About
The privacy field has exploded with opportunity. Around the world, in virtually every industry, protecting personal information has become a vital concern. Consequently, the need for qualified, highly trained attorneys with a heightened knowledge of privacy law and policy has never been greater.
At the University of Maine School of Law, students pursuing our Certificate in Information Privacy Law develop skills in a highly sought-after niche of the legal realm.
Academic Requirements
To receive the Certificate in Information Privacy Law, Classes of 2025 and beyond must complete the following requirements for the Certificate in Information Privacy Law.
The below requirements only apply to the classes of 2023 and 2024:
Coursework
Required courses:
Nine credits from these courses:
The Certificate Supervisor may approve additional courses with a substantial focus on privacy. Note that not all courses are offered every year.
Paper
Candidates must publish a paper on a privacy-related topic in a publication read by privacy professionals. The paper can range from a blog post or newsletter entry to a law review article.
International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Certification
At graduation, a candidate must have one of the following IAPP certifications in good standing: CIPP, CIPM, or CIPT. For additional information view the Higher-Ed Program at the IAPP document.
Experiential Learning
The experiential learning component can be satisfied in one of two ways: Either: (a) The candidate must apply for and complete an externship that relates substantially to privacy issues; the externship must be pre-approved by the Certificate Supervisor and the Maine Law externship program director. Or (b) the candidate may complete this requirement by working at a pre-approved job during law school (at least 150 working hours) focused on privacy issues. It is expected that the job will involve attending meetings, regular attendance in an office, supervision, and feedback.