The program allows students to build expertise in business law, corporate management, accounting and finance by choosing among an extensive array of elective courses, including intensive transactional courses and seminars, without extending their studies beyond the normal three-year J.D. program.
Law and Business students take five required core classes and then pursue an elective curriculum specifically designed to produce lawyers who understand the complexities of corporate governance, finance and accounting.
Graduates of the Law & Business Program are prepared to enter legal practice with a solid understanding of the basic principles of finance and accounting, how businesses work, the ways in which the increasingly complex regulatory environment impacts publicly traded companies, their managers and their directors, and how to work effectively with businesspeople to help them navigate laws and regulations governing business activities.
Graduates who fulfill the Law & Business Program's requirements receive a certificate of specialization in Law and Business along with their J.D. degree.
More information for current students
Judicial Clerk, Vice Chancellor Joseph R. Slights III, Delaware Court of Chancery
Pugh had been wavering between earning a J.D. or an MBA, but decided to earn a law degree after observing how the in-house counsel his company hired helped its leadership manage risk and support growth. “I was very close to pursuing an MBA, and Vanderbilt’s Law and Business and Law and Innovation programs were big plus factors for me,” he said. “Knowing I could get a J.D. with heavy business and innovation components made me more excited about attending law school.” Read more
In 2019, James H. Cheek III, J.D. '67, generously established the Cheek Business Law Scholarship and the Cheek Summer Stipends to provide financial support for deserving students participating in the Law & Business Program. Each year, the law school selects at least one Cheek Business Law Scholar to receive supplemental scholarship funds for their second and third years of study completing the certificate in law & business, and Cheek Summer Stipends support experiential opportunities in certain government agencies, courts, or other settings that enhance preparation for a career in business law. Read more
