Description
Summary of Position:
Suffolk University Law School's nationally ranked Clinical Programs welcomes applications for the Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Clinic's (IPEC) inaugural Clinical Teaching Fellow. The Fellow will supervise clinical students in their case work, mentor and advise students, and assist in teaching the IPEC seminar. The Fellow may also contribute to developing the syllabus, docket, policies and procedures of IPEC, and participate in Clinical faculty meetings and other academic and programmatic events during the Fellowship.
Position Description:
IPEC is a full-year in-house clinic offered for 10 credits (5 credits/semester). Students, typically those in their last year of law school, represent small and emerging business from communities unlikely to have access to legal services. Students work on a variety of intellectual property and entrepreneurial related matters, including those related to branding, copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, and privacy protections. IPEC students will also have the opportunity to counsel entrepreneurs and start-up companies on business law matters such as incorporation, contract law, and IP strategy. Clients of the clinic generally include: artists, authors, designers, filmmakers, musicians; innovators; individual entrepreneurs and small businesses; some established corporations; and nonprofit organizations. You can read more about IPEC's matters and faculty, here.
The position is designed for JD graduates with at least three (3) years of post-graduate experience who are considering a career in the Clinic's substantive practice areas and/or law school clinical teaching. Under the supervision of the IPEC Director, the Clinical Fellow's general responsibilities include supervising students' case work, mentoring and advising students, and assisting students with client representation. The Clinical Fellow will gain experience and familiarization with clinical pedagogy. The Clinical Fellow will work with one or more members of the clinical faculty to develop clinical teaching and student supervision skills. The Clinical Fellow will also have the opportunity to co-teach clinical seminar modules alongside full-time faculty. During the Fellowship, the Clinical Fellow will also assist in the identification of new cases and projects for IPEC, as well as manage IPEC's ongoing cases during those periods when students are not available, including the summer months. The Clinical Fellow will have the opportunity to participate in professional development, training, and networking activities, including conferences, workshops, and programs on teaching, scholarship and publication, and other topics. The Fellow will also receive support for scholarship and professional development.
Requirements/Qualifications:
- Eligible candidates will possess a JD and be admitted, or willing and qualified to seek admission, to the Massachusetts Bar.
- Successful candidates will have at least three (3) years of legal experience in one or more areas of intellectual property, including practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and a demonstrated passion for the work of the Clinic. They will have substantive knowledge and experience in one or more relevant Clinic subjects (e.g., intellectual property, including copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, TTAB oppositions, copyright claims board adjudications, business formation matters, and business transactional matters such as contract drafting and negotiation).
- Preference will be given to candidates with trademark practice experience, including client counseling; searching and clearing trademarks; and preparing, filing and prosecuting trademark applications. Experience practicing before the TTAB is preferred but not required. Experience in patent and copyright practice is preferred but not required.
- Candidates must possess excellent analytical, communication, organizational, and planning skills.
- Experience in clinical teaching and/or as a clinical law student, and experience supervising and/or mentoring new attorneys is preferred but not required.
- Experience working with diverse communities, clients, and other stakeholders is preferred but not required.
Hours and Duration: This position will begin on or about July 1, 2022. The position is a full-time, 12-month contract. The position may be renewed for a second year. It is anticipated that the position will end after two years, but there is a possibility of renewal for a third year, depending on programmatic needs and funding.
Required Application Documents: Cover Letter
Resume or CV
List of three references
Teaching Evaluations (if applicable)
Applicants should submit their materials via Suffolk's job posting website: Click here to apply.
Please note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. However, applications received prior to July 10th will be given priority.
Equal Opportunity: Suffolk University does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, genetic information, or status as a veteran in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs, activities, or employment.
Suffolk University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. The University is dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive faculty and staff who contribute to the robust exchange of ideas on campus, and who are committed to teaching and working in a diverse environment. We strongly encourage applications from groups historically marginalized or underrepresented because of race/color, gender, religious creed, disability, national origin, veteran status or LGBTQ status. The search committee is especially interested in candidates who, through their research, teaching, service and/or experience, will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community. For more information on Suffolk Law's commitment to diversity, please see https://www.suffolk.edu/about/diversity-equity-and-inclusion
Suffolk University does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, genetic information, or status as a veteran in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs, activities, or employment.Suffolk University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. The University is dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive faculty and staff that reflect the broad range of human experience who contribute to the robust exchange of ideas on campus, and who are committed to teaching and working in a diverse environment. We strongly encourage applications from groups historically marginalized or underrepresented because of race/color, gender, religious creed, disability, national origin, veteran status or LGBTQ status. Suffolk University is especially interested in candidates who, through their training, service and experience, will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the University community.
