LL.M. in Biotechnology and Genomics

Application for LL.M. in Biotechnology and Genomics

Many scientists describe the 21^st century as the “Century of the Gene.” Genetic applications such as genetically modified organisms, forensic evidence, gene testing, gene therapy, cloning, stem cells, and behavioral genetics raise a plethora of legal issues relating to privacy, confidentiality, regulation, liability, international trade, evidentiary standards, intellectual property, licensing, and business planning. These issues have great intellectual appeal both because of their potential legal importance and because they involve fundamental changes to society. 

Genomics and biotechnology are growing areas of legal practice, scholarship and training. West published the first casebook in 2003, and at least two other competing casebooks will be published soon. Since Jan. 1, 2000, more than 7,000 published judicial opinions and 7,000 scholarly legal articles contain the words "DNA," "genetic," or "genomic." Legal complications inevitably arise from the mushrooming growth in research, application, and investment in biotechnology and genomics. Lawyers working in these fields must develop both the legal mastery and the scientific understanding to keep pace.   

Through classroom instruction and guided independent study, LL.M. candidates will pursue such mastery. Building upon, sharpening, and focusing the professional skills and substantive knowledge that they have already acquired through prior education and experience, candidates will explore and examine the law that both enables and constrains the development, control, and application of biotechnology and genomics. Acutely relevant legal fields include health law, particularly public health law, agricultural law and policy, and intellectual property. Forensic science and ethical constraints upon the various contemplated uses are also important elements of the program. Because the legal, ethical and policy aspects of genomics and biotechnology are of global significance, this program also is beneficial to non-U.S. lawyers.

As the first to offer a LL.M. in Biotechnology and Genomics, the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law is maintaining its leadership role. With more than 14 permanent faculty from both legal and scientific disciplines teaching genomics and biotechnology related courses and the United States' oldest and largest academic center dedicated to the study of law, science and technology, the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law has unparalelled expertise. The LL.M. program is a logical and obvious extension of the school's current strengths and resources.

Admission Requirements

Criteria for admission include grades in law school and other academic programs, recommendations by professors and/or employers, employment and life experience, and evidence of interest and potential in biotechnology and genomics. The Admissions Committee recommends and appreciates early applications.  We do not anticipate matriculating more than 20 full-time students annually. Applications are currently accepted on a rolling basis, with preference given for Fall start dates.

Applicants to the program must submit: 

1. proof of a law degree; either
   A)  a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school in the United States or
   B)  a comparable law degree from a foreign law school approved by either the government or the relevant accrediting authority of the nation where the school is located;
2. an essay describing his or her interest in the program
3. a writing sample
4. two letters of recommendation
5. completed LL.M. application
6. official transcripts of undergraduate and law degree studies
7. application fee 

International applicants or those who have earned academic credit for law in foreign countries:

• Course Evaluations
  The World Education Services (WES) must independently evaluate all academic documents issued in countries than the United States. Please contact WES at their website (http://www.wes.org/ ) to obtain an application for an evaluation. You must request a course-by-course evaluation and order that an official copy from WES be sent directly to:

  Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
  Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
  1100 S. McAllister Ave.
  PO Box 877906
  Tempe, AZ 85287-7906

Your application for admission to the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University will not be complete until this evaluation is received by the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.

• English Fluency
  Applicants must meet the requirements of the Graduate College as well as those of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. If English is not your native language, you must provide evidence of English proficiency as indicated by acceptable scores.  Applicants should have a TOEFL score above 600 (paper), 250 (computer), or 96 (Internet). Exceptional candidates with relevant experience and background who have scores of at least 590 (paper) or 243 (computer) also will be considered.

Applicants with law degrees not accredited by the American Bar Association should note that an LL.M. degree does not qualify one to sit for the bar exam in most states, including Arizona.

Degree Requirements

A degree candidate must complete 24 credit hours of course work to obtain the LL.M. in Biotechnology and Genomics degree. There are two required courses (see below) for a total of six credits. A candidate may elect to write a graduate thesis for either three or six credit hours, or may elect to not write a thesis and fulfill the equivalent credits with other course work.  The remaining credit hours will generally be obtained from the list of elective courses listed below. With faculty advisor approval, a candidate may satisfy up to six credit hours with courses offered by the law school or other ASU departments that are not included on the list below.

Click here to see 2008/2009 curriculum.

Tuition:
Tuition is $25,000 for a full-time program completed in one year or a part-time program completed in more than three years. If a student enrolls on a part-time basis, the $25,000 program fee will be divided over the terms of enrollment on a per-credit-hour basis. Employee tuition remission is not available on the special program fee portion of the program costs.

Deadline:
Applicants seeking to enroll in the Fall semester are recommended to apply by July 15. Applicants seeking to enroll in the Spring semester are recommended to apply by December 15. Applicants may apply after this deadline if they are unable to meet the recommended deadline.

Required Courses:
Genetics and the Law (Marchant) – three credits [Fall]
Biotechnology: Science, Law and Policy (Marchant) – three credits [Spring]

Elective Courses:
The program is built upon courses currently offered at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law including the following:**

Center for Law, Science & Innovation Faculty
The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law has considerable expertise in genomics and biotechnology through its Center for Law, Science & Innovation. The Center's 25-year collaborative relationship with the American Bar Association to publish Jurimetrics: the Journal of Law, Science, and Technology only begins to exemplify its longstanding commitment to exploring issues arising from the intersection of law and science. Center faculty and staff remain active in research and scholarship, public speaking, conference presentations, teaching, and hosting seminars and colloquia. For example, the Center has sponsored a continuing series of conferences on law and genetics, and related subjects such personalized medicine, genetically modified food and forensic genetics. The Center has established an international reputation for its expertise which will inure to the benefit of LL.M. students and alumni.

Arizona's Genomic and Biotechnology Community
The State of Arizona and the Phoenix metropolitan area have made a strong commitment to genomics as a driver of future economic growth, including raising over $100 million to attract the International Genomics Consortium (IGC) and Translational Genomics Research Institute  (TGen). Through start-ups and migration of existing companies, this commitment, along with a similar priority given to genomics by all three state universities, is expected to result in the rapid growth of the biotechnology industry in Arizona over the next decade. Several Phoenix law firms have established life sciences and biotechnology practice groups in response to this new industry. Upon completion of this LL.M. program, alumni will be distinguished among the legal professionals working in genomic and biotechnology industry and regulation throughout the United States and around the world.