Program Overview

Online Law Degree in Cybersecurity & Data Privacy

The Drexel University Kline School of Law's online LLM in Cyber Law and Data Privacy is designed to fill a knowledge gap for lawyers looking to expand their familiarity with this rapidly-growing area. This program offers a uniquely specialized look at the world of cybersecurity and data privacy, with the goal of helping students build advanced knowledge of the industry and establish themselves as experts in the field.

Program Overview

• The program is designed for lawyers who have already earned their Juris Doctor (JD) or international equivalent.
• It focuses on topics like EU data privacy and internet law.
• An online LLM in Health Care and Pharmaceutical Compliance is also available.

What is an LLM in Cyber Law & Data Privacy?

• A Master of Law, or an LLM, is a secondary degree for those who have earned their Juris Doctor (JD) or international equivalent.
• It allows students to specialize in a specific area or topic of law.
• In this case, Drexel's online LLM helps students gain advanced knowledge of the world of cybersecurity and data privacy.

Program Features

• Elective courses let students tailor their degree to specific fields such as health care, finance, or higher education.
• The program can be completed on a full or part-time basis.
• The completely online format means students can learn around their busy schedule.
• There is an option to complete a thesis.
• Students can utilize the Kline Graduate Programs Virtual Career Office, which is dedicated to helping them reach their career goals via access to job postings, a virtual career classroom, and one-on-one coaching with faculty and alumni.

Rankings

• Drexel's Kline School of Law was ranked a Tier 1 law school by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).
• This ranking places the school in the top three percent of ABA-accredited law schools when it comes to privacy law curriculum.

Career Opportunities

• Graduating with an LLM in Cyber Law and Data Privacy will prepare students for a job practicing law in the fields of cybersecurity and information privacy, or any area that deals with high-value or confidential information.
• Lawyers with LLM degrees can be found working at law firms, for the government, or as in-house counsel at corporations.
• The program will also prepare students to work in compliance departments and other areas related to cybersecurity.

Salary Expectations

• Salaries can vary based on organization and location, but graduates of Drexel's online LLM in Cyber Law and Data Privacy can look to the following median incomes:
  • Lawyer: $119,250
  • Compliance Manager: $105,610
  • Compliance Officer: $71,540

Differences Between MLS, JD, and LLM

• A Juris Doctor (JD) program provides students with a general understanding of the law.
• A Master of Law (LLM) degree is an advanced, specialized degree for those who already hold a JD or international degree that allows them to practice law.
• A Master of Legal Studies (MLS) is a master's degree that provides a solid working knowledge of the law and focuses on areas such as compliance, legal research and analysis, risk management, ethics, and professional standards.

Program Requirements

• Domestic students must have earned a JD from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.
• International students must have completed an undergraduate (LLB) or graduate degree (LLM) in law.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

• The Kline School of Law is the only law school in Pennsylvania accredited by PACLE (Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education) to provide distance learning CLE credits.
• Lawyers admitted to practice in Pennsylvania who take online graduate level or advanced degree courses at Kline may claim CLE credit as permitted by PACLE regulation 5(f) governing Credit for Law School and Graduate Level Courses.

Curriculum

Required Courses

• Foreign-trained students may also be required to complete one or more of the following:
  • LSTU 550 | Introduction to the Legal System |
  • LSTU 553 | Legal Research and Analysis |

Electives

• LSTU 552 | Ethics and Professional Standards |
• LSTU 555 | Compliance Communications |
• LSTU 556 | Legal Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence |
• LSTU 602 | Patients and Privacy: HIPAA and Related Regulations |
• LSTU 649 | Foundations of Financial Regulation |
• LSTU 650 | Legal Regulation of Global Financial Crimes |
• LSTU 651 | Legal Regulation of Investment Advisers |
• LSTU 652 | Legal Regulation of Investment Companies |
• LSTU 653 | Broker/Dealer Regulation |
• LSTU 654 | Banking Law |
• LSTU 660 | Information Privacy Law |
• LSTU 661 | The Law and Strategies Surrounding Cybersecurity |
• LSTU 662 | European Union Data Privacy and Protection |
• LSTU 998 | Thesis I – Scholarly Legal Writing: Planning and Preparation |
• LSTU 999 | Thesis II – Scholarly Legal Writing: Writing, Refining, and Presentation |

Total Credits

• 32.0 quarter credits

Admissions Criteria

• A Juris Doctor (JD) from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.
• International applicants must have completed an undergraduate (LLB) or graduate degree (LLM) in law.

Required Documents

• A completed application.
• Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions attended.
• Essay of approximately 500 words.
• Resume.
• Standardized test score reports (GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT) can be submitted, but are not required.
• Additional requirements for International Students:
  • Those who have completed their first law degree program in a language other than English will be required to submit a TOEFL or comparable exam score.

Tuition

• The tuition rate for the academic year is $975 per credit.
• For the academic year, students enrolled in an online graduate academic program will be charged a graduate online program fee of $125 per year.
• This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
• Special tuition rates are available for Drexel University Alumni, Military members, and members of Partner Organizations.

Academic Calendar