Mission
The Howard University School of Law Intellectual Property Student Association (IPSA) was established fall semester of 2003. IPSA was created as a student-run link to the Howard University School of Law Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice (IIPSJ). In keeping with the Brown v. Board of Education legacy, the organization's purpose is to work toward equal representation of all ethnic groups in intellectual property law practice. IPSA endeavors to encourage law students with technical as well as non-technical backgrounds to learn more about the practice of IP in the legal field; to become actively involved in promoting the practice of IP in its various forms; to pursue IP practice as a legal career; and to increase the pool of qualified IP lawyers of color in the marketplace. IPSA intends to accomplish these objectives by building, fostering, and maintaining strategic alliances with pntellectual property student associations, judges and leading intellectual property attorneys.
Meetings
IPSA General Body Meetings -- check the IPSA TWEN site
Events
Annual event in the fall: Robert E. Wone Minority Judicial Clerkship and Internship Conference
The JCIC is an annual program sponsored by the Intellectual Property Student Association and the Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice and a number of other organizations to bring together judges and judicial clerks from around the Washington, D.C., Virgina, and Maryland area to a D.C. area law school. The aim of this conference is to provide law students in the DC metro area a rich opportunity to develop a better understanding of the work of law clerks from sitting judges and current law clerks. The program is open to students from all area schools.
Short Term Goals
* Educate Howard Law students about the myriad opportunities available in the practice of IP
* Dispel myths about what an IP lawyer is or is not
* Educate about the need and desirability for IP lawyers who do not have science or engineering backgrounds
* Foster and build relationships with other IP student organizations at law school in the D.C. metropolitan area
* Foster and build relationships with IP practitioners and judges
* Maintain an active presence in the Giles S. Rich American Inn of Court
* Encourage science and engineering students to consider law school and the practice of IP law a viable career alternative
* Maintain an IPSA website
Long Term Goals
* Create an Intellectual Property Law Journal that will explore and discuss innovations made in IP as they result to social justice issues.
* Work with the National Moot Court Team on Intellectual Property Moot Court competitions.
* Work with the HUSL Clinic to create or participate in an existing Intellectual Property Clinic
* Create an employment clearinghouse to match IP students with employers for both summer and permanent, full-time IP employment.
Links