The subject requirements for corporate law programs typically include a combination of core courses, electives, skills-based courses, and experiential learning opportunities, with minimum credit requirements varying by institution[1][2][3][4].
- Core Subject Requirements:
- Common required courses include Business Associations or Corporations, Federal Income Tax, and foundational courses such as Contracts[1][3][7].
- Intermediate and advanced corporate law subjects often require completion of these foundational courses before enrollment, such as Securities Regulation, Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance, and Mergers & Acquisitions[3][7].
- Some programs include related subject areas like Antitrust and Competition Law, Corporate Compliance and Enforcement, Intellectual Property and Information Law, Transactional Law, and Commercial Law[2][4].
- Credit Requirements:
- Many corporate law concentrations require completion of a fixed number of credits in approved courses and seminars (e.g., 24-26 credits or more depending on the institution)[1][2][4].
- Some programs specify that the majority of credits (e.g., at least 21 out of 24) must be taken from designated groups of corporate and securities law-related subjects[2].
- Skills-Based and Experiential Requirements:
- Skills-based courses such as Introduction to Legal Drafting or Contract Drafting are typically required to develop practical lawyering competencies[1][3].
- Experiential learning is often mandatory, fulfilled by participation in law clinics, externships, or specific corporate law programs with real-world practice environments[1][4].
- Prerequisites:
- Some advanced or specialized courses (like Corporate Governance, Securities Regulation, & Mergers & Acquisitions) require preliminary coursework in Corporations and/or Federal Income Tax[3].
- For interdisciplinary programs that involve business modules (such as finance), additional prerequisites or co-requisites may apply, and waivers or proficiency exams may be offered under certain conditions (e.g., prior MBA or finance background)[2].
- General Academic Progression:
- Prospective corporate lawyers must first obtain a bachelor’s degree (any major acceptable, but business-related studies are advantageous), earn a law degree (JD), and pass the bar exam[5][6].
- Law schools may require standardized test scores (such as the LSAT) and other admissions materials[5].
References
- [1] Corporate Law Concentration – University of Cincinnati
- [2] LLM in Corporation Law Requirements 2025-26
- [3] Corporate Law Curriculum – School of Law – Richmond Law
- [4] Corporate and Commercial Law | Sturm College of Law
- [5] How To Become a Corporate Lawyer in 8 Steps
- [6] How To Become a Corporate Lawyer | Step-by-Step
- [7] Law and Business Program of Study – Harvard Law School
Leave a Reply