment, the extent of personal stakeholder liability with respect to business
obligations, and other topics of relevance.
Coverage of various business entities in the context of a single course offers students
the opportunity, via comparison and contrast, to appreciate the unique legal character
of specific business forms. This knowledge will enhance their ability to advise clients
with respect to which business entity best achieves their clients’ overall business
objectives. The course also serves to prepare students for advanced study in arenas
in which prior knowledge of various business entity fundamentals is assumed.
Corporations* (3 credits)
This course provides a basic understanding of both closely held and publicly held
for-profit corporations. Particular attention is given to the way in which corporations
organize and operate. The course also examines the respective roles, relationships,
responsibilities, and liability exposure of shareholders, directors and officers.
The study of corporate litigation and regulation under key portions of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations of the S.E.C. is included.
Federal Income Tax (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the system of federal income taxation of individuals.
The tax system is studied with emphasis on basic concepts rather than detailed computations.
Significant attention is given to the public policy served by various provisions of
the Internal Revenue Code. Primary consideration is given to principles and policies
relating to the taxation of individuals including procedure, income, deductions, gains
and losses, and transactional aspects of income taxation. The Internal Revenue Code
and Regulations are emphasized. (This course is a J.D. graduation requirement for students who matriculated at the
Law School prior to Fall 2021.)
Financial Accounting** (3)
This course represents an introduction to accounting for students with little background
in the field. Initial emphasis is on established accounting principles and the analysis
of financial statements. The course’s perspective is that of a business attorney who
might use financial statements to advise clients in various legal settings (e.g.,
the drafting of financial contracts and the valuation of businesses). Applications
to securities law are also considered.
*Students must take either Business Associations or Corporations as one of the core courses in this program. Students may not take both courses. These courses are already required for the JD degree.
**This course may be waived upon verification that the student previously completed a comparable course in their undergraduate/graduate studies. The course previously taken will not be accepted in transfer, but it is only to waive out of this requirement for the emphasis. Students must contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to request a waiver based on an accounting course previously taken.
Approved Electives
Electives Category - for electives, students must take at least 2 hours in each of
the following clusters:
1. Issues in Corporate, Partnership and Agency Law
- Agency & Partnership (3 credits)
- Client Development and Marketing (3 credits)
- Entertainment Industry Contracts (3 credits)
- Entertainment Business & Legal Affairs (3 credits)
- Mergers & Acquisitions (3 credits)
- Securities Regulation (3 credits)
- Fundamentals of In-House Corporate Practice (2 credits)
2. Issues in Intellectual Property, Transactions and Competition Law
- Antitrust (3 credits)
- Information Privacy Law (3 credits)
- Intellectual Property (3 credits)
- Mediation (3 credits)
- Negotiations (3 credits)
- Patent Law and Practice (3 credits)
3. Issues in Taxation
- Business Planning (2 credits)
- Estate and Gift Taxation (3 credits)
- Real Estate Tax Planning (2 credits)
- Tax Law Clinic (2-3 credits)
- Taxation of Business Organizations (3 credits)
4. Issues in Commercial Law
- Bankruptcy Procedure & Practice (3 credits)
- Commercial Leasing (2 credits)
- International Business Transactions (3 credits)
- International Business Litigation (2 credits)
- Real Estate Transactions (3 credits)
- Secured Transactions (3 credits)
Specific offerings will vary from year to year, depending on periodic rotation of
electives, instructor availability, student interest, and scheduling dynamics. Additional
courses may be added in the future.
See the course descriptions for more information about specific courses.
Learning Outcomes
The law school faculty have identified the following learning outcomes as critical to a law degree and to developing the skills needed to become a proficient attorney.
- Students will know the basics of the laws most frequently encountered in business.
They will be able to distinguish between matters under federal, state, and local jurisdictions.
- Students will learn to distinguish between the different kinds of laws and regulations
that govern business. This will enable graduates to direct their further research
on behalf of clients into the most likely fruitful directions.
- Students will learn to distinguish business decisions from legal decisions, and to find ways to contribute to business outcomes through innovative legal strategies. This is an important aspect of successful practice of business law.
Program Faculty
Chapman has a highly-experienced faculty of attorneys and legal scholars who have worked extensively in the business world and actively contribute to national economic dialogue.