Jan Jancin Competition

The Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law, formerly the American Intellectual Property Law Education Foundation (AIPLEF), the Intellectual Property Law Section of the American Bar Association (ABA-IPL), and AIPLA invite institutions to nominate a law student who has excelled in the study of intellectual property law for the Jan Jancin Award and the AIPLA Past President's Award.

The Jan Jancin Awards are merit-based scholarship awards that recognize rising second and third year law students from diverse backgrounds who are underrepresented racial or ethnic minorities, who have expressed an interest in pursuing a career as an IP lawyer, and who have engaged in activities reflecting that interest.

Law schools may submit one nomination of a rising second or third year law student who is a member of an underrepresented racial or ethnic minority group enrolled in the current year that has exemplified excellence in intellectual property academic studies, is interested in pursuing a career in intellectual property law, and may have participated as a leader in intellectual property-related student activities for consideration. Please note: Only ONE nomination and recommendation letter from each school accepted.

Award Criteria:

Any law school having at least one IP course is eligible for participation. The dean or appropriate faculty member of each law school, who has a direct knowledge of the student, will determine which IP student among the men and women in that law school best exemplifies excellence in the field of intellectual property law and thereby qualifies as a candidate for these awards. Each dean will have the flexibility to use any reasonable criteria, including, by way of example, any of the following:

• best grades in IP courses overall;
• outstanding achievement in specified IP courses;
• best IP paper written by a student;
• determination by a faculty consensus; or
• membership and activity in student IP organizations