ALEXANDRIA - The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is expanding its Law School Clinic Certification Program and extending the submission deadline for additional schools to join 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, who are strictly supervised by a faculty clinic supervisor, experience in practicing intellectual property law before the USPTO. 

According to the Office, 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. 

Submissions from interested law school clinical programs will be accepted on a rolling basis through July 7, 2025. Details of the program expansion and application materials are available on the Law School Clinic Certification Program page of the USPTO website.