MSU-DCL College of Law is trying to expand its programs by adding six staff members to the law college faculty this year.

Among the new faculty hired was Paul Arshagouni, Mary Bedikian, Craig Callen, Donald Laverdure, Adam Mossoff and Peter Yu.

"We are continuing to build out specializations for our students, and the faculty members we've added all are bringing expertise in specialized fields," said MSU-DCL Dean Terence Blackburn.

Mossoff, who is working with Yu to develop the intellectual property program, came to MSU-DCL because its potential for growth and development.

"It's a great institution with a great faculty," Mossoff said. "It's growing and there is a lot going on here."

MSU-DCL also needed to add extra professors to accommodate substantial growth in its numbers of students. There were more than 1,000 law students enrolled during the fall semester, an increase from 696 five years ago, officials said.

Kate McNeill, president of the MSU-DCL Student Bar Association, said she was impressed with the school's approach to improving its curriculum.

"They are looking to improve certain programs and expanding programs to give DCL an edge when recruiting students who are looking at these specific areas," McNeill said. "They have been bringing in experts in these fields, rather than simply general law (faculty), giving students more of a broad range of opportunities in these areas."