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MSU College of Law

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 11, 2012

CONTACT: Kent Love, director of communications, 517-432-6959; kent.love@law.msu.edu

MSU Law Small Business & Nonprofit Clinic Students Gain Real-World Trademark Experience

East Lansing, MI — Michigan State University College of Law joins nine other law schools across the country as part of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Law School Clinic Certification Pilot Program this fall.

Michigan State Law students will practice trademark law before the USPTO under the guidance and supervision of Small Business & Nonprofit Law (SBNL) Clinic faculty. They will represent small businesses and individuals on a pro bono basis.

“Before now, although students were involved in every phase of our clinic’s trademark cases, only clinic supervisors were allowed to communicate with and practice before the USPTO on trademark matters,” said Professor Nicole Dandridge, associate clinical professor of law and director of the SBNL clinic. “Students will continue to draft and file trademark applications for clients, but they will now gain experience addressing trademark application issues directly with trademark examining attorneys.”

A committee of USPTO professionals reviewed MSU Law’s program application. The Law College’s acceptance into the program was based on the school’s support of hands-on learning opportunities for students, commitment to community outreach, comprehensive pro bono services, solid intellectual property curriculum, and excellent case management systems. Each law school clinic must meet and maintain USPTO certification requirements in order for student practitioners to practice before the USPTO.

The Small Business & Nonprofit Clinic enhances law students' professional development through experiential learning in the specialized transactional areas of business and nonprofit law.

Michigan State University College of Law, a leading institution of legal education with a long history of educating practice-ready attorneys, prepares future lawyers to use ethics, ambition, and intellect to solve the world’s problems. Michigan State Law offers comprehensive interdisciplinary opportunities combined with a personalized legal education, and is on an upward trajectory of national and international reputation and reach. MSU Law professors are gifted teachers and distinguished scholars, its curriculum is rigorous and challenging, and its facility is equipped with the latest resources—all affirming a commitment to educating 21st-century lawyers.

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Law College Building
648 N. Shaw Lane, Room 320
East Lansing, MI 48824
www.law.msu.edu

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