Immersed in a culture of passionate sports enthusiasts, Seattle boasts a thriving and dynamic sports industry. For students who dream of working at the intersection of sports and law, Seattle University School of Law offers a unique opportunity to delve into the legal complexities of the sports industry, including but not limited to athlete representation and intellectual property, with an emphasis on ethics and social justice. Surrounded by several strong sports organizations, the program offers practical perspectives from industry to complement a strong foundation of legal principles.

Degrees

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JD

Choose from the courses below to create a curriculum centered on the many legal issues that intersect the sports landscape, including labor relations, contracts, antitrust, and intellectual property.

MLS Sports Law

Our residential Master of Legal Studies program is for students who want an in-depth understanding of the legal principles necessary to navigate the complex business operations of sports organizations, including contracts, intellectual property, and compliance.

SU Redhawks basketball player Reiley 23.

Online MLS in Sports Law Compliance

Our online MLS in Compliance & Risk Management offers a concentration in sports law compliance geared toward students who want to focus their legal studies in learning the skills to build compliance programs around NCAA, NIL, conference, and league governance, from interscholastic to professional athletics.

Internships and externships (selected)

  • Climate Pledge Arena
  • Seattle Kraken
  • Seattle Seahawks
  • Seattle Sounders FC
  • Seattle University Athletics
  • University of Washington Athletics Intellectual Property

Advisory board

  • Jimmie McMillian, Senior Corporate Counsel, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • Fred Rivera, General Counsel, Seattle Mariners
  • Hewan Teshome, General Counsel, Seattle Kraken
  • John Wilson, Partner, K&L Gates

Faculty - Career

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Margaret Chon

TILE Faculty Co-Director

Donald and Lynda Horowitz Endowed Chair for the Pursuit of Justice

Expertise: Intellectual Property, International Intellectual Property

John Eason

Professor of Law

Expertise: Intellectual Property, Property

John B. Kirkwood

Professor of Law

Expertise: Antitrust

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Russell Powell

Professor of Law and SJD Program Director

Steve Tapia

Distinguished Practitioner in Residence

Expertise: Technology Law

Kelli Rodriguez Currie

Meet the director

Kelli teaches sports law and sports management courses; her research interests include the student-athlete experience and NCAA compliance. She has published on topics including Title IX, NCAA eligibility, and the use of cannabinoids in sport medicine.

Recent news

New program aims to develop sports law practitioners, Seattle U Law News Center | June 2023

Double Duties: Kelli Rodriguez's love of sports perfectly intersects with a passion for law and business, Seattle University Magazine | Spring 2023

Contact

MLS Programs
Seattle University School of Law
901 12th Avenue, Sullivan Hall 209
Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: 206-398-4173
Email: MLS@seattleu.edu