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Because of the central role intellectual property (patents, trademarks, trade secrets and
copyrights) will have on the future of our country and the world, it is critical that the legal
profession serving this strategic area strive mightily to reflect the rich diversity of our great
nation. Therefore, the AIPLEF Board decided to take as one of its central missions,
activities which would help to increase diversity in the IP bar.
The first initiative of the Foundation has been the establishment of the Sidney B. Williams,
Jr. Intellectual Property Law Scholarships. The goal of these scholarships is to increase the
number of under-represented minority groups serving as intellectual property law
practitioners in law firms and the intellectual property law departments in corporations.
Since April 2002, the AIPLEF has been awarding a number of $10,000 Scholarships for
Minority Scholars as well as arranging internships and mentorships to assist
under-represented minority law school students intending practice intellectual property law. The scholarships are named in honor of Sidney B. Williams, Jr. who
was the first African-American to hold major leadership roles in both the AIPLA and the
ABA-IPL Section and who has and continues to give countless hours and boundless energies
to influence minority students looking for a future in science and engineering to pursue law school and intellectual property law. He is a role model for all young
lawyers.
Over 300 companies have signed the following statement developed by Bell South
Corporation Legal Department Diversity Committee and adopted by Minority Corporate
Counsel Association:
The Challenge
One of the greatest difficulties faced by both law firms and corporate
law departments trying to adhere to this principle and improve the diversity profiles of
their intellectual property lawyers is the relatively small number of minority candidates
currently qualified to practice intellectual property law. Because of the relatively small
number of minority lawyers involved in the practice of intellectual property law, severe
competition exists among law firms and corporations to hire the few minority lawyers
that have entered the field.
In addition, many firms and corporations are never exposed to potential candidates,
who may find employment in other fields of law or business, both because these
candidates are unaware of the opportunities open in the intellectual property field, and
because these firms and corporations do not know how to locate potential candidates. |
