The Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program, the Foundation’s Flagship DEI Initiative, Assists STEM-Educated Individuals seeking admission to an ABA-accredited law school with an interest in the advancement of racial or ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the patent law profession 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.
Eligibility
Applicants seeking Scholar recognition must meet the following selection criteria:
- An interest in the advancement of racial or ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the patent law profession.
- Have a STEM/technology background sufficient to qualify for admission to the patent bar of the United States Patent and Trademark Office under its Office of Enrollment and Discipline guidelines.
- Plan to apply to, or have applied to, but have not yet enrolled at, an ABA-accredited law school located in the United States.
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:
- Recognition as a Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar is available to individuals seeking admission to an ABA-accredited law school this calendar year or next with an interest in the advancement of racial or ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the patent law profession in the United States. 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.
- 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 explaining your interest in the patent law profession and any other personal background that might be helpful in evaluating your application such as any personal hardships or financial challenges you have faced. Applicants may supplement the required personal statement with one or more letters of recommendation.
- 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. Copies of undergraduate and graduate school transcripts must be included with the application.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
To be assured eligibility for consideration to receive a $30,000 tuition grant award, an applicant must submit a completed application through the Foundation’s website by January 31 (11:59 p.m. EST) of the calendar year in which the applicant seeks to start law school.