Crafting the future of business law

Washburn Law’s Business & Transactional Law program prepares you to navigate the complex landscape of business and transactional law with confidence and expertise. Whether you aspire to counsel corporations, negotiate high-stakes deals or innovate in the entrepreneurial space, our program offers a robust foundation and practical experience to ensure you are ready to succeed.

Why choose Washburn Law for Business & Transactional Law?

Students shake hands on the first day of law school.

At Washburn Law, our Business & Transactional Law program stands out for its comprehensive curriculum, experienced faculty and extensive opportunities for hands-on learning. Here are some unique advantages of our program:

  • Innovative Curriculum: We offer a diverse range of courses that cover essential areas such as corporate law, securities regulation, tax, real estate, and more. Our curriculum is designed to provide both breadth and depth in business law education.
  • Expert Faculty: Learn from nationally recognized faculty members who bring a wealth of practical experience and academic expertise. Our professors are dedicated to mentoring students and providing insights into the latest developments in business law.
  • Real-World Experience: Through clinics, externships, and competitions, you'll gain practical skills that are directly applicable to your future career. Our Transactional Law Clinic, for example, allows you to work with real clients under the supervision of experienced attorneys.
  • Strong Professional Network: Benefit from connections with accomplished alumni, business leaders, and scholars who are actively involved in our program. These connections provide valuable networking opportunities and can help open doors to exciting career paths.
  • Flexibility and Support: We understand the unique challenges faced by law students and offer resources and support to help you succeed. Our inclusive community is committed to your academic and professional growth.
A curriculum designed for the business minded

Our curriculum in Business & Transactional Law covers all aspects of business and transactional practice. From corporate law and securities regulation to tax law, real estate, and beyond, our courses are designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding and practical skills in various professional areas.

After completing your first year of law school, you can tailor your education to focus on business and transactional law. There are two ways to achieve this focus: you can create your own course of study with the guidance of a business law advisor, or you can pursue a certificate in Business & Transactional Law by meeting the specific requirements.

Dual degree options

Expand your expertise with our dual degree programs, which allow you to earn a J.D. along with an MBA or MAcc from the Washburn University School of Business.

J.D./MBA: This program integrates legal and business studies, preparing you for leadership roles that require both legal and business acumen. Complete both degrees with a total of 108 credit hours.

J.D./M.Acc: Focus on the intersection of law and accounting, gaining the skills to navigate complex financial regulations and practices. This dual degree also requires 108 credit hours.

Earning a certificate demonstrates your commitment to a focused area of study and equips you with the specialized knowledge and skills needed to advance your career. Certificates can enhance your resume, making you a more competitive candidate in the job market and providing you with a deeper understanding of your chosen field.

The Business & Transactional Law certificate recognizes your focused study in business law and your development of essential transactional skills. Requirements include completing specific courses, attending extracurricular events, and fulfilling a writing requirement.

Course of study

Required: Business Associations 

Optional Courses: Choose 12 hours from a robust list of courses such as: 

  • Commercial Law 
  • Corporate Compliance: Law and Policy 
  • Debtor-Creditor Relations 
  • Drafting Contracts and Conveyances 
  • Employment Discrimination 
  • Employment Law 
  • Entrepreneurial Law 
  • Evolution of a Business Transaction 
  • Insurance Law 
  • International Business Transactions 
  • Introduction to Nonprofit Law 
  • Labor Law 
  • Law and Accounting
  • Law and Economics 
  • Negotiations
  • Patent Prosecution 
  • Real Estate Transactions
  • Secured Transactions 
  • Taxation of Business Enterprises 
  • Trademark Law 
  • Transactional Drafting 
  • White Collar Crime 

Extracurricular requirement

Students must attend four extracurricular programming events sponsored or supported by the Business and Transactional Law Center or by a bar association or other professional association relating to business and transactional law.

Writing requirement

Students complete the upper level writing requirement (or equivalent writing project) on a pre-approved Business and Transactional Law topic.

Lawyering experience requirement

Students earning a Business and Transactional Law Certificate must complete a lawyering experience consisting of, for example, the Clinic/Transactional, a Transactional Law Meet Competition, a Washburn Law-sponsored externship, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, or other work experience related to business and transactional law. 

Business and transactional law courses fall within two general categories:

  • Core Courses
  • Advanced Courses

All students interested in business and transactional law should try to take all of the Core Courses. Students with a specific area of interest should choose advanced courses in that area. Other students should choose broadly to help develop an interest in a particular area. Detailed descriptions of each of these courses, can be found in the academic catalog.  

Core Courses

  • Business Associations
  • Contracts I
  • Contracts II
  • Law and Accounting
  • Negotiation
  • Taxation of Individual Income

Advanced Courses

  • Advanced Evidence: Expert Witnesses
  • Advanced Oil and Gas Law
  • Antitrust
  • Arbitration
  • Art Law
  • Clinic Internship/Transactional
  • Debtor/Creditor Relations
  • Decedents' Estates and Trusts, and Future Interests
  • Directed Internship/Transactional
  • Drafting Contacts and Conveyances
  • Employment Discrimination
  • Employment Law
  • Energy Regulation
  • Evolution of a Business Transaction
  • Financial Institution Regulation
  • Health Care Law and Policy
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International Business Transactions
  • Introduction to Nonprofit Law
  • Law and Accounting
  • Law and Economics
  • Law Practice Management
  • Negotiation
  • Oil and Gas Law
  • Patent Law
  • Payment Systems
  • Real Estate Transactions
  • Secured Transactions
  • Securities Regulation
  • Sports and the Law
  • Tax Policy Seminar
  • Taxation of Business Enterprises
  • Taxation of Gratuitous Transfers, Estates, and Trusts
  • Taxation of Individual Income
  • Transactional Drafting
  • Water Rights
  • White Collar Crime
  • Workers' Compensation
  • Writing for Law Practice

Business & Transactional Law Center

The Business & Transactional Law Center at Washburn Law is dedicated to preparing students for successful careers in business law. The center offers specialized programs, training, and events like workshops and lectures, where you can engage with top scholars and practitioners. It also connects you with a network of faculty, alumni, and business leaders for mentorship and career guidance.

Extracurricular opportunities to enhance your education

Competition teams

Draft agreements, negotiate deals, and compete against other law schools, honing your drafting and negotiation skills as part of the Transactional Law Meet Competition.

Externships

Gain practical experience through externships with a variety of organizations. Past externships have included:

  • Collective Brands (Payless and related companies)
  • Local Corporations
  • Banking Entities
  • Kansas Securities Commissioner
  • Kansas Insurance Department
  • Kansas Department of Commerce

Student organizations

Joining student organizations helps you build relationships with peers, develop leadership skills, and deepen your understanding of business law. Our business law student organizations include: 

  • Washburn Business Law Society
  • Intellectual Property Society
  • Real Estate Law Society
  • Tax and Estate Planning Association

Small Business & Nonprofit Transactional Law Clinic

The Washburn Law Small Business & Nonprofit Transactional Clinic offers upper-level law students a unique opportunity to provide business and legal assistance to small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Topeka and surrounding areas. Under the supervision of experienced licensed attorneys, students develop critical skills in business counseling and transactional law while serving clients who cannot afford legal counsel. The clinic focuses on a wide range of services, including drafting business plans, forming entities, applying for tax-exempt status and advising on compliance issues, excluding litigation.
Two students talking while standing