Welcome to the latest installment of Law Admissions Q&A, a monthly feature that provides law school admissions advice to readers who send in questions and admissions profiles.
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This week, I will discuss law schools that offer cybersecurity programming as well as tips for LL.M. degree applicants looking for financial support.
I have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and I was wondering if I can apply for a law school that concentrates on cybersecurity issues. Could you please recommend the schools or programs that have a focus on cybersecurity in a global perspective and that have scholarships? Thank you! -Cyberpsyched
Dear Cyberpsyched:
Leveraging your undergraduate training in computer science will serve you well in your career goals. Cybersecurity is a quickly growing field. Given the worldwide nature of the web, cybersecurity inevitably involves a global understanding of international laws.
Controversy surrounding Russia’s suspected interference in the 2016 presidential election demonstrates that cybersecurity goes well beyond protecting computers. According to the Department of Homeland Security, “Our daily life, economic vitality, and national security depend on a stable, safe, and resilient cyberspace.”
A few law schools have developed curriculum that focuses on this exciting field. George Washington University‘s Cybersecurity Law Initiative boasts extensive courses ranging from information privacy to counterterrorism. GW also offers a full scholarship for students willing to commit to work as security experts for a government agency postgraduation. To apply, you will need to submit a supplemental application through GW CyberCorps.
The University of Maryland’s Francis King Carey School of Law also offers a cybersecurity program. To earn a concentration in cybersecurity and crisis management law, students must complete the required coursework, experiential learning and a research and writing project. Unlike GW’s program, only enrolled students can submit the concentration verification form prior to graduation.
[Learn how to apply to specialized law school programs.]
On the West Coast, Loyola Marymount University’s Loyola Law School Los Angeles has developed a cybersecurity and data privacy concentration. Students in good academic standing are eligible to participate after completing their first year.
Keep in mind that you can still study cybersecurity without formally concentrating your J.D. studies in this field. Consider institutes that offer options that will prepare you for a career in high-tech practice, such as Harvard University‘s Cyberlaw Clinic. The University of California–Los Angeles law school also offers a cybersecurity law and policy course and hosts a Cyber Crimes Moot Court Competition. Even if a law school does not have a formal cybersecurity certification, review course listings and faculty to see if you can build your own focus.
I am from Pakistan. I have done LL.B. Honors from the University of Buckingham and also earned a Diploma in Law. I am interested earning an LL.M. I need a scholarship. Let me know if I am eligible to apply for any scholarships. –Longingly Looking for Money
Dear Longingly Looking for Money:
One good resource for scholarship funding is LLM GUIDE’s LL.M. Scholarship Search portal. If you are interested in studying in the U.S., you can apply for independent scholarship programs through organizations like The Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area.
[Make your case for these law school scholarships.]
You can also apply for scholarships directly through the law school where you hope to earn your degree. Such scholarships are competitive and are typically offered to candidates who demonstrate excellence in a particular practice area.
For example, Columbia University Law School‘s 2018-2019 Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship, which offers partial to full funding, is offered to LL.M. candidates with expertise in international trade. American University Law School‘s Information Justice Fellowship is designed for LL.M.s wishing to study intellectual property and offers a partial tuition scholarship.
To secure a merit-based scholarship, start by identifying why you want to pursue an LL.M. Then develop a list of schools suited to your area of legal scholarship. Finally, put together an application that highlights your legal training thus far, your current work and accomplishments, as well as your goals for the future.
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Research to Find Law School Concentrations, Scholarships originally appeared on usnews.com
