Part-Time Clinical Law Instructor, Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Clinic

The Clinical Law Program at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law seeks a part-time Clinical Law Instructor to teach patent law and work in the school’s established Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Clinic (“IPEC”). This is a part-time, one-year appointment at 80% effort, with the possibility of renewal contingent on performance and availability of funding. The Clinical Law Instructor position offers a unique opportunity to join the clinical law faculty to support the continued development of a clinic representing high tech startup companies and entrepreneurs from across the State of Maryland. Working alongside IPEC’s director and a business law instructor, the Patent Clinical Law Instructor will play a key role in training law students to meet the patent needs of emerging companies and local small businesses as IPEC provides them with a broad range of intellectual property and business law services. The Clinical Law Instructor will supervise second and third-year law students certified by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and under Maryland Rule 19-220 in their direct representation of clients; co-teach weekly class sessions for IPEC students focusing on the lawyering, transactional, and other substantive skills necessary to provide quality representation to businesses; and provide educational outreach to entrepreneurs on the UMB campus and throughout Maryland.

The Clinical Law Instructor will serve as IPEC’s Patent Clinic Supervisor for its participation in the USPTO’s Law School Clinic Certification Program. Law students with adequate technical backgrounds receive limited recognition to practice before the Office while they are working under the supervision of the Clinical Law Instructor, who must also be certified by the USPTO. The Clinical Law Instructor will oversee preliminary patentability searches, preparation and filing of patent applications, and responses to office actions by the student attorneys. The Clinical Law Instructor will also be responsible for maintaining IPEC’s patent docket and responding to matters that may arise during the summer and other breaks in the academic calendar.

Primary duties of the Clinical Law Instructor :

The position will require both legal and programmatic work including:

• Teaching and supervising clinical law students enrolled in IPEC in their representation of clients seeking assistance with a broad range of intellectual property matters. The Clinical Law Instructor will develop and implement effective clinical pedagogy to ensure quality representation of clients along with a rich learning opportunity for students. This will involve weekly supervision meetings, attendance at client meetings, case analysis and planning, reviewing and providing detailed comments on students’ written work, and coordinating all communications with the USPTO.
• Serving as the Patent Clinic Supervisor for IPEC’s participation in the USPTO’s Law School Clinic Certification Program, as described more fully above.
• Co-teaching weekly two-hour class sessions to IPEC students to complement their direct client representations and explore broader issues of access to legal protections for underrepresented inventors and businesses.
• Developing criteria for and overseeing case acceptance to serve the needs of entrepreneurs and to provide a rich and varied learning opportunity for law students.
• Nurturing existing partnerships and developing new collaborations to facilitate client referrals and support the entrepreneurial community in Baltimore and beyond.
• Handling patent and other IP matters during law school breaks and the summer, including filing of applications that were not concluded by the end of each semester and responding to office actions in a timely manner.
• Fulfilling reporting obligations required by the USPTO, as well as certain sponsor organizations.
• Other duties as required.

Qualifications :

Minimum Qualifications :

• J.D. from an ABA accredited school. Must be admitted to practice law in Maryland, or eligible as an out-of-state, experienced attorney for admission under Rules 19-215 and 19-216, and must be in good standing.
• Technical background and admission to the patent bar.
• Must be able to satisfy the USPTO’s requirements for a Patent Clinic Supervisor, including a minimum of 3 years’ experience prosecuting patent applications within the last 5 years.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant legal experience in intellectual property law. Experience in patent prosecution is required; experience in other areas of IP and/or business law is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience in patent prosecution, along with exposure to other areas of IP and/or business law.
• Passion for teaching and mentoring; experience with or an interest in clinical education.
• Experience supervising and mentoring law students or lawyers.
• Excellent coordination and organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to network as well as support effective partnerships with key groups and individuals.

• Collaborative and entrepreneurial spirit with ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
• Ability to handle multiple ongoing tasks that require daily or weekly updating and attention.
• Commitment to collaborating with professionals from other schools, as well as ability to work with a wide range of people, including law students, clinic clients, faculty members, the entrepreneurial community, and representatives of the USPTO.
• Dedication to an inclusive working and learning environment.

Salary : Annualized salary up to $83,000 depending on experience. This is a part-time, one-year appointment at 80% effort, with the possibility of renewal contingent on performance and availability of funding.

UMB offers a generous benefits package, which includes vacation days, holidays, and sick days; comprehensive health insurance and retirement options; and tuition remission for employees and their dependents at any of the University System of Maryland schools.

To apply: Interested applicants should submit (a) a cover letter, (b) resume, and (c) the names and contact information for at least three references by March 20, 2023. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

UMB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law or policy. For assistance related to employment, please contact the Staffing department at HRJobs@umaryland.edu .

If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), during any part of the employment process, please submit a UMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request. You may also contact HRDiversity@umaryland.edu . Please note that only inquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.