Welcome to Engineering and Law
The University of Detroit Mercy offers an Engineering & Law Program for students to attain a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and a Juris Doctor. The Engineering & Law Program makes it possible for 30 highly qualified entering freshmen to earn early acceptance into UDM’s School of Law if they meet GPA and LSAT criteria. Many graduates of engineering and law programs practice the highly rewarding profession of intellectual property law. The law degree also permits the graduate to choose other fields of law in addition to Intellectual Property and often leads to opportunities in the business world as well as the practice of law.
A career in Intellectual Property Law focuses on protecting creative endeavors of the human mind. It covers such areas as patent law, copyright law, trademark law, and trade secret law, as well as licensing and fair trade competition.
Lawyers who practice intellectual Property Law are exposed to the cutting edge of research and development in many scientific and technical areas. An undergraduate degree in engineering provides the technical knowledge necessary for a lawyer to practice in this field. The program may also prepare students for careers in Environmental Law.
Reasons to Consider a career in Intellectual Property Law
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Intellectual property is fundamental to the success of our economy and protecting intellectual property is critical to businesses.
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Given the pace of innovation there is strong and continuing demand for qualified intellectual Property lawyers.
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Employment opportunities are available in corporations, law firms, universities and government agencies.
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With strong and continuing demand for Intellectual Property lawyers, salaries tend to be high.
Advantages of the UDM joint program
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A reserved seat at the UDM School of Law to seek a JD is available to students who maintain 3.25 GPA in UDM engineering studies and receive an LSAT score of 150. The law school seats held for engineering students in this program are conditional based on students maintaining these scores.
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Training offered in the high demand area of Intellectual Property and Patent Law.
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Possibility of IP coop jobs while an undergraduate student.
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The US Patent Office setting up its first satelitte office. It has chosen Detroit for the location. It is expected that in addition to jobs at the USPTO, there will also be more relevant law work around Detroit.
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In 2006, the School of Law received the ABA’s Judy M. Weightman Memorial Public Interest Award, in recognition of its “outstanding community service projects, public interest programming and strong commitment to helping others in need.”Students receive personal attention from faculty.
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No courses are taught by a graduate student.
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Most engineering students at UDM receive generous scholarships.UDM’s unique internship/coop program provides practical experience to its engineering students.
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Student diversity: over 25% of our engineering graduates are female, and over 30% are members of a minority.
