The Patent & Trademark Clinic

The Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s Patent and Trademark Clinics offer a unique opportunity for law students to gain practical hands-on experience under the supervision of a licensed attorney. Our program provides a structured learning environment where students can apply legal knowledge and skills to real-world situations, all while making a meaningful difference in the lives of our community.

Thomas Jefferson School of Law was the first law school in California with both a Patent and Trademark clinic affiliated with the USPTO’s Law School Clinic Certification Program.

The clinic’s goal is to enable inventors and entrepreneurs who would otherwise be unable to afford intellectual property legal services to obtain the benefits that would otherwise be available only to those with significant financing.

Our clinic operates on a pro bono basis, meaning that our services are free of charge to eligible potential clients. To seek clinic services a potential client should have an existing invention, an existing business, or a well-developed business plan. To qualify for our program, potential clients must meet certain income eligibility criteria, and must consent to allowing a certified law student to take primary responsibility for their legal matter.

Because clinic clients must pay all filing fees, potential clients are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the USPTO administrative fee schedule for Patents or Trademarks, as appropriate, to ensure that they can afford these fees before engaging with the clinic.

The law students enrolled in the clinic are certified by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to practice law under the supervision of a licensed attorney.

The supervisory team at the Patent and Trademark Clinics has extensive experience in helping people navigate complex intellectual property matters. We understand the unique challenges people face while navigating the United States Patent and Trademark Office processes.

Currently, the Patent and Trademark offices are able to offer representation in the following areas:

• Patent & Trademark initial consultations to determine eligibility
• Patent searches to determine prior art in the field
• Trademark searches to determine availability
• Patent & Trademark applications (clients must cover all filing fees)

Those seeking legal assistance through the clinic are encouraged to complete the Request for Legal Assistance Form.

For questions, please call (619) 961-4292 or email clinicalprograms@tjsl.edu.