Finnegan Aims to Connect Black Law Students, World of IP

This summer, Finnegan will host its first Finnegan IP Summit, a new initiative designed to increase the number of African American and Black students pursuing careers in IP law. The summit, which will run from August 1-4 in Washington, DC, is a multiday immersion program that will include educational workshops; visits to courts, corporations, and government agencies; and networking events.

Law360 Pulse interviewed Esther Lim, partner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer to discuss the initiative. Esther said, "We want to give this immersive experience, free of charge, to interested and qualified African American and Black students who otherwise would never have the opportunity to get this kind of early entry into IP law."

“The summit is an outgrowth of the Finnegan IP University program, which aims to get a diverse group of students interested in intellectual property law while they're still college undergraduates,” she said. Finnegan IP University equips students with four weeks of online classes where they learn the basis of intellectual property law.

Esther said, “Finnegan has already looked to hire graduates of that program to work for the firm, as technical specialists and patent agents. The efforts are part of the firm's push to increase the number of individuals of diverse backgrounds who consider the field and ultimately become IP attorneys.“

“Finnegan is trying to walk the walk by actually filling the pipeline early on, so they get an early exposure to IP," Esther said. "They might even eventually go to law school and become attorneys, and perhaps even patent attorneys."

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