Top LL.M. Programs for Intellectual Property (IP) Law 2023

What do you study in an Intellectual Law LL.M.? Intellectual property law—often just called “IP” law—serves to protect the rights of the people who have created artwork, or who own patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property. As you might imagine, the legal issues involved in this area can be thorny—especially in the age of the Internet, when artistic works are shared every day, sometimes legally, and sometimes not—and experienced IP lawyers are often needed to do everything from filing patent applications to drafting licensing agreements, and even defending trademark owners from infringement in court. IP lawyers are increasingly in demand for cases involving technology; see the Top 10 LL.M. Programs in Technology Law here.

An LL.M. program in Intellectual Property Law can help legal professionals get caught-up with current laws around patents, copyrights, and antitrust issues; some LL.M.s might even delve into specific fields where IP law applies, such as entertainment law. Fortunately, there are many career opportunities for a legal professional who has an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law. Indeed, there are entire law firms dedicated to IP law; jobs can also be found in the legal departments of non-legal firms that own or manage artistic works, technology, or other intellectual property.

Below are the best LL.M.s in IP Law.

Turin, Italy 140 Followers 40 Discussions

Founded in 1967, the World Intellectual Property Organization is an agency of the United Nations that serves as a policy forum for IP issues. The organization has also funneled its vast knowledge of IP issues into an LL.M. in Intellectual Property, which it jointly runs with the International Training Centre of the International Labor Organization. For students who want to work in IP rights practice, or teach, the LL.M. covers a range of significant topics, from copyright to unfair competition and patents.

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Washington, District of Columbia 389 Followers 339 Discussions
George Washington

GW Law has been teaching IP law for a very long time: the school established a Master of Patent Law program in 1895, back around the time when Nikola Tesla filed a patent for the remote control, and the smoke detector was patented. Today, the school’s LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law helps students skill-up in many contemporary issues in the field: electives cover everything from law in cyberspace to chemical and biotech patent law. In terms of research capacity, the school hosts the Dean Dinwoodey Center for Intellectual Property Studies, which focuses on IP law both domestically and internationally.

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Berkeley, California 1390 Followers 617 Discussions
Berkeley Law

Near the tech hubs of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Berkeley has established itself as a leader in the IP law space. Indeed, the school is currently ranked at the very top of US News’ best law schools for intellectual property law ranking. Since 1995, the school has hosted the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology; IP-minded LL.M. students can choose to pursue Berkeley’s Law & Technology Certificate.

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Stanford, California 882 Followers 418 Discussions
Stanford

Stanford students can study the school’s LL.M. in Law, Science & Technology, right in the heart of Silicon Valley, where technology issues run up against IP laws in startups and more established tech firms on a daily basis. And the school addresses various aspects of this dynamic intersection with several centers, including the Center for E-Commerce and the Center for Law and the Biosciences.

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Houston, Texas 76 Followers 64 Discussions
Houston Law Center (UHLC)

Founded in 1984, UHLC’s Institute for Intellectual Property & Information Law serves as a hub for scholarship in IP law. The school offers an LL.M. in Intellectual Property & Information Law, which traditional areas of IP law as well as emerging topics, such as electronic commerce and databases. According to US News, UHLC is a top-10 school for IP Law.

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Concord, New Hampshire 46 Followers 59 Discussions
UNH

After merging with the Franklin Pierce Law Center, The University of New Hampshire opened the Franklin Pierce Center for IP Law, which puts on conferences and symposia around IP law themes. Students can pursue an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law, or explore IP topics as they relate to technology in an LL.M. in Commerce and Technology. The school is currently ranked in the top ten of US News and World Report’s best law schools for IP law ranking.

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Edinburgh, United Kingdom 489 Followers 510 Discussions
Edinburgh

One of the leading law schools in Scotland, Edinburgh Law School hosts the Scottish Research Centre for IP and Technology Law—known as SCRIPT—which looks at the interplay between technology, law, and society. The school offers an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law, in both in-class and online formats.

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Toronto, Canada 197 Followers 94 Discussions
Osgoode Hall - York

“IP Osgoode,” a dedicated research center, explores legal issues at the intersection of IP and technology. Although the school does not offer an IP Law specialization as part of its full-time LL.M. program, it does offer a part-time Professional LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law.

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Santa Clara, California 28 Followers 28 Discussions

Students in Santa Clara’s LL.M. in Intellectual Property have the opportunity to get practical IP experience in Silicon Valley and beyond by participating in externships in law firms and other organizations as well as clinics.

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Pretoria, South Africa 148 Followers 11 Discussions
UNISA

UniSA offers one of the few dedicated LL.M. programs in Intellectual Property Law in the region. And there’s more: Through a partnership with the WIPO Academy, the school also offers an online distance learning specialization in IP law.

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