---
kind: "section"
citation: "37 C.F.R. § 11.17"
title: "37"
number: "11.17"
heading: "Requirements for participation in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/37/11.17"
---

# §11.17. Requirements for participation in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program.

- (a) Each law school participating in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program must provide its patent and/or trademark services on a pro bono basis.
- (b) Each law school participating in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program shall, on a semi-annual basis, provide OED with a report regarding its clinic activity during the reporting period, which shall include:
  - (1) The number of law students participating in each of the patent and trademark practice areas of the school's clinic;
  - (2) The number of faculty participating in each of the patent and trademark practice areas of the school's clinic;
  - (3) The number of persons to whom the school's clinic provided assistance in any given patent or trademark matter but with whom no practitioner-client relationship had formed;
  - (4) The number of client representations undertaken for each of the patent and trademark practice areas of the school's clinic;
  - (5) The identity and number of applications and responses filed in each of the patent and/or trademark practice areas of the school's clinic;
  - (6) The number of patents issued, or trademarks registered, to clients of the clinic; and
  - (7) **All other information specified by the OED Director.**
- (c) **Inactivation of law schools participating in the USPTO Law School Certification Program.**
  - (1) The OED Director may inactivate a patent and/or trademark practice area of a participating law school:
    - (i) If the participating law school does not have an approved Faculty Clinic Supervisor for the relevant practice area, as described in [§ 11.16(c)](/cfr/37/11.16.md?p=c);
    - (ii) If the participating law school does not meet each of the requirements and criteria for participation in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program as set forth in [§ 11.16](/cfr/37/11.16.md), this section, or as otherwise established by the OED Director; or
    - (iii) **For other good cause as determined by the OED Director.**
  - (2) In the event that a practice area of a participating school is inactivated, the participating law school students must:
    - (i) Immediately cease all student practice before the Office in the relevant practice area and notify each client of such; and
    - (ii) Disassociate themselves from all client matters relating to practice before the Office in the relevant practice area, including complying with Office and State rules for withdrawal from representation.
  - (3) A patent or trademark practice area of a law school clinic that has been inactivated may be restored to active status, upon application to and approval by the OED Director.
- (d) **Removal of law schools participating in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program.**
  - (1) The OED Director may remove a patent and/or trademark practice area of the clinic of a law school participating in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program:
    - (i) Upon request from the law school;
    - (ii) If the participating law school does not meet each of the requirements and criteria for participation in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program as set forth in [§ 11.16](/cfr/37/11.16.md), this section, or as otherwise established by the OED Director; or
    - (iii) **For other good cause as determined by the OED Director.**
  - (2) In the event that a practice area of a participating school is removed by the OED Director, the participating law school students must:
    - (i) Immediately cease all student practice before the Office in the relevant practice area and notify each client of such; and
    - (ii) Disassociate themselves from all client matters relating to practice before the Office in the relevant practice area, including complying with Office and State rules for withdrawal from representation.
  - (3) A school that has been removed from participation in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program under this section may reapply to the program in compliance with [§ 11.16](/cfr/37/11.16.md).

## Notes

### Amendments

[81 FR 33597, May 27, 2016]

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 500; 15 U.S.C. 1123; 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), 32, 41; Sec. 1, Pub. L. 113-227, 128 Stat. 2114.

### Source

Source: 69 FR 35452, June 24, 2004, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[81 FR 33597, May 27, 2016]