August 1, 2014
DALLAS (SMU) —SMU Dedman School of Law has been chosen to become part of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) law school clinic certification pilot program.
The USPTO selection committee said it chose SMU because of its “intellectual property (IP) curricula, pro bono services to the public, and community networking and outreach.”
“The patent and trademark clinics will add to Dedman Law’s strength in the intellectual property area, along with our rich curricular offerings, outstanding faculty, and student Intellectual Property Organization,” said
Jennifer M. Collins, dean of SMU Dedman School of Law.
The USPTO patent and trademark pilot clinics will open this fall. These clinics will provide patent and trademark prosecution services for small start-up companies and individuals, as well as offer essential skills training for law students.
SMU Dedman Law already has a large number of IP-related courses that are offered, taught by five full-time and nine adjunct professors. The law school also publishes SMU Science and Technology Law Review.
The IP-related courses at Dedman Law include:
- Copyright Law
- Intellectual Property
- Intellectual Property Licensing
- International Intellectual Property
- Intellectual Property and Business Organizations
- Law
and Science
- Patent Law
- Patent Prosecution
- Patent Litigation
- Selected Topics in Intellectual Property
- Social Media Law
- Trademark and Business Torts
“Through the patent and
trademark clinic, our students will learn substantive skills and have the
opportunity to expand their understanding of intellectual property law,” said W.
Keith Robinson, Dedman Law assistant professor. “Further, the clinic will
provide the law school with the ability to strengthen its relationship with the
growing start-up and entrepreneurial community in Dallas.”
“Our selection to have both a patent clinic and a trademark clinic comes shortly
after the Patent and Trademark Office opened a regional office here in Dallas,”
said David O. Taylor, assistant professor at SMU Dedman School of Law. “Given
these events, it sure is an exciting time to be part of the intellectual
property law community in Dallas and at SMU in particular.”
DEDMAN SCHOOL OF LAW’S CLINIC PROGRAM
Each year more than 170 Dedman Law students provide low or no-cost legal aid to
Dallas residents through clinics that handle more than 360 cases annually.
Civil Clinic:
Represents low-income clients in matters ranging from housing disputes to elder
advocacy to civil rights litigation.
Criminal Justice Clinic:
Represents Dallas county citizens charged with criminal offenses, works with the
Dallas Public Defender’s Office and provides students with jury trial
experience.
Federal Taxpayers Clinic:
Represents low-income clients needing to resolve tax problems with the Audit,
Appeals and Collection divisions of the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S.
Tax Court. This clinic was the first tax clinic in the country with the
authority to represent clients before the IRS and the U.S. Tax Court.
Small Business Clinic:
This clinic introduces student attorneys to practical applications of business
formation and provides needed representation for small start-up companies and
individuals developing private nonprofit entities.
W. W. Caruth, Jr. Child
Advocacy Clinic: Represents children
who have been abused and neglected in Dallas County. The clinic is appointed by
juvenile district court judges to serve as guardian/attorney ad litem.
Consumer Advocacy Project:
Reaches out to the local bilingual Hispanic community and helps resolve consumer
complaints. This clinic focuses on formal litigation, informal advocacy,
negotiation and mediation strategies, as well as community education.
Judge Elmo B. Hunter Legal Center for Victims of Crimes Against Women:
Opening early 2015, will provide services for victims of domestic violence, sex
trafficking and other crimes against women.
VanSickle Family Law Clinic: Opening fall, 2015, will provide free legal assistance for low-income North
Texas residents in matters such as divorce, annulment, paternity actions,
custody and visitation, child and spousal support.
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SMU is a nationally ranked private university in Dallas founded 100 years ago.
Today, SMU enrolls nearly 11,000 students who benefit from the academic
opportunities and international reach of seven degree-granting schools.
SMU Dedman School of Law
was founded in 1925 and named Dedman School of Law in 2001 in honor of Dallas
benefactors Nancy and Robert H. Dedman, Sr., and their family. SMU Dedman Law
offers both
a
full-time, J.D. program,
and a
part-time evening J.D. program;
two joint degree programs, J.D./M.B.A. and J.D/M.A. in
economics;
four graduate degree programs, LL.M. program for foreign law
school graduates, LL.M. in Taxation, general LL.M., and an S.J.D. program.
The law school enjoys a national and international
reputation of distinction, with graduates that have
distinguished themselves as global leaders in law, business and government, and
as prominent members of the judiciary.