WASHINGTON - The United States
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced 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.