Sidney B. Williams, Jr Scholar Program
For decades, the Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program provided scholarship support for students who identified as members of racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in the IP law profession and who were interested in exploring a career in IP law. Today, this program offers expanded career preparation and career-readiness support for STEM-educated individuals who are pursuing a legal education in order to explore a career in patent law. The Scholar Program now offers counseling support, internship and clerkship assistance, and assistance with the patent bar examination. Scholars can engage with experts and leaders in the patent law field during the law school admissions process and throughout their law school experience and attend patent bar association meetings at Foundation expense. Scholars are also eligible to be considered for $30,000 tuition grant awards. These scholarship awards are disbursed over the Scholar’s 1L, 2L, and 3L years.
You can learn more about the Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program, including how you can apply for recognition as a Scholar through the following link:
Name Fellows Program
The Fellows Program provides individuals who identify as members of racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the IP law profession and who are exploring a career in either patent law or another area of IP law. The Fellows program affords Fellows with the opportunity for career-preparation and career-readiness assistance following completion of the Fellow’s 1L or 2L course of study at an ABA-accredited law school. The assistance available under this program includes counseling support, internship and clerkship assistance, and assistance with the patent bar examination. Fellows engage with experts and leaders in IP law during their 2L and 3L course of study during law school.
The Fellows Program is currently limited to applicants who are STEM-educated, rising 2L and 3L law students. You can learn more about the Fellows Program, including how you can apply for recognition as a Fellow through the following link:
Jan Jancin and AIPLA Past Presidents Awards
The Jan Jancin Award—and its companion award, the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Past Presidents Award—recognize 2L/3L law students who identify as a member of a racial or ethnic group underrepresented within the IP law profession and who have made an outstanding contribution to an area of IP law or practice during their legal education.
You can learn more about the Jan Jancin and AIPLA Past Presidents award, including how you can apply for the award at the following link:
Society of Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholars
Since its inception, the Foundation has recognized and supported dozens of individuals who are members of racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the IP law profession as Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholars. The members of the Foundation’s Society of Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholars are the individuals that, since 2002, the Foundation has recognized as Scholars. The Society’s members include some of the most distinguished members of the IP law profession, including Scholars who have continued to actively support the work of the Foundation. You can meet our Scholars, past and present, through the following link: