College of Law

Certificates of Concentration

Toledo Law offers certificates of concentration to pursue specialized study. You begin work in your second or third year. By earning a certificate, you will demonstrate to potential employers both genuine interest and higher-level knowledge in a particular field of law.


Requirements

Certificate-Eligible Courses

You must successfully complete required core courses plus additional electives to achieve a minimum of 10 credits in the field. Advance approval by the faculty coordinator is required if you would like to apply an externship placement or other courses toward your certificate. Certificate-eligible courses taken during your last semester before graduation may be offered to satisfy requirements.

Grade Point Average

You must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.7 in certificate-eligible courses. If you earn a 3.3 or greater GPA, you will earn a "Certificate of Concentration with Distinction."

Research & Writing Component

You must complete one research and writing component (20-page minimum) in the field. Advance approval by the faculty coordinator is required. Only 1 credit from a certificate writing project can be applied to the 10-credit minimum.

  • Advanced Topics/Seminar paper or project
  • Advanced Research and Writing paper
  • Independent Research paper
  • Note or Article selected for publication in Toledo Law Review
  • Moot court competition participation

Concentrations

Criminal Law

Criminal Law is perhaps the most fundamental aspect of a legal system. It sets forth the basic code of conduct for society, as well as the penalties for failure to comply with that code. Criminal Law also establishes the procedural protections that defendants must be afforded before the government can deprive them of life, liberty, or property. Attorneys who practice in this critical field may serve as prosecutors, defense counsel, or judges.
Application: Criminal Law
Faculty Coordinator: Gregory Gilchrist

Environmental Law

Environmental Law is a diverse field with many career paths. Attorneys work with environmental case law and legislation to represent environmental interests, which may include pollution control (air, water, waste) and management of natural resources (water, wildlife, oil & gas, minerals, public lands). Environmental lawyers practice in a variety of settings including government, law firms, public interest nonprofits, and corporations. Environmental litigation, both civil and criminal, is a fertile field but many environmental practitioners focus on transactions, compliance counseling, and other work far from the courtroom.
Application: Environmental Law
Faculty Coordinator: Geoffrey Rapp

Labor & Employment Law

Labor and Employment Law is a fast-paced, dynamic area of law, involving legal issues that affect individuals in one of the most important facets of their lives—their jobs. As long as people have jobs, labor and employment law issues will arise. Employment relations are vital to employees, employers, and the economy as a whole. The field provides a wide variety of jobs, working for employees and/or unions, employers, and government agencies. Lawyers who practice labor and employment law often engage in both consulting and litigation. Legal rules implicate theories of economics, freedom, and democracy.
Application: Labor & Employment Law
Faculty Coordinator: Joseph Slater

Last Updated: 1/8/24