In an event for the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, Finnegan attorney Mareesa Frederick joined a panel of Black IP attorneys to discuss her experience as a minority in IP law and efforts she has taken to create opportunities for a more inclusive workplace.
Mareesa explained that law firms often recruit graduates from the same schools, thus leaving many graduates out of the recruiting pool. She stated, “Sometimes [focusing on certain schools] doesn’t translate into what’s going to be a resilient attorney who can withstand all the ups and downs you may come across in your field.”
She advised that law school students should network with attorneys from similar backgrounds as much as possible: “If you’re pretty persistent about it, most attorneys who are interested in helping out law students are going to respond and set up at least a few minutes to speak with you.”
The attorneys on the panel also noted that introductions to IP law should begin for students early in their education. Mareesa has worked with Girl Scout programs and high school programs to show representation and the career possibilities in the intellectual property field. In the high school program, students were able to argue patent validity in front of Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) judges. She explained:
“They learned about the concepts of obviousness and anticipation...Afterward, I remember one of the young girls walking up to me and saying, ‘Oh my god, this is the best activity, I think this is something I could really see myself doing as a career.’ If we hadn’t done that, she probably never would have been exposed to that.”
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