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 increasing diversity and representation 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.