Texas A&M University School of Law Legal Clinics

About

The Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic provides free legal services regarding trademark and patent law issues to entrepreneurs, non-profits, artists and inventors with limited financial resources. This clinic operates within the Center for Law and Intellectual Property at Texas A&M University School of Law, and the law students work directly with the clients.

This clinic also participates in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO’s) Law School Clinic Certification Pilot Program, which means the students are certified to practice as student attorneys by the USPTO. Our students interact directly with the USPTO and its examiners on behalf of clients, under the supervision of a Faculty Supervising Attorney.

This law clinic is divided into two practice areas: trademarks and patents. Students in this clinic may perform transactional tasks for clients, including: • Trademark clearance • Trademark searches • Drafting and filing of trademark applications • Patentability searches • Provisional patent applications • Utility patent applications • Assistance with the patent and trademark registration process • Responses to Office Actions for both trademarks and patents

The clinic generally represents individuals and businesses with incomes no greater than 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Clients are selected based on a variety of factors, including financial need, educational value to the law students, potential impact on society or communities, and timing.  Although services are provided for free by the student attorneys and their supervisors, clients are responsible for certain fees and other costs that may be necessary. For example, clients are responsible for the fees to register a company in Texas or another state. All fees will be paid directly to the particular state or other governing body by the client.

The Entrepreneurship Law Clinic at Texas A&M University School of Law helps clients who have limited financial resources start, organize and develop their business. In this clinic, student attorneys help determine what kind of legal entity is right for each client’s situation. The student attorneys then assist with the paperwork and transactions required to establish or develop a business, whether that business is for-profit or non-profit.

The clinic also provides assistance in strategizing, negotiating, and drafting organizational and operational agreements. Law students from Texas A&M School of Law assist clients in the establishment and organization of business entities under the following legal structures: • Corporations (S and C) • Limited liability companies • Partnerships • Joint ventures • Sole proprietorships • Non-profit corporations • The Entrepreneurship Law Clinic is operated within the Center for Law and Intellectual Property at Texas A&M University School of Law. All work performed by student attorneys is under the direction of experienced faculty, who are leading practitioners in the community.

Anyone with limited financial resources in need of legal counsel related to formation, organization or development of a business is encouraged to apply. The clinic generally represents individuals and businesses with incomes no greater than 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Clients are selected based on a variety of factors, including financial need, educational value to the law students, potential impact on society or communities, and timing. Although services are provided for free by the student attorneys and their supervisors, clients are responsible for certain fees and other costs that may be necessary. For example, clients are responsible for the fees to register a company in Texas or another state. All fees will be paid directly to the particular state or other governing body by the client.