Starting in January, MSU, MSU-Detroit College of Law and Grand Valley State University will bring law to west Michigan by offering an advanced securities course on GVSU's campus.

Representatives of the three schools will be forming an academic planning committee that will outline a plan for future course offerings.

These courses will try to attract law students, practicing attorneys, dual-degree students and corporate executives looking for law-related education.

By the 2003 fall semester, the three universities hope to be offering a myriad of third-year law courses. "Presumably, Grand Rapids students who are in the (DCL) law program can take their classes here," said Claudia Bajema, GVSU's Master of Business Administration program director.

The course planning is an effort by the three schools and the Grand Rapids Bar Association to continue to expand educational opportunities in the state.

"With getting the dual-degree program going and finally after a number of years of talking they reached an agreement two years ago."

These courses, which will be offered in the DeVos Center on GVSU's Pew Campus, is home to the graduate business programs and the Grand Rapids Bar Association library.

DCL student Marlon Roberts said the extension of DCL will be a good opportunity for students.

"I think it does a good job of getting into society and promoting the school and letting people know it's here," the second-year law student said. "It's also convenient for some students instead of coming all the way here."

Christine Hammond, executive director for planning and administrative affairs at DCL, said the programs are an added collaboration.

"We will be able to collaborate in designing what form legal education in the west part of the Michigan will take," she said.