Please see the announcement below regarding USPTO’s expansion of the Law School Clinic Certification Program.

Program accepting law school clinic submissions through December 31, 2022.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is extending the submission deadline for expanding its Law School Clinic Certification Program by admitting additional schools into the program. Founded in 2008, the program currently includes 60 law school clinics and offers patent and trademark applicants access to pro bono services. It also gives law students, under the supervision of a faculty clinic supervisor, experience in practicing intellectual property law before the USPTO.

The program is administered by the USPTO’s Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED). Participating law school clinics must maintain the requirements for USPTO certification in order for students to practice before the agency.

“The USPTO is committed to fostering a strong and vital patent system,” said Drew Hirshfeld, performing the functions and duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. “The development of legal skills through practical experience allows advocates to effectively support and represent their clients’ interests.”

Submissions from interested law school clinical programs will be accepted on a rolling basis through December 31, 2022. Details of the program expansion and application materials are available on the Law School Clinic Certification Program page of the USPTO website.

For additional information and application submission guidelines, please contact Jennifer Harchick, Emily Sprague, Gerard Taylor, Kim Weinreich, or Charlema Grant by telephone at (571) 272‐4097 or lawschoolinformation@uspto.gov.

Learn about our nationwide Patent Pro Bono Program

Learn about our nationwide Patent Pro Bono Program during a webinar for inventors, entrepreneurs, law school students, and professors. The discussion will include an explanation of pro bono services available and a brief overview of legal jobs available at the USPTO.

Join the event via WebEx.

Patent Examiner Sara Sass, detailee to our Office of Enrollment and Discipline, will lead the discussion.

The Patent Pro Bono Program is a collaboration between the USPTO and local, regional, and national legal organizations, as well as the USPTO’s Law School Clinic Certification Program.

For more information, please contact Acting Eastern Regional Outreach Officer Aaron Footman. 

USPTO to expand Law School Clinic Certification Program

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is expanding its Law School Clinic Certification Program by admitting additional schools into the program. Founded in 2008, the program currently includes 59 law school clinics and offers patent and trademark applicants access to pro bono services. It also gives law students, who are strictly supervised by a faculty clinic supervisor, experience in practicing intellectual property law before the USPTO.

The program is administered by the USPTO’s Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED). OED is responsible for registering attorneys and agents to practice before the USPTO and for developing and administering the registration examination. Participating clinics must maintain the requirements for USPTO certification in order for students to practice before the agency.

Submissions from interested law school clinical programs will be accepted on a rolling basis through May 31, 2021. Details of the program expansion and application materials are available on the Law School Clinic Certification Program page of the USPTO website.

For additional information and application submission guidelines, please contact the Office of Enrollment and Discipline by telephone at (571) 272‐4097 or lawschoolinformation@uspto.gov.