Assistant/Associate/Full Professor and Director of the Intellectual Property Clinic

Position Summary

Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law seeks an outstanding lawyer-educator to direct and teach its Intellectual Property (“IP”) Law Clinic. The IP Clinic provides direct representation to entrepreneurs, businesses, and social ventures consistent with the mission of the clinical program, serving client needs in a wide range of intellectual property acquisition, retention, and licensing. Areas of practice may include patent, trademark, copyright and trade secrets, and may include supervision of U.S. P.T.O. certified students engaged in patent and trademark prosecution. Non-patent bar eligible Directors may be asked to work with an adjunct to supervise patent matters. The Director will be a full-time, 12-month continuing non-tenure track (governed by ABA Standard 405©). We anticipate a start date of June 1, 2027.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Teach clinic seminar focused on lawyering skills, professional development, and ethical practice, employing clinical teaching methods.
• Serve as the attorney of record in Clinic cases when required by the rules of the relevant jurisdiction.
• Utilize clinical teaching pedagogy to supervise all aspects of student practice.
• Oversee all aspects of administration of the IP Clinic, including but not limited to conducting outreach to clients, selecting matters, reporting to funding sources, and maintaining files.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Juris Doctor degree is required.
• Pennsylvania bar membership (or an ability to waive into the Pennsylvania bar) is required.
• Relevant legal practice experience is required.
• An understanding of, and commitment to, clinical teaching methodology, including an ability to work both collaboratively and independently, is required.
• A demonstrated interest and/or aptitude for student supervision and teaching is required.
• Expertise in substantive areas of law relevant to representing and advising clients in a variety of intellectual property acquisition, retention, and licensing needs is required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Patent Bar membership is preferred.
• Prior clinical teaching experience or experience supervising law students is preferred.
• Five years of legal experience is strongly preferred.