May 07, 2012

Press Release, 12-31

USPTO Expands Trademark Law School Clinic Certification Pilot Program

Program now accepting law school submissions through July 2, 2012

Washington - The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced that it will open the current Trademark Law School Clinic Certification Pilot Program to admit additional schools for the upcoming fall 2012 academic year. This pilot program allows law students to practice trademark law before the agency under the guidance of a law school faculty clinic supervisor.  Submissions from interested law schools will be accepted through Monday, July 2, 2012.

“The USPTO is fully engaged in providing real-world experience for law students,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, David Kappos.  “The expansion of this pilot program will provide more law students with the tools necessary to tackle the complexities of trademark law. Those tools are critical to today’s innovation economy.”

Students in the trademark program can expect to draft and file a trademark application and respond to an Office Action.  Each law school clinical program must meet and maintain the requirements for USPTO certification in order for student practitioners to practice before the USPTO.

The law pilot program began in 2008 with six schools.  In 2010, 10 additional schools practicing in trademarks were added.  The USPTO is also accepting submissions to expand the patent portion of the program by 10 additional schools.  Sixteen law schools currently participate in the pilot program.  Details on the program expansion and application materials are available here.

For submission requirements please see the trademark expansion web-page. For additional information contact Melinda DeAtley, by telephone at (571) 272‐4097 or Melinda.DeAtley@uspto.gov.

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