Intellectual Property Law Section State Bar of Texas
The Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Texas (IP Law Section) will award three $5,000 scholarships to eligible law students. Any student enrolled in an ABA accredited law school in Texas during any part of the application submission period may apply. Students who have been accepted to law school but have not yet started classes at the time the application is filed are not eligible. Students who have graduated at the time the scholarship is awarded are eligible. Although students in their first year of study are welcome to apply, given the greater experience in intellectual property of those in their second and third years, student should be advised that often priority is given to those in their second and third years of study. Those that have previously applied but were not awarded the scholarship are highly encouraged to re-apply.
The purpose of the scholarships is to encourage law students who have not traditionally been represented in Intellectual Property practice to enter the Intellectual Property profession in Texas by providing financial assistance to help defray the expenses of a law-school education. Selection criteria for the scholarships include but are not limited to:
• Scholastic merit;
• Financial need;
• Membership in a socio-economic group traditionally under-represented in the practice of Intellectual Property law;
• Diverse background, including diverse, marginalized or underserved populations or geographic regions;
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession;
• Demonstrated experience and interest in the practice of law in Intellectual Property;
• Texas roots;
• First generation in a family to go to college or law school;
• Science and/or engineering undergraduate education or experience;
• Contributions to or participation in minority or diversity programs;
• Challenges faced due to a disability;
• Community service; and
• Extracurricular activities both inside and outside law school, including legal externships or internships in the field of Intellectual Property.
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This application should be completed and returned by email to Juanita DeLoach at juanita.deloach@btlaw.com and Marylauren Ilagan at marylauren.ilagan@olaplex.com (entire applications only, i.e., applications including the recommendations, essays, and transcripts).
This application form is available online at www.texasbariplaw.org or from the student’s law school’s Financial Aid or Dean’s office. Applications must be emailed by no later than May 1, 2024. The scholarships will be awarded on or before June 1, 2024. The recipients will be recognized at the IP Section luncheon at the next Annual Meeting, to be held, in Dallas, Texas, on June 20th – 21st. Recipients must be able to provide the State Bar with an executed IRS W-9 form.
Please print or type in black ink.
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
NAME:
GENDER:
MAILING ADDRESS:
HOME PHONE: CELL PHONE:
HAVE YOU PREVIOUSLY APPLIED? (YES / NO AND YEAR) ______________________
II. EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION
LAW SCHOOL NAME:
GPA: EXPECTED GRADUATION DATE:
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES (Colleges, Degrees, Dates):
GRADUATE DEGREES (Colleges, Degrees, Dates):
Please attach a copy of all college, graduate school (if any) and law school transcripts. If your law school transcript does not yet include your grades for the Spring Semester, please separately provide information on all grades you have received to date and supplement with remaining grades as soon as possible after you receive them.
III. RECOMMENDATIONS AND ESSAY
Please attach one letter of recommendation and a typewritten essay of no more than two pages, double spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font, addressing the following:
• Why you plan to pursue a career in Intellectual Property Law in Texas;
• Although not a determining factor, any issues of financial need that you would like the Scholarship Committee to consider; and
• Any additional information that you believe is relevant to the award of the scholarship, including any information related to the specific selection criteria above.
AFFIRMATION OF APPLICANT: I have reviewed the information listed in this application for accuracy, omissions, and errors. To the best of my knowledge, the information is complete and accurate as reported. I understand that the IP Section’s Diversity Scholarship Committee reserves the right to investigate all information stated in this application.