This certificate program is for enrolled Widener Law Commonwealth students only and is awarded upon graduation from the law school.
Registration Requirements
Applicants must complete and submit an expression of interest form to the Registrar’s Office. After submitting their expression of interest, students should schedule a meeting with Professor Christian Johnson for advising about the BAC program.
Required Courses
(a) Students who seek the Business Advising Certificate (BAC) must complete required courses, elective courses, and an experiential learning class with a drafting requirement. These classes prepare students to effectively represent business clients upon graduation by teaching foundational law and skills.
- Business Organizations (strongly recommended in the 2L year)
- Federal Income Taxation and Taxation of Business Entities
- Contract Drafting, Business Planning, or any Deal Skills course
- Secured Transactions, Bankruptcy, or Real Estate Transactions
- Copyright and Trademark, Employment Law, Employment Discrimination, or Insurance Law, and
- One additional elective from either group 4 or 5 or an elective approved by the Certificate Director. Examples of approved electives are: Business Basics, Nonprofit Organizations, Privacy and Cybersecurity, Securities Regulation, Consumer Protection, Energy Law, Foundational Artificial Intelligence, Sports and Entertainment Law, and Wills and Trusts.
(b) The business advising certificate director may approve other courses for any of these requirements.
Graduating GPA Requirement
Students must submit an BAC application to the Registrar’s Office by no later than the drop/add period of their final semester. A Juris Doctor candidate must earn an overall cumulative grade point average of 2.700 or higher and a cumulative grade point average of 2.700 or higher in the courses required by the concentration in order to earn a Business Advising Certificate.
Certificate with Honors
A student earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.250 or higher in certificate courses will receive a Business Advising Certificate with honors.
Widener Law Commonwealth reserves the right to modify curriculum requirements and course offerings.