On March 16, 2026, four student attorneys from the Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Clinic (IPEC) had the unique opportunity to visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Alexandria, Virginia. The visit, part of the Law School Clinic Certification Program, gave students a firsthand look at the operations, priorities, and daily work of the nation’s leading intellectual property office.
The day began with Kimberly Kelleher, Acting Deputy General Counsel and Acting Director for the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED), welcoming the students and setting the stage for an informative day.
Will Covey, Chief Compliance Officer, provided an overview of the USPTO’s mission, focus, and priorities, followed by a session with Sean Wilkerson, Acting Director of the Northwest Frontier Community Engagement Office, who described the USPTO’s public engagement efforts.
A highlight of the morning was the fraud panel, featuring Amy Cotton, Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Examination Policy, and Carolyn Kosowski, Senior Legal Advisor in the Office of Patent Legal Administration, moderated by Tim Rooney, Acting Senior Counsel for Intellectual Property Services. Students gained insight into strategies for identifying and addressing fraud in intellectual property filings.
Next, students heard from patent examiners Liz Jackson, Acting Director of the Northeast Regional Outreach Office, and Dione Simpson, Primary Patent Examiner in Technology Center 3600, in a “Day in the Life” panel moderated by Gerard Taylor, OED Attorney. The session offered students a detailed look at the patent examination process and the challenges examiners face daily.
“Visiting the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office during the Law School Clinic Certification Program Visit Day was a highly valuable experience,” commented Shannon Zeigler ’27, student attorney in the Intellectual Property & Entrepreneurship Clinic. “We heard from USPTO professionals on a range of topics, including emerging cases, artificial intelligence and innovation at the Office, and what daily practice looks like for patent and trademark examiners. Although severe weather shortened the in-person program, the USPTO later rescheduled the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board hearing we were scheduled to observe, which we were able to attend virtually. The experience offered meaningful insight into intellectual property practice and provided a great opportunity to connect with fellow IPEC students.”
The visit provided Maryland Carey IPEC students with a rare and comprehensive perspective on intellectual property law in practice, from the compliance and enforcement of AI applications to the intersection of law, innovation, and public service.