Business Law Concentration

Customize Your J.D. with a Focus on Business Law

The Business Law concentration is designed to tailor JD students’ degree plans towards business law courses. This concentration will prepare students in key business areas, ensure students have polished writing skills, and provide students with an experiential learning experience. Students enrolled in the program will earn a certificate and concentrated transcript and will become better candidates for corporate attorney positions in law firms of all sizes.

SMU Campus with Downtown
Apply Now Explore Sample Plan

JD students can qualify for this concentration by completing at least 25 credits in the following categories:

  1. Basic Required Courses
  2. Required Courses in Key Business Areas
  3. Writing Requirement
  4. Experiential Learning

Students are expected to take these courses over the duration of their last two years. Other than for the business-law writing requirement, students may not apply the same course to meet more than one requirement. Students may also complete approved elective courses to meet the credit requirement.

This concentration will signify to potential employers that the student committed to a comprehensive understanding of key business areas, including commercial law, corporate/transactional law, regulatory/compliance, and tax law. Upon completion of the concentration, a certificate and official resume stamp will be award to the student.

Business Law Concentration Coursework

Interested students will submit their completed Intent to Complete form and unofficial transcript by June 1st and students must be at least a rising 2L. Each student will be assigned a Faculty Advisor for mentoring and guidance through the concentration, and each student is required to meet with their advisor at least once a semester. This program is administered by the Rowling Center for Business Law and Leadership. Any questions can be directed to rowlingcenter@smu.edu.

Students will demonstrate knowledge of required key business areas: Commercial Law, Corporate/Transactional Law, Regulatory/Compliance, or Tax Law through completion of core courses in either key business area. Students will demonstrate honed legal writing skills through either a seminar, directed research, or participation in the Law Review. Students will establish connections and work experience through a law clinic or an externship.

Click here for Requirements

FAQs

The Business Law Concentration can be completed in 2 years.

Gregory S. Crespi

Homer R. Mitchell Endowed Professorship in Commercial and Insurance Law and Professor of Law

 

Marc I. Steinberg

Rupert and Lillian Radford Chair in Law and Professor of Law

 

Martin L. Camp

Professor of Practice and Assistant Dean for Graduate and International Programs

 

Eric F. Hinton

Director, Robert B. Rowling Center for Business Law & Leadership

 

Christine Hurt

Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Alan R. Bromberg Centennial Chair in Corporate, Partnership, Business and Securities Law and Professor of Law

 

Carla Reyes

Associate Professor of Law

Students can begin taking courses towards the Business Law Concentration in their 2L year.

Yes, once the Business Law Concentration is completed, and your degree is confirmed, it will appear on your transcript.

The following can count towards your Editing Writing requirement:

  • EW Papers on a business law topic with faculty pre-approval
  • Papers on a business law topic that is greater than or equal to 50% of your grade in a non-EW course with Faculty pre-approval
  • Directed Research Papers greater than or equal to 2 credits with faculty pre-approval
  • Law Journal Comment with faculty pre-approval

If you have any questions or concerns about your EW requirement, please email them to rowlingcenter@smu.edu.

No, please submit your unofficial transcripts to rowlingcenter@smu.edu.

SMU JD and LLM students who are interested in business law and are committed to actively pursuing the concentration should apply by completing their Intent to Complete and Business Law Concentration Self-Assessment and submitting both to Albreesha Culberson at RowlingCenter@smu.edu.

Yes, the Business Law Concentration will be on your SMU official transcript beginning Fall 2023.

No, the Business Law Concentration will not appear on your SMU degree.

Yes, please feel free to include the Business Law Concentration on your resume.

Students are allowed to include the Business Law Concentration on their resume once they have submitted their Intent to Complete to the Rowling Center for Business Law & Leadership.

If you have any questions, Director Eric Hinton and Albreesha Culberson can be reached at RowlingCenter@smu.edu.

The Rowling Center can be reached on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Get in Touch