Are you interested in practicing trademark law or intellectual property law? Is patent law just not really your thing?
If so, you should consider applying to compete in the annual trademark moot court competition: the annual Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition. Now in its 27th year, this is the only competition in the United States with a focus on trademark and unfair competition law. The competition gives students the chance to develop their brief writing and oral advocacy skills in a mock courtroom experience, and also to improve their mastery of this fascinating and important field of law.
The competition is open to teams of students from U.S. accredited law schools. Approximately 80 teams of law students participate in the competition each year. Teams can consist of two to four (2-4) team members.
Students are expected to:
- Write a brief reflecting the issues in the Fact Pattern/Problem.
- Argue the case in regional competitions before a panel of volunteer attorneys and, judges from various district and other courts, and two winning teams from each region argue the case in a national competition before members of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
This year’s team will be coached by Professor Camilla Hrdy with the help of other local IP attorneys and IP faculty. Students selected to form Akron Law’s 2-4 person team will work closely together to draft a set of briefs—one brief arguing each side of the case. Then team members will practice and prepare to each orally argue both sides of the case. Participating students are eligible to receive two (2) credits for their efforts.
Better still, this year’s trademark problem relates to the potential for confusion between craft brewpubs and wine bars. Perhaps some sampling of local craft brews will be required research.
Each Regional Competition takes place in February in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. Two teams from each of the regional competitions will advance to the National Finals in Washington, D.C. in March. Akron Law’s team will start off competing in Chicago, and then go on from there!
To apply, interested students must submit the following information via email to Professor Hrdy chrdy@uakron.edu by Tuesday, September 26. Applications must include:
- Your name, @zips.uakron email address, and year in law school;
- A copy of your resume;
- A list of all IP courses you have taken (or are currently taking) and your grades earned in each course (if available);
- A brief legal writing sample or except thereof (10 pages or fewer); and
- An optional one-page (300 words or fewer) explanation of why you are interested in this competition and why you should be selected for the team.
Prior trademark or intellectual property law coursework or related experience is preferred. It is also encouraged that you enroll simultaneously in trademark law and/or trade secret law this spring if you have not taken these courses already.
Please contact Professor Hrdy with any questions.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES AND COMPETITION DATES:
- Tuesday, September 26, applications due to Professor Hrdy (chrdy@uakron.edu)
- Friday, October 13, 2017, 8:00 pm U.S. Eastern Time – Deadline for Registration Forms: Registration forms must be received by INTA on or before this date.
- Wednesday, January 3, 2018, 8:00 pm U.S. Eastern Time – Deadline for Team Briefs: Briefs must be filed online and received by INTA on or before this date. Please note: All briefs must be uploaded to INTA through the following link www.inta.org/lefkowitzregistration. Briefs should not be sent via e-mail. Any substitution of team members must also be made before this date.
- Saturday, February 10, 2018 – Regional Oral Arguments: Will be held in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
- Saturday, March 17, 2018 – National Final Oral Arguments: The top two winning teams in each region will advance to the National Finals held in Washington, D.C.
Note that no team member may hold a Juris Doctor (“J.D.”), Master of Laws (“LL.M.”) or other law degree from a U.S. law school. However, a law student pursuing a joint J.D. / LL.M. program may enter the Competition so long as the law student has not yet received a J.D. degree.
More on the competition can be found at: https://www.inta.org/Academics/Pages/SaulLefkowitzCompetition.aspx
The official rules are available at: https://www.inta.org/Academics/Documents/2017/Official%20Rules_2017-2018.pdf
A memo on this year’s competition has been released here:
https://www.inta.org/Academics/Documents/2017/2017%20Memo_Chair%20and%20Vice%20Chair.pdf
