The Foundation’s Mission is to offer career-preparation, career-readiness, and career-advancement support to students interested in the patent law profession in the United States.

The Foundation’s Programs work toward:

  • Recruiting students to consider exploring careers in patent law and other areas of patent law.
  • Providing career-preparation and career-readiness support, as well as financial support, to students who demonstrate an interest in a career in patent law.
  • Accelerating the development of the patent professional community through networking, counseling, and mentoring efforts aimed at fostering career advancement of students interested in the patent law profession in the United States.

Are You a Scientist or Engineer With an Interest in Law School?

Sidney B. Williams, Jr Scholar Program— The Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program aims to support students pursuing careers in intellectual property law. The merit-based program is designed to promote greater opportunity and success in the patent law profession in the United States. Applicants must be seeking admission to an ABA-accredited law school.

Applicants who are recognized as Scholars qualify for career-preparation and career-readiness assistance. Scholar Program benefits include financial, coaching, and mentoring assistance during the law school admissions process, as well as throughout the Scholar's law school education. Scholars are also eligible for consideration to receive $30,000 tuition grant awards.

Apply for Recognition as a Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar

What Role Can You Play — or Your Company or Your Law Firm?

Join us and our founding organizations–the American Intellectual Property Association, the Section on Intellectual Property Law of the American Bar Association, the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, and Johnson & Johnson–to advance opportunitues in the intellectual property law profession. We partner with members of our founding organizations, and with law firms and companies, to fulfill our mission and support your efforts at advancing opportunites in patent law.

Among the ways that you may help are by becoming financial contributor,  a mentor to our Scholars, a Sponsoring Employer in our Scholar Internship/Clerkship Program, a Partner Liaison with your organization, a member of one of our working committees, or a Foundation Trustee.