U. S. News & World Report has ranked the Intellectual Property (IP) Program at the DePaul University College of Law sixth in the nation. It is the first time DePaul's IP program has been ranked in the top 10 in the national survey. In the rankings released by U.S. News March 31, DePaul was tied for sixth place with Cardozo-Yeshiva University in New York and John Marshall Law School, also in Chicago.

     "This recognition reflects the outstanding faculty, students and alumni effort that continues to drive this innovative program," said Teree E. Foster, College of Law dean. "The faculty members in the intellectual property area are energetic and highly capable, the curriculum is challenging and the intellectual property bar is receptive and eager to support a program that supplies quality, well-trained lawyers."

     Established in 1998, DePaul's IP program offers certificates in patent law and general IP studies. Of the more than 25 intellectual property course offerings, many are unique, such as an intellectual property section of trial advocacy, international intellectual property and cultural heritage classes.

     Students concentrating in IP also are able to take legal writing classes specifically geared to their needs. Another enticing aspect of the program is that students are placed in paid summer internships at major law firms.

     "The Internet and other technological advances have created exhilarating new opportunities in intellectual property law," said Roberta Rosenthal Kwall, director of the IP program and the College of Law's Raymond P. Niro professor. The professorship is named for Niro, a noted Chicago intellectual property attorney and a senior partner at the firm of Niro, Scavone, Haller & Niro, which specializes in intellectual property cases involving patents, trademarks, copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition and related business tort issues. Niro endowed the professorship in May, 1999.

     "As more law schools across the country begin to offer IP programs, it speaks volumes that DePaul has been recognized as one of the best," said Kwall. DePaul's Health Law program, which consistently has been recognized by U. S. News, was ranked in the top 10 in its category by the survey as well.

     According to U. S. News, its rankings are derived from a variety of criteria gathered in an extensive annual survey of law school deans and program directors. The full law school rankings are available on-line at the Web address www.usnews.com as of March 31 and will be available in the forthcoming U.S. News "America's Best Graduate Schools" guidebook. Selected rankings also will appear in the magazine's April 3 issue.