»Entrepreneurship Certificate Program

Successful completion of the Entrepreneurship 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
• Select either Track 1 or Track 2, and complete the required courses in that track
• Complete at least 5 additional credit hours of approved electives in the selected track

This track is designed for the student who contemplates opening their own practice post-graduation or who seeks to add value to an existing small firm. Students will receive practice-oriented instruction in the legal issues that solo and small firm practitioners often encounter. Students will also learn “the business of law” and how to succeed as entrepreneurs. Upon completion of the emphasis requirements, students will receive an “Entrepreneurship: Solo and Small Firm Practice” notation on their transcript.

Required Courses

• Law Practice Management (3 credits)
• Financial Literacy for Lawyers (3 credits)
• Financial Accounting (3 credits)*
• Federal Income Tax (3 credits)

* This may be waived upon verification that the student previously completed a comparable course in their undergraduate/graduate studies. A previously taken course will not be accepted in transfer; it is only to waive this requirement.

Approved Electives

• Agency and Partnership (3 credits)
• Employment Law (3 credits)
• Information Privacy Law (3 credits)
• Client Interviewing and Counseling (3 credits)
• Taxation of Business Organizations (3 credits) (Prior completion of Federal Income Tax required)
• Client Development and Marketing (3 credits) (Formerly Entrepreneurship and the Law)

This track is designed for students interested in advising and representing start-ups and small business owners. Students will receive practice-oriented instruction in the legal issues commonly encountered by non-attorney entrepreneurs. Students will also learn the basic tenets of business and personal finance, which may help them better understand and advance their client’s interests. Upon completion of the emphasis requirements, students will receive an “Entrepreneurship: Advising and Representing Small Businesses” notation on their transcript.

Required Courses

• Legal Landscape of Small Business (3 credits)
• Financial Literacy for Lawyers (3 credits)
• Financial Accounting (3 credits)*
• Federal Income Tax (3 credits)

* This may be waived upon verification that the student previously completed a comparable course in their undergraduate/graduate studies. A previously taken course will not be accepted in transfer; it is only to waive this requirement.

Approved Electives

• Agency and Partnership (3 credits)
• Client Development and Marketing (3 credits) (Formerly Entrepreneurship and the Law)
• Employment Law (3 credits)
• Information Privacy Law (3 credits)
• Disability Law (3 credits)
• State and Local Government (3 credits)
• Intellectual Property OR Patent Law and Practice (3 credits)
• Taxation of Business Organizations (3 credits) (Prior completion of Federal Income Tax required)
• Federal Income Tax (3 credits) 
• Commercial Leasing (2 credits)
• Business Planning (2 credits)

Law Practice Management

No boss, no timecard to punch, and unlimited income potential. Sounds amazing, right? Starting your own law practice can be the ticket to these rewards and many more, but it also means hard work, calculated risks, and a steep learning curve. This course is designed to help flatten the learning curve by covering issues commonly encountered when starting and building a new firm. Students will embark on a practice-oriented survey of topics such as: selecting a practice area; choosing a business structure; setting fees; establishing credibility in the space; acquiring clients; hiring and managing employees; and charting a path from startup to success. Students will design a business plan for their own startup firm and have the opportunity to receive one-on-one feedback from the instructor. This course counts toward the experiential course requirement.

 

Financial Literacy for Lawyers

This course aims to help students maximize the financial return on their law degree and better understand their clients’ financial interests by examining the U.S. financial system from both a legal and a business perspective. Students will learn the fundamentals of the financial regulatory structure, applicable laws, and how wealth is built and protected. Topics covered include: the regulatory framework of the U.S. financial system; depository products; equity and debt investments; digital currencies and NFT’s; common vehicles for investment (retirement plans, brokerage accounts, 529 plans, etc.); lending; venture capitalism and debt; and asset protection strategies. The instructor’s goal is for students to leave law school not only “practice ready,” but life-ready.

 

Legal Landscape of Small Business

Entrepreneurs encounter a wide variety of legal issues while starting and growing a small business. This course is designed to survey the most common of these issues and evaluate them from two, sometimes vastly different, perspectives: The Attorney, and The Business Owner. Students will learn to spot and assess potential liabilities in small business operations, including those that may arise in the context of contracts, disability law, employment law, leasing, intellectual property, and taxation. Upon the conclusion of the course, students will be prepared for a more in-depth analysis of select topics of their choice as electives.

 

Client Development and Marketing (Formerly Entrepreneurship and the Law)

Today’s law firms demand more than legal proficiency; they are all looking for rainmakers who can generate a significant amount of business for the firm. Rainmakers aren’t made by accident, but rather through effective client development and marketing. This class will cover the critical intangibles like client trust, perceived expertise, and business acumen–all learnable qualities that make lawyers more marketable and less expendable. Students will review real case studies of how lawyers built their practices from nothing into seven or even eight-figure books of business. Students will also embark on an advanced analysis of pertinent ethics rules in areas like attorney marketing and interactions with clients.

Disability Law

This course will examine state and federal laws governing access, employment, education, and transportation for people with disabilities. Students will review litigation that has and may come from the disability rights movement, with an eye toward effective representation of disabled individuals and businesses alike.