The Patent Clinic

Independent inventors and businesses or non-profits with a patentable idea can receive assistance in prosecuting a patent application with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO).

The Patent Clinic provides patent legal assistance in the following areas:
• Client counseling
• Invention disclosure interview
• Patentability search and opinion
• Patent application preparation
• Patent application filing (administrative fees paid by client)
• Patent application prosecution to issuance (administrative fees paid by client)
• Patent application appeals (limited)
• Patent licensing

The Trademark Clinic

Individuals and small business, non-profits, and organizations can also obtain Federal trademarks or service marks from the USPTO.

The Trademark Clinic provides legal assistance in the following areas:
• Client counseling
• Trademark clearance searches
• Trademark application
• Trademark prosecution
• Trademark licensing

The Patent & Trademark Clinic does not represent clients in court or before administrative boards, such as the TTAB. Additionally, the clinic cannot file international patent or trademark applications and cannot manage or administer maintenance fees for issued patents and trademarks.

To qualify for services a business or inventor seeking a patent should have a developed idea for an invention, and those seeking trademarks should have an operating business with products or services in the stream of commerce or a functioning organization, such as a community group.

All clients must have the resources to pay all USPTO fees but lack the means to hire a patent or trademark attorney to advise them. Potential clients are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the USPTO administrative fee structure for patents.

The Nonprofit & Business Law Clinic (NBLC)

Nonprofit organizations and small businesses seeking clinic services should have on-going operations or a well-developed business plan.

The NBLC provides legal assistance in the following areas:
• General business advice
• Business formation and operation
• Contract review and negotiation
• Commercial leasing
• Nonprofit tax exemption
• Independent contractor and employment issues
• Permitting and licensing

The NBLC provides a wide variety of legal assistance, but does not represent clients in court.

The Veterans Legal Assistance Clinic

Former members of the United States Military may obtain legal assistance in a variety of areas, including:
• Divorce
• Child Custody/Visitation
• Name Change
• Stepparent Adoption
• Guardianship/ Conservatorship
• Wills
• Powers of Attorney
• Discharge Upgrade
• Criminal Record Expungement
• Certificate of Rehabilitation
• Pardons

The Veteran’s Legal Assistance Clinic generally does not provide representation in on-going criminal law matters.

The Probate Limited Assistance Clinic

If you’ve recently lost a loved one and need to handle their estate, you may have heard that you need to “file for probate.” You might even have a will sitting on your kitchen table and are wondering what to do next. The Probate Limited Legal Assistance Clinic is here to help guide you through that process.

This clinic is offered through Thomas Jefferson School of Law, with supervision from experienced probate attorneys. It’s designed for people who are representing themselves in the San Diego Superior Court Probate Division and need limited help — not full representation — to move their case forward.

What We Can Help With

Our clinic can assist you with:

• Understanding what forms to file and where to file them
• Preparing petitions for probate (with or without a will)
• Explaining what happens after you file your petition
• Helping you respond to common issues or court requests
• Guiding you through the steps to close an estate once everything is ready
• We focus on helping you handle the paperwork and court process correctly so you can avoid costly mistakes and delays.

Who Can Use the Clinic

This clinic is for self-represented individuals (people who do not have an attorney) who are:

• Filing a simple probate (for example, when there’s a home, a bank account, or a few assets in the person’s name), or
• Trying to understand what to do with a will, or
• Already have a probate case filed and need help completing the next steps.
• If your case is very complex or involves major disputes, we’ll do our best to refer you to other legal resources.

What to Expect

You’ll meet with a law student under the supervision of a licensed probate attorney. We’ll talk with you about your case, review your paperwork, and help you understand your next steps. Each session is limited in scope — meaning we’ll focus on one part of your case at a time.

Our goal is to empower you to handle your probate case confidently and correctly.

How to Get Started

To request help, complete our Request for Legal Assistance Form. Once we receive your form, we’ll contact you to schedule an appointment and confirm your eligibility.