Law School Clinic Certification Program

Update:  The USPTO has extended the deadline for submitting applications for participation in the Law School Clinic Certification Program to December 29, 2017.  For more information please see below.

What It Is

The Law School Clinic Certification program allows law students enrolled in a participating law school's clinic program to practice Intellectual Property Law before the USPTO under the strict guidance of a Law School Faculty Clinic Supervisor. The program currently consists of students practicing in both patent and trademark law before the USPTO. The program is administered by the Office of Enrollment and Discipline. The Director of the Office of Enrollment and Discipline grants the law students limited recognition to practice before the Office.

Students gain experience drafting and filing either patent applications or trademark applications for clients of the law school clinic. Further, as they are authorized to practice before the USPTO, they gain experience answering Office Actions and communicating with either patent examiners or trademark examining attorneys for the applications they have filed.

Participating Law Schools

The law schools listed below participate in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program. Please contact the school at the listed e-mail address if you wish to make general inquiries or request legal services.

**ACCEPTANCE AS A CLIENT IS
SUBJECT TO THE LAW SCHOOL’S
REQUIREMENTS AND DISCRETION

USPTO Law School Clinical Certification Program Participating School Map

2016 EXPANSION

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has opened the Law School Clinic Certification Program to admit additional law schools to commence participation therein.  Complete application submissions from interested law school clinical programs will be accepted on a rolling basis.  The deadline for submitting an application has been extended from June 30, 2017 to December 29, 2017.  Applications from interested law school clinics will be examined for admission into the Program as they are received.

A copy of the application packet can be found at:

2016 Law School Application Packet

Complete applications and requested materials should be sent to:

MAIL STOP OED
Office of Enrollment and Discipline
United States Patent and Trademark Office
ATTN: Law School Clinic Certification Program
P.O. BOX 1450
Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450

Questions regarding the Program, requirements, or the applications may be directed to OED:

James M. Silbermann, Staff Attorney, OED
Jennifer A. Harchick, Staff Attorney, OED
Email: lawschoolinformation@USPTO.GOV
Phone: 571-272-4097

• Application Form
• Federal Notice

Additional Information

Law Schools interested in participating should continue to monitor this website for announcements of an expansion.
Questions regarding the program may be directed to the Office of Enrollment and Discipline:

Phone: 571-272-4097
E-mail: lawschoolinformation@uspto.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions