Led by Steve Kontos (Harrity) & Maeve Carpenter (IBM)
Duties – Recruit mentors; Provide ongoing guidance for mentors; Prepare surveys for mentors & mentees; Develop training for mentors; Keep the mentors engaged; Plan & execute virtual orientation & virtual networking events for mentors and mentees (e.g., 1-2 mentors and 4 – 8 mentees in a virtual coffee setting)
Time Commitment – 1-2 hours weekly
Requirements – Open to both Patent Agents and Attorneys
Led by Elaine Spector (Harrity), Shruti Costales (Dell) & Richard Watkins (Medtronic)
Duties – Engage law firms to hire participants, match law firms with participants, and engage corporations to become partners or offer summer internship positions
Time Commitment – 1-2 hours weekly
Requirements – Able to work on the committee remotely
Led by Ryan Thelen (Harrity) & Phong Dinh (Microsoft)
RECRUITING SUBCOMMITTEE
Led by Lyssa-Michelle Morris (Holland & Hart) & Edward Kim (Harrity)
Duties – Brainstorm creative ideas to recruit participants; Research and solicit professional organizations, universities, etc. to partner with for recruiting participants; Conduct virtual (and occasionally in-person) information sessions with potential applicants; Engage universities, professional organizations, etc.
Time Commitment – 1-2 hours weekly during the peak recruiting months (possibly more if travel is required for in-person information sessions)
Requirements – Involves some travel to professional organization conferences.
MARKETING SUBCOMMITTEE
Led by Samantha Sullivan (Harrity), Alyssa Montalvo (Harrity) & Hazel Jimenez (Harrity)
Duties – Create graphics, videos, flyers, and other content that reflect the Patent Pathways® brand and encourage participants, partners, sponsors, and volunteers to partake in the program; Post content across a variety of social media channels, groups, and pages; Design and distribute email content; Gather contacts across academia, professional organizations, etc. and conduct outreach using branded content
Time Commitment – 1-2 hours weekly, specifically during recruitment season
Requirements – Experience in digital marketing, including the use of graphic design tools (Canva, Adobe Express, etc.); Good writing skills; Social media aptitude
PATENT BAR EXAM PREPARATION SUBCOMMITTEE
Led by Nathan Gundlach (Harrity) & Nelson Nolte (Harrity)
Duties – Prepare and present on MPEP-based exams: review questions, how to find them in MPEP
Time Commitment – 2-3 hours on presentation week (rotates) during bootcamp time period, reduced otherwise
Requirements – Available to meet with participants via videoconference; MPEP Knowledge
BUDGET & FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE
Led by Josh Hauser (Harrity)
Duties – Track all incoming funds and outgoing expenses
Time Commitment – 2-3 hours weekly (depending on automation)
INTERVIEWING, ADMISSIONS & ONBOARDING SUBCOMMITTEE
Led by Natalie Parcell (Harrity), Carrie Sadowski (Pillsbury Law), & Josh Hauser (Harrity)
Duties – Review incoming resumes; Prescreen applicants; Prepare and send emails to applicants; Coordinate meeting times for participants and interviewers; Schedule calls; Provide appropriate documents to interviewers
Time Commitment – 1-2 hours weekly during the peak admissions months
Requirements – Available to meet with participants via videoconference
PROGRAM SESSIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Led by Ayana Marshall (Harrity) & Rosa Walker (Pillsbury Law)
Duties – Moderate at least one weekly session; Recruit instructors and presenters for program sessions; Prepare/edit & distribute slides for sessions; Email communication with participants; Create & share video meeting invitations (e.g., Zoom)
Time Commitment – 1-2 hours weekly
Requirements – Topics cover career readiness, interview preparation, patent preparation & prosecution training, goal setting, time management, mental wellbeing
We’re looking for patent professionals who are passionate about building a more inclusive environment in the patent field to join our subcommittees for the upcoming Patent Pathways® program!
Interested in making a difference? Click below to send us a message and let us know which you’re interested in!
Learn more about each committee, including our in-house counsel partners and committee leaders, in our latest webinar!
Thank you to all of our program partners and sponsors! To view our full partner and sponsor list, click here.