Small Business Legal Clinic Patent Program

Small Business Legal Clinic Patent Program - Adjunct Professor Dan Housely

• Course Number: LAW-792P
• Course Type: Highly Specialized & Experiential
• Credits: 3
• Enrollment Limit: 2 students during Fall and Spring semesters, not offered during Summer Session
• Description:  The Small Business Legal Clinic (SBLC) patent program provides experiential legal training to upper division student interns interested in patent law. Under the supervision of the clinical professor, interns take the lead role in the representation of low-income, small and emerging businesses and nonprofit organizations interested in patenting their invention. Interns learn to conduct the initial client interview, counsel clients on the patent process, draft provisional and non-provisional patents, conduct patent searches and respond to United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) office actions.

  The SBLC is part of the USPTO law school clinic certification program. The USPTO grants interns limited recognition to practice before the USPTO. With the limited recognition, interns may gain experience answering Office Actions and communicating with patent examiners about applications. More about the USPTO program here: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/ip-policy/public-information-about-practitioners/law-school-clinic-1?MURL=lawschoolclinic

  The SBLC operates as a law firm. Interns track their time and maintain client files. Interns may participate in community outreach events or other public speaking engagements designed to educate and assist small businesses.

  The Small Business Legal Clinic is a 3 credit, credit/No Credit, one semester course with no final examination or paper requirement. Interns may fulfill their WIE requirement.

  Interns work on client matters eight hours a week during their office hours and attend weekly seminars. Interns consult with the clinical professor to determine the date and times of their office hours and seminars. Interns must commit to a consistent schedule for the semester. Some weeks, interns may be required to attend the SBLC seminar held on campus Fridays from 9:00am to 11:00am. The seminars cover substantive legal topics as well as practical skills, and provide interns opportunities to discuss their client matters with other interns.

  Orientation will occur during the first week of classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with the SBLC business interns. On Monday and Wednesday, patent students may attend orientation either in the morning session, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm or the afternoon session, from 1:00 pm to 5:00pm. These sessions will be in the SBLC’s downtown offices. Friday’s session will be on campus from 9:00am t 11:00am. Orientation provides the information and skills training necessary for interns to meet their first client as soon as possible. Attendance at Orientation is mandatory. Orientation provides the information and skills training necessary for interns to meet their first client as soon as possible. Attendance at orientation is mandatory. If a student has a conflict with attending orientation, please contact Prof. Susan Felstiner, at sfelstiner@lclark.edu, or Prof. Housely at danhousley@lclark.edu.

• Student Evaluations: Interns are evaluated on their attendance and performance during their office hours, seminar participation, and written assignments.
• Application Process:  The SBLC patent program is by application only. Interns must be eligible to take the patent bar.

  Selection Criteria: Interest in and commitment to patent law and taking the patent bar; year of study (graduating students given priority); lack of conflicts of interest; ability to successfully complete course requirements.

• Pre-Requisites/Co-Requisites: None, but we recommend that students take Patent Law and Policy and Patent Prosecution.
• Required Application Materials:
  • Cover Letter describing interest in the patent program, 
  • Transcript (unofficial transcript is fine), and 
  • Resume

Submit all materials in one portable document format (PDF) with your name in the title of the PDF. To assist us in determining potential client conflicts, the application materials should include, in either the cover letter or resume, all law related jobs and externships you have held and currently hold, and clinics in which you have enrolled.

• Eligible to Apply: 2Ls - 4Ls
• Submit applications via email to: Prof. Felstiner at sfelstiner@lclark.edu
• Application deadline: Determined each semester
• Number of Students Accepted: 2 per semester
• Capstone: no
• WIE: yes

See the SBLC website for additional information about the SBLC and the Intern Patent Program.

If you have questions, please contact Prof. Felstiner at sfelstiner@lclark.edu