An expansive new program at UCLA School of Law has opened to teach people from all stages of professional life and the full array of backgrounds through intensive courses, led by UCLA Law faculty members, on the most pertinent topics in the law, business, and society today.

Executive Education at UCLA Law offers focused online programs and free webinars from eminent legal scholars and industry experts. Participants may gain practical insights, earn MCLE credit where applicable, or connect with a global network of people with similar professional or educational interests. In addition to deep personal and professional enrichment, including practical skills and fundamental knowledge in a wide range of areas, students earn a certificate of completion at the end of each course.

The program kicked off in March with Pathways to HR Director, in which 42 human resources professionals are participating in a suite of five courses that are central to the field – Employment Law, Negotiations, Employment Discrimination, Wage and Hour Law, and Special Topics in HR – over six months. They will also benefit from one-on-one mentorship and career advising with an industry expert, on-campus and online networking events, and guest lectures.

Upcoming courses will follow that model and tap into UCLA Law’s robust centers of scholarship and faculty members who are nationally renowned for their expertise in topics including constitutional law, media and technology, business law, and much more. These include the two-day intensive Negotiation Theory and Strategy, which Distinguished Professor Russell Korobkin will lead on April 11 and 12, and Strategic AI for Legal Professionals, with lecturer Alex Alben and Professor Xiyin Tang as instructors.

“We are so excited for the launch of this important and ambitious program at UCLA Law,” says Michael Waterstone, the law school’s dean. “This is a meaningful moment in the continued expansion of the opportunities that this law school provides to the greater community. That is in line with the principles of public service and open access to the law and legal education on which our institution was founded.”

UCLA Law has granted J.D. degrees to law students for 76 years and LL.M. degrees to lawyers for roughly 40 years. It also conveys S.J.D. degrees for legal academics. In 2020, it launched the Master of Legal Studies program, which opens doors for professionals who seek to deepen their understanding of the legal issues that affect their industries but do not plan to practice law.

“Executive Education fills the gap for people who are looking to advance their careers but are not looking for a degree program,” says Jason Fiske, who, as the law school’s assistant dean for graduate studies and professional programs, has been a driving force behind the rapid growth in this area. “We are proud to be a part of this important development in legal education – a program that truly belongs at a law school like UCLA Law, which sits in the center of a large and dynamic city and features many of the most respected scholars and teachers anywhere.”

Future courses will include partnerships with local universities and organizations related to important issues like corporate governance and marquee events such as the LA28 Olympics.

Read more about Executive Education at UCLA Law.