USPTO to Expand Law School Clinic Certification Program
WASHINGTON June
15, 2016 – The
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that it opened the
current Law School Clinic Certification Program (Program) to admit additional
schools to commence participation in the Program. This Program allows law
students to practice patent and/or trademark law before the USPTO under the
guidance of a law school faculty clinic supervisor.
Students in both the patent and trademark portions of
the Program can expect to draft and file applications and respond to Office
Actions. Each law school clinical program must meet and maintain the
requirements for USPTO certification in order for law school clinic students to
practice before the USPTO.
The Program began in 2008 with 6 schools selected to allow students to practice
before the USPTO in patents and/or trademarks. The Program expanded in 2010,
2012 and 2014. Currently 42 law school clinics participate in the
Program, 17 clinics participate in both the patent and trademark portions of
the Program, 19 clinics participate only in the trademark portion of the
Program, and 6 clinics participate only in the patent portion of the Program.
Source: http://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/uspto-expand-law-school-clinic-certification-program