Careers

Student Internship

IPLG Law Student Internship Program
(Available only at the San Jose Office)

We offer internships to law students throughout the year, so that law students are able to have the experience of working on substantive Intellectual Property law (prosecution and litigation) or corporate matters for clients. Our interns work closely with a supervising attorney, often joining our attorneys for client meetings and hearings in court.

Additionally, our interns attend our weekly firm meeting and participate in the firm's weekly legal education presentations.

Our current and past interns have represented the following law schools: U.C. Hastings, Boalt, Santa Clara University, University of San Francisco, Golden Gate, Stanford University, Seattle University, Melbourne University (Australia), University of Delhi (India), Saint Petersberg University (Russia), and Munster University (Germany), Turkey.

1. Requirements
2. Internship Periods
3. Types of Internships
4. Foreign Law Students
5. Law Student Internship Credits
6. Training
7. School Credit
8. Intern Comments
9. Internship FAQ
10. How to Apply

Requirements

IPLG internships are unpaid, although local parking costs are reimbursed to interns. Only after completing an internship are students eligible to apply for paid law clerk positions.

While we do not expect law students to have previous intellectual property experience for internships, it is a strong plus.

We are looking for:

• Commitment to a minimum of 15 hours per week for part time, to 40 hours full time
• Interest in Intellectual Property law and /or high-tech Corporate law
• IP coursework in law school
• Patent interns should have a science background, and have taken or plan to take the Patent Bar
• Demonstration of a great attitude!

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Internship Periods

Our law student Internships are generally offered based on the trimester system, but custom internships are possible for students with different schedules.

• SPRING (January through late April)
• SUMMER (Late May through Mid August)
• FALL (Mid August/Early September through Early December)
• CUSTOM Internship periods can be arranged on a case by case basis

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Types of Internships

We offer internships in our main practice areas: Patent, Trademark/Copyright, Corporate, IP litigation, and International Trade/U.S. Customs. Internship applicants should indicate the area of their interest in their cover letters. Applicants should be aware that an internship period is not long enough to cover more that one area, so practice areas may not be combined.

Patent Internship

This internship focuses primarily on Patent prosecution and litigation support training, interns train closely with a Patent attorney. It's a great way to prepare for the Patent bar!

Trademark/Copyright Internship

This internship focuses primarily on Trademark and Copyright prosecution and litigation matters. Interns train closely with a Trademark attorney.

Corporate Internship

This internship focuses primarily on corporate matters and may focus on high tech corporate clients.

General IP and Litigation Internship

This internship does not focus on a particular area. Interns train in general civil litigation and may be involved with IP litigation

International Trade / U.S. Customs

This internship focuses on client issues related to antidumping, customs seizures, and international transactions.

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Foreign Law Students

Law students from universities outside of the U.S. are welcome to apply for internships.

The internship period can be customized to your school year requirements, so please indicate the dates you are requesting for your internship in your cover letter.

As internships are unpaid training, therefore no visa sponsorship is possible. Students are responsible for obtaining a visa, a tourist visa is usually adequate for the period of an internship.

Law school credit for your internship is possible, please check with your school for requirements and discuss the requirements with us. CREDIT

Housing issues: the student is responsible for obtaining housing in the local area. However, if an internship is arranged, we can send you information on housing and public transportation to help you make your own arrangements. Our firm is located close to two large universities and private student housing.

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Law Student Internship Credits

We are happy to assist any law student interning with us in obtaining credit for their internship with the student's law school. If you are interested in credit you will need to:

• Check with the requirements at your law school
• Discuss your interest in receiving credit for the internship in you introduction letter and at your interview
• Provide IPLG with a copy of your school's requirements for the internship
• Provide IPLG with the evaluation form from your law school for the internship

Formal Internship Programs IPLG participates with:

• Santa Clara University Law School's High Tech Internship Program

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Training

We are committed to ensuring that all interns have a hands on experience working on substantive matters for real clients. We want our interns to experience working in a law firm, side-by-side with attorneys.

Weekly firm training sessions are designed to provide valuable insights in current legal practice for firm attorneys and interns.

Interns are assigned to a supervising attorney, who assigns work projects to the intern and supervises their work. Interns learn the aspects of working in a law firm, that are not taught in law school.

If intellectual property law interests you, you'll have the opportunity to learn while doing at IPLG.

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School Credit

We are happy to assist any law student interning with us in obtaining credit for their internship with the student's law school. If you are interested in credit you will need to:

• Check with the requirements at your law school
• Discuss your interest in receiving credit for the internship in you introduction letter and at your interview
• Provide IPLG with a copy of your school's requirements for the internship
• Provide IPLG with the evaluation form from your law school for the internship

Formal Internship Programs IPLG participates with:

• Santa Clara University Law School's High Tech Internship Program

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Comments

Our current and past interns have represented the following law schools: U.C. Hastings, Boalt, Santa Clara University, University of San Francisco, Stanford University, Seattle University, Melbourne University (Australia), University of Delhi (India), and Munster University (Germany).

