Public Law 113–227 (Dec. 16, 2014)
requires the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to
establish regulations and procedures for application to, and
participation in, the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program
(LSCCP). The LSCCP Program allows students enrolled in a
participating law school’s clinic to practice patent or trademark
law before the USPTO under the direct supervision of a faculty
clinic supervisor. Each clinic provides legal services on a pro
bono basis for clients who qualify for assistance from the law
school’s clinic. By drafting, filing, and prosecuting patent and
trademark applications, students gain valuable experience that
would otherwise be unavailable to them while in law school. The
program also facilitates the provision of pro bono services to
trademark and patent applicants who lack the financial resources
necessary for traditional legal representation. In 2020, there were
60 law schools participating. This information collection covers
the applications from law schools that wish to enter the program,
faculty advisors who seek to become a faculty clinic supervisor,
and students who seek to participate in this program. The
information collection also includes the required biannual reports
from participating law school clinics and biennial renewals
required by the program as well as the request to make special
under the Law School Clinic Certification Program, which allows a
limited number of applications per semester to be advanced out of
turn (accorded special status) for examination if the applicant
makes the appropriate showing, to provide law students with
practical experience as they will be more likely to receive
substantive examination of applications within the school year that
the application is filed.
PL:
Pub.L. 113 - 227 1 Name of Law: USPTO LAW SCHOOL CLINIC
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Change in Responses and Hourly
Burden due to Agency Discretion The USPTO ended the stand alone
request to make special under the Law School Program for Law
students. Petitions to make special in various categories are still
available to Law Clinic students, but those petitions are now
consolidated in OMB control number 0651-0031 (Patent Processing) or
0651-0059 (Patent Petitions). These change decreased the number of
responses by 5 and reduced the number of burden hours in this
information collection by a corresponding 5 hours. Change in
Responses and Hourly Burden due to Adjustment in Agency Estimate
The total number of responses has decreased by 105 due to estimated
fluctuations in the number of respondents in this information
collection. There is an increase of 161 hours in the annual time
burden estimates due to these fluctuations in response numbers.
Change in Annual Non-hour Costs due to Adjustment in Agency
Estimate For this renewal, the USPTO estimates that the total
annual non-hour costs will increase by $14 from the previous
approval. This increase is due to changes in postage costs.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
04/07/2026
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Biennial Renewal Application by Law School