Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on the Campbell University website and is reprinted in full, with permission.

RALEIGH – Campbell Law School will begin offering a Certificate of Patent Law wholly online beginning in Fall 2021.

“We are excited to offer the first online program of its kind in North Carolina, and possibly the nation,” Dean J. Rich Leonard said. “Intellectual property is an expanding field, particularly in this region. Not every professional working in intellectual property needs a law degree, but this meaningful credential will provide a specific area of knowledge and study that will enable graduates to expand their areas of expertise.”

The certificate program provides working professionals a virtual platform to gain in-depth understanding of intellectual property, patent law and patent drafting. The certificate can be obtained in one academic year by taking one class in the fall and two in the spring.

The Certificate in Patent Law program is designed to give working professionals in and alongside the intellectual property field a thorough understanding of patent law. Other professionals who can benefit from a patent law certificate include, but are not limited, to:

  • Scientists
  • Engineers
  • Executives in techy-heavy industries
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Venture capitalists
  • Practicing attorneys or paralegals wanting to gain expertise in patent law

“We are excited to provide this online learning opportunity to the many professionals in the Research Triangle area and beyond who are hungry for a better understanding of this area of the law that continues to climb in importance,” explained Professor Lucas Osborn, who directs the certificate program. “All participants will gain in-depth knowledge of patent law and the patent system. For those professionals who want to take the Patent bar exam, this program will help prepare for that exam. Inventors and entrepreneurs will benefit from being better able to draft their own patent applications.”

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This unique certificate program can be completed in less than a year and offers:

  • Both in-person and online attendance options, providing participants flexibility;
  • In-depth understanding of intellectual property, specifically patent law and drafting;
  • Opportunity to learn how to draft a patent application;
  • Chance to interact and learn with full-time Campbell Law JD students.

No entrance exam is required for admission to the three-course program. International students, however, will need to demonstrate a proficiency in English. The deadline to apply for the following fall start is July 15.

The program curriculum consists of three courses totaling eight credit hours. Classes are synchronous and attendance is required. Beginning with the fall semester, students will be required to take Intellectual Property. In the spring semester, students will study Patent Law and Patent Preparation & Prosecution to successfully complete the program. Participants will receive a certificate of completion once they have completed all three courses satisfactorily.

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