1. Home
  2. Intellectual Property Clinic

Intellectual Property Clinic

The Intellectual Property Clinic provides Penn State Dickinson Law 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 clients in much the same manner as practicing IP lawyers.

Our Mission

The Penn State Law Intellectual Property Clinic (IP Clinic) trains outstanding intellectual property lawyers by having law students counsel Pennsylvania innovators, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and early-stage startups in intellectual property strategy.

Our Work and Impact

Under the direction and guidance of the clinic director, the IP Clinic's law students advise clients in various matters, including:

  • Conducting client intake meetings and interviews

  • Performing patentability and trademark clearance searches

  • Drafting patent and trademark applications

  • Interacting with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

These services are provided pro bono to those clients who would not otherwise have access to high-quality intellectual property legal services. The IP Clinic does not provide services relating to litigation.

In addition to advising clients, students in the clinic may:

  • File applications with the USPTO

  • Address policy matters with respect to the protection and enforcement of IP

  • Participate in research and advocacy on current IP policy topics in access and appropriation

IP Clinic students will adhere to standard patent law office practices such as conflict checks, maintenance of strict confidentiality, docketing, and time-recordation, and 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.

Faculty Supervision

Jonathan D'Silva


Jonathan D’Silva is the Director of the Intellectual Property Law Clinic located at the Happy Valley LaunchBox and an Associate Clinical Professor of Law. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New York, Washington D.C., and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Jonathan is the founder and principal of his solo boutique Intellectual Property law firm MMI Intellectual Property located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Jonathan is global IP counsel for several multinational corporations as well as counsel for several universities, small businesses, inventors, and creatives at every stage of their development and of all ages.

Full Bio

Related Courses

  • Introduction to Intellectual Property

  • Patent Law

  • Trademarks

  • Copyrights

  • Evidence

  • Antitrust

  • Corporations