SIDNEY B. WILLIAMS, JR. SCHOLAR PROGRAM

The Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program, the Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law’s Flagship DEI Initiative, Assists STEM-Educated Individuals from Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups Seeking Admission to an ABA-Accredited Law School to Explore a Career in Patent Law in the United States. The Scholar Program Offers Selected Scholars $30,000 Law School Tuition Grant Awards And Provides Financial And Non-Financial Assistance To Scholars During The Law School Admissions Process And Throughout Law School.

The Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law is currently seeking applicants for its Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program.  Applicants must be members of a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the patent law profession and be seeking admission to an ABA-accredited law school in the United States.  Applications are also accepted from individuals who have been admitted to law school but have not yet enrolled.

Applicants must download, complete, and submit the application to be recognized as a Scholar.  Scholar selections are made on a rolling basis throughout each calendar year.  Applicants are encouraged to apply for Scholar recognition during the calendar year that precedes the year in which they will be beginning their law school education.  Applications that are completed and submitted during the same calendar year in which the applicant is planning to enroll in law school must be submitted before April 1 (11:59PM, EDT, March 31).

Scholar Program Overview – Scholarship, Mentoring, and Career-Readiness Assistance

The Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program provides financial, mentoring, and career-readiness assistance to individuals seeking admission to law school or who have been admitted to law school, but not yet enrolled, and who have an interest in exploring a possible career in patent law in the United States.  In addition, the Foundation currently awards a limited number of 3-year, $10,000 per year law school tuition grant awards awarded to select Scholars.  These awards are based on financial need and merit criteria.  The second-and third-year tuition grants are contingent upon satisfactory academic progress and continuing demonstrable interest in a patent law career.

Scholar Selection Criteria – Scholar Application Requirements

The following information must be provided as part of the application process and will be considered by the Foundation in determining whether to recognize an applicant as a Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar: law school tuition grant

1. Recognition as a Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar is available to individuals who identify as members of one or more underrepresented racial or ethnic groups.  Immediate family members of a trustee of the Foundation are ineligible to receive an award from the Foundation, e.g., a spouse, sibling, child, or grandchild.
2. Applicants must exhibit a demonstrable commitment to exploring a career in patent law and provide a personal statement explaining the applicant’s interest in the patent law profession. The statement may include personal background information that an applicant wishes the Foundation to consider.  Applicants may supplement the required personal statement with one or more letters of recommendation.
3. Applicants must have been awarded one or more college degrees (undergraduate and/or graduate) before entering law school in one or more areas of study that would permit the applicant to secure registration to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Generally, this requires a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) degree.  See General Requirements Bulletin for Admission to the Examination for Registration to Practice in Patent Cases before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/OED_GRB.pdf). Copies of undergraduate and graduate school transcripts must be included with the application.
4. Applicants must provide a resume that includes work experiences and sets out activities that reflect the applicant’s leadership skills, community activities, and other personal or professional accomplishments.
5. Applicants must provide law school admission plans, including (1) a listing of law schools where admission may be or has been sought, (2) law school admissions status, and (3) plans for or results of LSAT/GRE (Law School Admissions Test or Graduate Record Examination) testing.
6. Preference may be given to applicants with demonstrated financial need or special family or financial circumstances. Applicants wishing to have financial need considered for the law school tuition grant must include any relevant information in the required personal statement and may submit a current FAFSA as evidence of financial need.