I. Purpose

 

This scholarship addresses the need of intellectual property groups in law firms and intellectual property law departments in corporations to improve their diversity profiles by increasing the number of minority candidates.

 

 

 

II. Sidney B. Williams, Jr.

 

Sidney B. Williams, Jr., a corporate and law firm intellectual property attorney for over 30 years, was the first African American attorney to chair of a committee of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).  In addition, Mr. Williams was the first minority attorney to become a member of the Board of Directors of the AIPLA (1982-1987), serve as Secretary of the AIPLA (1982-1983), Chair the National Council of Intellectual Property Law Associations (1988-1989), to serve as a council member and financial officer of the American Bar Association (ABA) Patent, Trademark and Copyright (PTC) section (now the Intellectual Property (IP) section), and chair the ABA/PTC Plant Variety Protection Committee. While on the AIPLA Board of Directors, Mr. Williams involved the AIPLA in various programs at historically Black colleges and universities in an effort to encourage minority science and engineering students, as well as minority law student, to seek careers in intellectual property law.  He has been a friend and mentor to many other minority attorneys who are currently active members of the AIPLA.

 

 

 

III. General Scholarship Parameters

 

  • $10,000 per school year (two semesters, excluding summer school semesters and intersession) beginning with the fall semester.

  • Renewable, upon reapplication by the student, for up to three academic years (totaling six semesters for part-time enrollment, excluding summer school semesters and inter-sessions).

  • Scholarship money can be applied to the verifiable costs associated with normal tuition and usual fees relating to full time and part time enrollment status (such as, but not limited to, student activity fees, law school or university fees, administrative fees) and is paid directly to and administered through the law school the recipient is attending, in accordance with the policies of the school for the use and application of scholarship funds.

 

 

IV. Application Timelines

 

  • A complete application (including renewal applications) must be received by February 23, 2009 to be considered for a fall semester scholarship award.

  • Award decisions will be made on or before June 26, 2009.

 

 

V. Selection Criteria

 

  • Scholarships intended for Students entering or attending Law School Fall 2009

  • A demonstrated commitment to developing a career in intellectual property law.

  • Academic performance at the undergraduate, graduate and law school levels (if applicable).

  • Financial need.

    •

  • General factors such as leadership skills, community activities or special accomplishments.

 

 

VI. Requirements

 

  • Completed scholarship application form.

  • FAFSA form (or similar form) and any supporting documentation required thereby.  The FAFSA is available in paper and electronic formats.  You can get the paper version from the financial aid office at any college or university, the public library, or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID.  If you prefer, you can fill out a web-based version of the FAFSA at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov (step-by-step instructions are provided on this site).

  • Undergraduate transcript and graduate and law transcripts (if applicable).

  • Two letters of recommendation from, but not limited to, former teachers, college administrators, community leaders or other similar persons concerning the academic ability, character, reputation or professional aptitude of the applicant.

  • Membership in an underrepresented minority group.

  • Currently enrolled in or have been accepted to an ABA accredited law school.  The devotion of the law school to intellectual property curricula shall not be considered in awarding scholarships.

  • Demonstrated intent to engage in the full-time practice of intellectual property law.

  • US citizenship.

  • A personal or telephonic interview.

  • Note that any student who receives a scholarship is required to attend law school, day or evening, on a either a full-time or part-time enrollment basis, and to maintain a grade point average of "C" (2.00) or better.

  • Also note that scholarship recipients are required to join and maintain membership in AIPLA.

  • Applicants related to a trustee of AIPLEF, a council member of the ABA-IPL Section, Officer or member of the Board of Directors of the AIPLA, or a member of the AIPLEF Scholarship Committee are ineligible to receive a scholarship.

  • Applicants resume.

 

 

VII. How To Apply

 

The Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Intellectual Property Law Scholarship is administered by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Completed applications may be submitted by mail and/or electronically to Sophia Rogers at the address shown below. (Please indicate on e-mail when and how the required attachments will be sent separately).

 

Sophia Rogers
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 2204
New York, NY 10038
(212) 573-8487
srogers@tmcfund.org

 

 

 

VIII. Questions

 

Questions about this application or the scholarship should be directed to:

 

Sophia Rogers
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 2204
New York, NY 10038
(212) 573-8487
 srogers@tmcfund.org

www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org
 

 

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