ASU Law students talking during the GETS conference at Beus Center for Law and Society.

Law, Science and Technology Certificate

JD students can supplement and enhance their degree with the Law, Science and Technology (LST) Certificate. The certificate program includes focused coursework, mentorship, and extracurricular educational opportunities for preparing 21st century lawyers. (Please note that this certificate is available only to JD students currently enrolled at ASU Law.)

In addition to earning the general LST Certificate, students may choose one or more of the following focus areas:

  • Intellectual Property
  • Life Sciences
  • Data, Privacy and Security

Click below to apply for the Law, Science and Technology Certificate.

Apply


Certificate requirements

To earn the LST Certificate, students must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  1. Coursework Requirement
  2. Minimum Average Grade Requirement
  3. Active Participation in the Center for Law, Science and Innovation (LSI)
  4. Writing Requirement

Coursework requirement

Students must complete a minimum of seven (7) courses earning at least sixteen (16) credit hours related to law, science and technology.

Option 1: General LST Certificate minimum requirements:

  1. Two (2) core courses, and
  2. Five (5) elective courses

Option 2: LST Certificate with one or more focus area(s) minimum requirements:

  1. One (1) core course,
  2. Four (4) qualifying courses within the chosen focus area, and
  3. Two (2) elective courses

Click here for the Law, Science and Technology Course List.

Minimum average grade requirement

Each student must earn a cumulative average grade of at least a “B” for the courses taken to satisfy the Coursework Requirement of the LST Certificate Program. A student may take one elective course on a Pass/Fail basis. Courses used to satisfy the core or qualifying courses component of the Coursework Requirement may not be taken Pass/Fail, unless the course is only offered on a Pass/Fail basis.

Active participation in the Center for Law, Science and Innovation

Each student must participate in at least one of the following approved activities for two semesters.

  • Active participation in an LSI Interest Group or Journal Club
  • Editorial position with Jurimetrics
  • Membership on a Moot Court team involving LST substantive areas (by approval from Center Director)
  • LST-related externships (by approval from Center Director)
  • Assistance and significant participation in an annual LSI Conference
  • Membership and active participation in one of the following student organizations:
    • Law and Science Student Association (LASSA)
    • Intellectual Property Student Association (IPSA)

Students are also encouraged to participate in as many LSI-sponsored events as possible, including conferences, symposia, and other activities.

Writing requirement

Each student must satisfy their Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR) on a topic related to Law, Science, and Technology, advised by an LSI Faculty Fellow. Students may elect to complete their GWR as part of a course or a law journal, or through an independent study. The LST Certificate program does not typically require a paper in addition to the ASU Law's GWR requirement. If students have already completed their GWR before enrollment in the program, they may substitute another paper of similar length that is on a related topic and advised by an LSI Faculty Fellow. This requirement will be monitored by the LSI director and confirmed by the registrar.

Faculty Advisors

Each student who registers as a candidate for the LST Certificate will be assigned an advisor from among the LSI Faculty Fellows. This assignment may be changed at the request of the student. Students may request a particular faculty advisor but assignment to any particular advisor is not guaranteed.

Unforeseen or exigent circumstances

The Faculty Director and Executive Director shall have joint authority to modify, waive, or reconfigure the program requirements in particular instances where necessary to promote equity and fairness in the event of unforeseen complications or exigent circumstances.


Questions

For any questions, please contact Eric Hitchcock, Executive Director, Center for Law, Science and Innovation at 480-727-0359 or at e.hitchcock@asu.edu.