Congratulations to the new USPTO Law School Pilot Program participants! The newly selected schools are:
- Arizona State University School of Law (Patents and Trademarks)
- California Western School of Law (Trademarks)
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law (Patents)
- Fordham School of Law (Patents and Trademarks)
- Michigan State University School of Law (Trademarks)
- North Carolina Central University School of Law (Patents)
- University of Notre Dame (Patents and Trademarks)
- University of San Francisco School of Law (Trademarks)
- South Texas College of Law (Trademarks)
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law (Patents and Trademarks)
- Wayne State University School of Law (Patents), and
- University of Washington School of Law (Patents and Trademarks).
These schools join the law schools that are current members of the program. These existing schools are:
- American University, Washington College of Law (Trademarks)
- Howard University School of Law (Trademarks)
- North Carolina Central University School of Law (Trademarks)
- Rutgers Law School – Newark (Trademarks)
- The George Washington University School of Law (Trademarks)
- The John Marshall School of Law (Patents)
- University of Akron School of Law (Trademarks)
- University of Connecticut School of Law (Patents and Trademarks)
- University of Maine School of Law (Patents and Trademarks)
- University of Maryland School of Law (Patents and Trademarks)
- University of New Hampshire School of Law (Trademarks)
- University of Puerto Rico School of Law (Patents and Trademarks)
- University of Richmond – Richmond School of Law (Trademarks)
- Vanderbilt Law School (Trademarks)
- West Virginia University School of Law (Trademarks), and
- William Mitchell College of Law (Patents and Trademarks).
The law school pilot program promotes affordable intellectual property (IP) legal services to individuals and small businesses. Law schools participating in the program provide IP legal services to clients on a pro bono basis.
The USPTO accepts law schools into the program that demonstrate strong clinic programs. Overall the schools must possess solid IP 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 IP programs can expect to draft and file patent and trademark applications and respond to Office Actions. Each law school clinic program must meet and maintain the requirements for USPTO certification in order for student practitioners to practice before the USPTO.