ALEXANDRIA, VA – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced in a press release that 20 new law schools have joined the USPTO’s Law School Clinic Certification Program, and five currently participating law schools have added a second clinic program, during the 2016-2018 expansion. Eight law schools have joined both the patent and trademark portions of the program, five law schools have joined the patent portion of the program, and 12 law schools have joined the trademark portion of the program. The new law schools join the 43 law schools that were participating in the program, bringing the total number of participating law schools to 63.
The selection committees chose these schools based on their solid intellectual property curricula, pro bono services to the public, as well as community networking and outreach. The program enables law students to process patent and trademark applications before the USPTO under the guidance of an approved faculty clinic supervisor.
“The expansion of our Law School Clinic Certification Program is a key step toward ensuring independent inventors and small businesses receive the help they need to flourish and ensure their intellectual property is protected,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Andrei Iancu. “I’m excited for the schools who will be joining our program and help us continue strengthening our IP system.”
The law schools selected to participate in the Patent Program are:
• American University, Washington College of Law
• Baylor Law School
• Florida International University College of Law
• Howard University School of Law
• Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Lewis & Clark Law School
• Southern University Law Center
• Suffolk University Law School
• Tulane University Law School
• University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law
• University of Miami School of Law
• University of San Diego School of Law
• Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
The law schools selected to participate in the trademark program are:
• Baylor Law School
• Boston College Law School
• Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Liberty University School of Law
• New York Law School
• Northeastern University School of Law
• Seattle University School of Law
• Southern University Law Center
• Suffolk University Law School
• Syracuse University College of Law
• Tulane University Law School
• University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law
• University of California, Irvine School of Law
• University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
• University of Miami School of Law
• University of Missouri School of Law
• University of Nebraska College of Law
• University of Pennsylvania Law School
• University of San Diego School of Law
• University of St. Thomas School of Law
The participating law school clinical programs provide patent and trademark legal services to independent inventors and small businesses on a pro bono basis. Clinic clients can expect to receive searches and opinions, advice from clinic law students regarding their intellectual property needs under the supervision of a faculty practitioner, drafting and filing of applications and documents in applications, and representation before the USPTO. The law school clinical programs possess solid intellectual property curricula supporting a participating student’s hands-on learning in the program; a commitment to networking in the community; comprehensive pro bono services; and excellent case management systems. Students in the patent or trademark portions of the program can expect to draft and file applications and respond to office actions. Each law school clinic must meet and maintain the requirements for USPTO certification in order for student to practice before the USPTO.