Concentrations & Curricular Programs

Curricular Concentrations consist of a sequence of required and elective courses selected from a substantial menu of course offerings in the chosen field.

The School of Law offers the following curricular concentrations:

This concentration provides students with the intellectual and practical skills necessary to become effective litigators at the trial and appellate levels.

With a blend of lecture courses, seminars, practice and simulations, students acquire a wide variety of skills in the practical and theoretical aspects of modern criminal law.

This concentration capitalizes on our border location to provide students with classroom and on-the-ground exposure to a wide range of cross-border legal issues including those relating to international business transactions, immigration, international trade and tax. Students choose four courses from a wide variety of offerings, and also complete a capstone experiential course which pairs them with local alumni to gain experience in cross-border legal work.

The concentration in family law introduces students to the breadth of the family law area with three required courses: Family Law, Domestic Violence Law, and Children and the Law. Through additional elective courses and practice experiences, students round out their education in the family law area. The final writing project provides students with an opportunity to more deeply explore an issue in family law under the guidance of faculty.

The law is evolving to address rapid changes in technology, from computers and e-commerce to copyright, trademark and patents. In this concentration, students examine issues of ownership, use and control of technological innovations, information and knowledge.

Lawyers must understand and interpret events in countries that may have different legal systems. This concentration prepares students for careers in private or public international law. Traveling seminars offer students the opportunity to observe foreign legal systems in their native setting under expert faculty guidance. International externships are also available.

Students take advantage of the many offerings in our sports and entertainment curriculum, ranging from broad survey courses to a hands-on mock NHL salary arbitration seminar and externship opportunities with local college athletic departments. Students research issues in sports law and contribute articles to the UB Law Sports & Entertainment Forum, which serves as an online community for law students and alumni who share an interest in these fields. Our vibrant Buffalo Sports and Entertainment Law Society supports a variety of extracurricular activities, including UB Bulls tailgate events for sports aficionados, field trips, and other sports-related events throughout the year.

Curricular Programs are designated in fields in which the law faculty offers an exceptional degree of strength and expertise and a rich variety of courses. Programs culminate in a small, intensive capstone or senior colloquium course designed to pull together students’ knowledge and experience.

Curricular programs are presently offered in the following areas:

This program prepares students for environmental law practice, whether advocating for a public interest group, a corporate client, a government agency or a private citizen. Beginning with a series of core courses taught by a combination of academic and practitioner experts, students may also enroll in skills courses, cutting-edge seminars and the Environmental Advocacy Clinic, and graduate with the skills to apply legal principles and techniques in the environmental law marketplace.

This program offers students the opportunity to focus on finance and the role of lawyers in business transactions, including courses with a particular focus on economic, commercial and residential development. The program provides a valuable foundation for students seeking to pursue careers not just in what is traditionally called corporate law, but equally importantly in a wide range of related practice areas including financial services; regulation and compliance; and private or nonprofit development.