Here's what some of them had to say about their internship experiences at IPLG:

• This has been a truly enriching experience. I would highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in working in patents. Nothing compares to having hands-on experience in a law firm. Although having read about drafting claims in law school class, it does not prepare a person for how difficult of a task it truly is. I was presented with a number of opportunities that I did not expect including actually meeting inventors and drafting official office action responses. The attorneys and administrative staff have been very gracious since my first day at the office.

• This summer was a great learning experience. I got to work in some many facets of not only intellectual property, but also litigation and securities. Sitting in on meetings with clients was exciting and something I know I would not have had the opportunity to do that at another firm. I learned a lot of substantive law, but also about how a law firm operates and how to apply that law to real world situations with actual clients. This summer also cemented my desire to work in the IP field. I had a great summer.

• While I enjoyed the entire experience of interning at IPLG this fall, there are specific things I was allowed to do that I found to be most educational and the most exciting and those include the following: Sitting in during the client meetings/phone calls, attending court hearings after researching for the motions being argued, drafting an answer to a complaint, and drafting arguments by applying the law to the facts of specific cases.

• All the attorneys are more than willing to make time to discuss legal questions and issues and provide mentorship as needed.

• I found the environment at IPLG very friendly and relaxed (except probably not relaxed for those who had a last minute filing to do). I learned a lot. I thank you for the opportunity you have given me.

• I have really enjoyed my summer at IPLG, and the time seems to have just flown by. Thank you...for giving me such a great opportunity this summer.

• My experience as a trademark intern at IPLG taught me so much more than I could have ever hoped for. I was given substantive assignments right from the start and was truly given the opportunity to learn what an attorney does on a day to day basis. I believe that my experiences at IPLG have helped provide me with the hands-on training needed to be a trademark attorney.

• This is real work - the experience is invaluable and cannot be matched by any one law school class. Notably, it makes finals easier because it ends without a final. In one semester I wrote a patent application from start to finish including the novelty search, client contact (letters), drawings (through an artist), specification writing, and ultimately claims drafting. I also worked on a licensing agreement, supported another attorney in an interference proceeding, filed a design application, and met a bunch of great people. The firm has a very friendly atmosphere, with great experience.

• My internship at IPLG was an amazing experience. Everyone at IPLG is very helpful and friendly. I was able to learn a lot from my supervising attorney's. They were always available for feedback and guidance. I was able to get valuable experience in different aspects of patent prosecution. In my short tenure I got to work on Office Action Responses, patent novelty search, provisional patents, plant patents, researching international patent laws and much more. The best part was that I got an opportunity to work on patents in different fields of engineering: mechanical, software, hardware, medical devises, etc. I would highly recommend internship at IPLG to any law student with interest in patent prosecution.

• My experience as an intern at IPLG surpassed all my expectations. From day one and throughout my internship, I was involved in many different aspects of patent prosecution. The best part of the small firm experience was the immediate emersion into the practice of law. My assignments were fun and challenging, more importantly, I felt I had adequate resources to complete the assigned tasks. The environment and people were friendly. I feel the experience at IPLG provides me the proper foundation for a successful career as a patent attorney.

• IPLG gave me the confidence and experience to work with patents. I enjoyed my time at IPLG and the people are great to work with!

• I have been very pleased with both the work that I have been given and the guidance that I have received while interning at IP Law Group. I'm sure that my experiences here will help me shape my future career.

• FUN, FUN, FUN!

• Working at IPLG put what I learned in law school in a real-world context.

• During my internship with the Intellectual Property Law Group LLP I worked on projects related to all areas of practice of this law firm. By assisting the attorneys in filing applications with the USPTO and drafting letters to clients, I learned about the U.S. legal system and international property law. I enjoyed the friendly and cooperative atmosphere in the office. Everybody of the staff was very helpful, not only in professional matters, but also in private matters, which was very important for me as a foreigner. I can warmly recommend an internship with IPLG.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the dress code?

Business casual.

Will I work with clients?

Interns often have client contact during their internship.

Parking?

We are located in San Jose, so parking within a 3 block radius of our office means paid parking. We help interns with a temporary parking pass or reimbursement in a nearby parking structure.

When are working hours?

Intern schedules can be flexible between 8:30 am - 7 pm, Monday through Friday, occasional weekends in some cases.

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How to apply

If you are a law student interested in joining our internship program, send us your:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Law School Transcript
• Writing sample (optional with your application, required at the interview)

Send these documents to us by mail, fax, or email attachment, attention: Juneko Jackson at the Silicon Valley Office address, 408-286-8932, info@iplg.com.

Application Filing Period: we accept applications and interview on a rolling basis, but it's best to apply at least 2 - 3 months in advance of your preferred internship period. See INTERN PERIODS.

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