IP Certificate Frequently Asked Questions
- What will this program give me?
If you attend certain ALS courses‐‐5 required, 2 elective and 2 Advanced Legal Studies conferences‐‐ within 3 years, you will receive a certificate stating that you have completed ALS Intellectual Property Law curriculum. By attending these courses you will ensure that you have been exposed to an organized curriculum covering basic to intermediate‐level intellectual property law.
- Is a certificate different than an academic degree?
Yes. The certificate awarded for completion of this program is not equivalent to a law degree or any other type of academic degree.
- Who will be teaching the courses?
Full time Suffolk University Law School faculty members and distinguished members of the intellectual property law bar.
- Who is providing this program?
This program is being jointly offered by the Suffolk University Law School Advanced Legal Studies office http://www.law.suffolk.edu/academic/als/ and the Intellectual Property Law Concentration http://www.law.suffolk.edu/academic/als/IPCertificate/
- What do I need to do?
Fulfill the requirements for attending the specified ALS courses within 3 years from the time you sign up for the program.
- Do I need to sign up?
Yes. We need to track your participation and will want to communicate with the program participants.
- Do I need to be a Massachusetts Bar member to sign up?
No
- Is this program appropriate for non‐attorneys?
Yes. This program is designed to provide a basic understanding of intellectual property law which is useful to businesspersons and others who work with or are exposed to intellectual property.
- Do I need a technical background to attend?
No
- Is the Certificate open to any students?
No
- Can I transfer credits/units I received from another institution?
No, other CLE classes do not count toward the certificate.
- Are there time limits on completing the program?
Yes. You must complete all attendance requirements within 3 years of the date you enroll in the program.
- How much does the certificate program cost?
You must pay a one‐time fee of $199 when you sign up for the certificate program. This fee is designed to cover our administrative costs and is nonrefundable even if you do not pursue the program. In addition, you will pay $399.00 for each 3‐hour course module. The tuition for full‐day ALS conferences is $249.00. Thus the full cost is approximately $3,300.
- I am a member of Alumni CLE for free. Does attendance at these courses count toward free courses?
No.
- Do I need to take the courses in any particular order?
Yes. The first 5 required courses must be taken before enrolling in the electives and advanced conferences.
- Are all the seminars offered every year?
No. Since this is the first year, just the five required classes will be offered. After this year those will repeat and we will offer the electives
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- Are there special requirements to complete the program?
You must attend the entire seminar to receive credit. You are required to sign in at the beginning and sign out at the end of each seminar. You must sign in within 15 minutes of the seminar start time and you must sign out no earlier than the beginning of the last Question and Answer session of the seminar.
- Do the ALS programs I took before I signed up for the Certificate "count" toward my program requirements?
No. The program courses are being planned with the new curriculum requirements in mind.
- How do I know what requirements I have fulfilled and what I still need to take?
Each summer we will mail you a statement showing the requirements you have met and that you still need to fulfill. To find out more, you can call our Assistant Director and CLE Registrar, Peniey McClary at 617.305.1655.
- What about lawyer advertising?
Massachusetts does not have an approved "specialty certification" program for lawyers. Therefore, lawyers in this state may not advertise that they are "certified specialists" or "specialists" in a particular area of the law. By participating in this program, you are attending specified courses offered by ALS which are designed to provide an organized approach to the education necessary to practice intellectual property law at the basic to intermediate level. When you complete this program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion for ALS/IP Concentration's Intellectual Property Law Program, which will be suitable for framing. You may advertise the fact that you have this Certificate of Completion, as long as your advertisement does not infer that you are a certified specialist. For any questions regarding lawyer advertising, contact the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers.
- What will I get if I complete the requirements?
You will receive a certificate suitable for framing stating: Suffolk University Law School's Advanced Legal Studies and Intellectual Property Law Concentration Hereby recognize that [Your name] [Year] has completed the Intellectual Property Law Certificate Program
- How do I register for the IP Certificate Program?
You can go to http://www.law.suffolk.edu/academic/als/ or call 617.573.8627.
- Is the enrollment fee refundable?
No.
- How much is the cancellation fee?
$30.00.
- Are the materials electronic, or will I need to purchase specific textbooks?
All written materials will be available electronically.
- Are there any scholarships and/or discounts for the IP certificate Program?
No.
- Can I take any of the modules without enrolling in the Certificate?
You can take up to two modules before enrolling
