Penn State Dickinson Law Clinics (LWCLI)

Under the supervision of a faculty member/director of the clinic, students learn to represent entrepreneurs, start-ups and not-for-profit organizations in a setting that is similar to a small law firm. Issues most frequently encountered include choice of entity, entity formation, founder and initial investor agreements, shareholder agreements, loan arrangements, certain intellectual property protection, commercial real estate leasing and acquisition, operating agreements, employee management and compliance with regulatory requirements. Students will learn the basic skills necessary to attract and interview potential clients, organize a business plan, communicate orally and in writing with a client and third parties, conduct research, draft transactional documents, prepare for and manage closings. Students will learn basic principles of law office administration and will be expected to comply with law office protocols (e.g. conflict screens, client confidentiality, and time and expense record keeping) and will learn and conform to the professional responsibilities of lawyers engaged in business transactional practice. The faculty member will hold weekly class sessions for presentation and discussion of client projects, skill development, and legal issues affecting entrepreneurs and counsel for entrepreneurs.

This two-credit clinical experience will be open to students who have previously enrolled in the four-credit Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic (the "EAC") and will build upon the skills that they learned in their earlier experience in the EAC. The two-credit course will involve a senior role in client projects at the EAC, assistance to first-time students at the EAC and participation in new initiatives undertaken by the EAC.

This 2-3 credit clinical experience will be open to students who have previously enrolled in the 5-credit Family Law Clinic Course and will build upon the skills they have learned. The course will involve a senior role in pending clinic cases; leadership in clinic initiatives such as community legal workshops; and further development of close client relationships and casework developed in the student's previous semester.

The Intellectual Property Clinic provides Penn State Law - University Park students an opportunity to gain practice-ready skills in intellectual property law. Under the clinic director, students will provide legal services to the clinic's start-up clients in much the same manner as practicing IP lawyers. Students in the clinic will engage in client counseling regarding patents and trademarks and other intellectual property. Projects may include: preparing and prosecuting US patent applications before the US Patent and Trademark office, performing patentability searches, developing a patent portfolio strategies for early-stage companies, performing diligence (i.e. freedom to operate studies and/or patent landscape analysis), and registering US Trademarks. Students will adhere to standard patent law office practices such as conflict checks, maintenance of strict confidentiality, docketing, and time-recordation. Students will learn and conform to the professional responsibilities of lawyers engaged in IP transactional practice as well as the Rules of Ethics of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The clinic will meet as a weekly class to discuss current client cases, intellectual property law in practice, ethics, and special projects. In addition, students will interface with clients in-person, via telephone, and via email to discuss client intake, IP evaluation, and counseling. Students will also meet individually, as necessary, with the clinic director regarding the representation of particular clients and special projects.

The Advanced Intellectual Property Clinic provides students who have already taken at least one semester of the Intellectual Property Clinic an opportunity to gain advanced practice-ready skills in intellectual property law. Under the clinic director, students will provide legal services to the clinic's start-up clients in much the same manner as practicing IP lawyers. Students in the clinic will engage in client counseling regarding patents and trademarks and other intellectual property. Projects may include: preparing and prosecuting US patent applications before the US Patent and Trademark office, performing patentability searches, developing a patent portfolio strategies for early-stage companies, performing diligence (i.e. freedom to operate studies and/or patent landscape analysis), and registering US Trademarks. Students will adhere to standard patent law office practices such as conflict checks, maintenance of strict confidentiality, docketing, and time-recordation. Students will learn and conform to the professional responsibilities of lawyers engaged in IP transactional practice as well as the Rules of Ethics of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The clinic will meet as a weekly class to discuss current client cases, intellectual property law in practice, ethics, and special projects. In addition, students will inter face with clients in-person, via telephone, and via email to discuss client intake, IP evaluation, and counseling. Students will also meet individually, as necessary, with the clinic director regarding the representation of particular clients and special projects.

"The Manglona Lab's mission is to improve access to economic justice for individuals limited by conscious discrimination or subconscious bias on the basis of gender, particularly in technology professions. From equity in pay and promotion to equity in artificial intelligence and algorithmic design, tackling these complex issues will require a multi-faceted approach. Accordingly, the Manglona Lab will pursue solutions using a variety of strategies, which may include courtroom advocacy, media, and policy/legislation. At the Manglona Lab, students will have the opportunity to learn and practice lawyering skills necessary to research issues, analyze potential solutions, advocate for change, and represent those facing inequity.

Students in the MLP Clinic will work to reduce health disparities and improve health in vulnerable communities through joint medical-legal advocacy with the Penn State Hershey Medical Group in Harrisburg. The Clinic will address the health-harming legal needs of the community, which may include public benefits, advance care planning, housing, and/or immigration matters; as well as policy and institutional projects that arise from its collaboration with medical partners.

This clinical experience will be open to students who have previously enrolled in the Veterans Clinic and will build upon the skills that they learned in their earlier experience in the Clinic. The course will involve a senior role in client matters, assignment to more complex client matters, and participation in new initiatives undertaken by the Clinic.

Students who have successfully completed a clinic course may be eligible to apply for Advanced Clinic, with faculty approval. This second-semester clinic course is designed to significantly advance the student's knowledge of the subject matter area studied in the first semester of clinic and to expand students' knowledge of areas of practice in other clinics. Class sessions are devoted to case rounds discussions, and students take significant responsibility in crafting their own learning agendas. Acceptance to this course is limited and only permitted with faculty approval.