Frequently Asked Questions about the Sports Law Program at Marquette
- What is necessary to obtain admission to the Sports Law Program?
- What is sports law?
- Do I have to have any particular undergraduate major to participate in the Sports Law Program?
- What are some of the benefits of participating in the Sports Law Program and earning the Sports Law Certificate?
- When can I get involved in the Sports Law program?
- What are the requirements to earn the Sports Law Certificate?
- What career opportunities are potentially available for students who earn the National Sports Law Institute's Sports Law Certificate?
- What is the relationship between the Sports Law Program, National Sports Law Institute and Marquette University Law School?
- What is the National Sports Law Institute?
- How does the Marquette Sports Law Program compare to those of other law schools?
- What are the components of the JD/MBA in Sports Business?
- Does Marquette University Law School offer an LLM in Sports Law?
- Can students from other law schools participate in Marquette's Sports Law Program?
- Is the Sports Law Program offered online or through distance learning?
- Can individuals who already have law degrees participate in the Sports Law Program?
- Where can I find information about the history of the National Sports Law Institute and Sports Law program at Marquette?
(1) What is necessary to obtain admission to the Sports Law Program?
Students who are admitted to Marquette University Law School do not need to separately apply to participate in the Sports Law Program. All Marquette University Law School students are eligible to do so and may enroll in sports law courses, meet the standards for membership on the Marquette Sports Law Review, be selected to participate in the National Sports Law Institute's internship program, and participate in all other parts of the Program.
(2) What is sports law?
Sports Law is the study of many legal disciplines applied to various aspects of the sports industry, primarily consisting of case law along with a growing body of state and federal statutes specifically applicable to sports. Perhaps the best way to understand the various aspects of sports law is by reviewing the course descriptions for the various sports law courses offered at Marquette University Law School.
(3) Do I have to have any particular undergraduate major to participate in the Sports Law Program?
No specific program of undergraduate study is required for admission to the Law School or as a prerequisite for eligibility to participate in the Sports Law Program. However, there are certain academic skills that are important to developing one's undergraduate education. Prospective students are encouraged to read the tips on preparation for law school on the Office of Admission's website.
All applicants to the Law School must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university before enrolling in the Law School. All applicants are also required to take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and to subscribe to the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). Extensive details on applying to Marquette University Law School can be found on the Office of Admissions website.
(4) What are some of the benefits of participating in the Sports Law Program and earning the Sports Law Certificate?
With the assistance of the Directors of the National Sports Law Institute, the Sports Law Program is designed to provide Marquette University Law School students with a broad based theoretical and practical education concerning the legal regulation of the amateur and professional sports industries, thereby enhancing their attractiveness to sports industry employers. Sports law students learn about many specialized areas of law with general application outside the sports industry (e.g. antitrust, labor, intellectual property, federal disability discrimination laws, etc.) and develop contract negotiation, business planning, and transactional skills. They also learn how several related areas of law combine to govern a complex industry and how courts resolve competing policy concerns when different bodies of law intersect. Virtually all of the knowledge and skills developed by students in sports law courses and internships is readily transferable and useful in serving future clients in many industries.
(5) When can I get involved in the Sports Law program?
Although students cannot take any sports law courses until their second year in law school, during their first year students can attend the many speakers, panels and conferences that the National Sports Law Institute will host. In addition, students should join the student Sports Law Society and become active in their activities and events. In addition, students are encouraged to set up meetings with the Directors of the Sports Law program during their first year in law school.
(6) What are the requirements to earn the Sports Law Certificate?
Students earn the National Sports Law Institute's Sports Law Certificate upon graduation from Marquette University Law School by fulfilling these requirements.
(7) What career opportunities are potentially available for students who earn the National Sports Law Institute's Sports Law Certificate?
Some of our recent alums are employed by the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Bucks, the University of Wisconsin -Parkside, the University of Nebraska, the Milwaukee Brewers, the NCAA, and the University of Notre Dame, among other organizations.
The Sports Law Alumni Association consists of graduates who participated in the Sports Law Program while attending Marquette University Law School. Prospective students interested in learning about other potential career opportunities should review the Association's membership list.
Students may also be interested in looking at the career resources page for information on careers in the sports industry.
(8) What is the relationship between the Sports Law Program, National Sports Law Institute and Marquette University Law School?
The Sports Law Program is a course stream of specialized study offered as part of the J.D. program at Marquette University Law School. The Program consists of several opportunities for Marquette University Law School students including 16 sports law courses, one semester sports industry internships, the Marquette Sports Law Review, and several sports law competitions, including the Sports Law Moot Court team.
The National Sports Law Institute is affiliated with the Sports Law Program and is a part of Marquette University Law School.
(9) What is the National Sports Law Institute?
Founded in 1989, the National Sports Law Institute of Marquette University Law School is the only Institute of its kind associated with an American law school. The Institute's Mission is to be the leading national educational and research institute for the study of legal, ethical and business issues affecting amateur and professional sports from an academic and practical perspective. The Institute sponsors local and national events including conferences and symposia for individuals in the sports industry, and disseminates information on the sports industry and sports law through its many publications, such as the Marquette Sports Law Review. As a part of Marquette University, a Catholic Jesuit University, the Institute is committed to searching for truth, discovering and sharing information, fostering professional excellence, developing leaders, and serving those in the sports industry. Further information about the National Sports Law Institute can be found on its website.
(10) How does the Marquette Sports Law Program compare to those of other law schools?
There currently is no formal ranking system for Sports Law Programs at American law schools. However, the Sports Law Program at Marquette University Law School provides the nation's most comprehensive offering of sports law courses and student internships with sports organizations as well as opportunities to become members of the Marquette Sports Law Review and the Sports Law Moot Court team. The Sports Law Program at Marquette University Law School is also the only program of its kind affiliated with the National Sports Law Institute. We encourage students to review the NSLI's Survey of American Law Schools Teaching of Sport Law for more information.
(11) What are the components of the JD/MBA in Sports Business?
Complete details about the JD/MBA in Sports Business joint degree program can be found on the JD/MBA website.
(12) Does Marquette University Law School offer an LL.M. in Sports Law?
Marquette University Law School offers an LL.M. in sports law for those with non-U.S. law degrees. The LL.M. program makes Marquette's Sports Law curriculum available to lawyers who have earned a law degree from an accredited foreign law school. It enables foreign lawyers to earn a specialized post-graduate law degree in sports law that also develops knowledge and skills with general application outside the sports industry. Further information on the LL.M. program can be found here.
(13) Can students from other law schools participate in Marquette's Sports Law Program?
In order to participate in the opportunities associated with the Sports Law Program, students must be currently enrolled at Marquette University Law School.
(14) Is the Sports Law Program offered online or through distance learning?
Marquette University Law School does not offer any sports law courses online or through distance learning.
(15) Can individuals who already have law degrees participate in the Sports Law Program?
Individuals who have already earned a law degree may be able to audit sports law courses offered by Marquette University Law School. For further details, contact Professor Paul Anderson, Director of the Sports Law Program and the National Sports Law Institute.
(16) Where can I find information about the history of the National Sports Law Institute and Sports Law program at Marquette?
In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the founding of the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette University Law School, the NSLI created a historical website that includes information about the creation and activities of the NSLI over the past two decades. To access the historical website, click here.