Liberty Law students put skills into action by helping businesses obtain trademarks, protect their brand

Since 2018, the Liberty University School of Law Intellectual Property Clinic has assisted around 100 clients and provided third-year students hands-on opportunities before licensure. Through the clinic, students assist start-up businesses, veteran-owned businesses, Christian ministries, and local, regional, and national businesses with trademark, copyright, and trade secret issues as well as protecting creative works (literature, music, movies, artwork, and software). The clinic is certified by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

“We’re dealing with people picking names for businesses and products, and we help shepherd them through the process of obtaining federal trademark registration,” said Professor Andrew Connors, director of the clinic.

The clinic has worked with a variety of businesses around Lynchburg and beyond. Some regular clients include Rest Ashured, a Christian organization that spreads the ashes of loved ones in beautiful places like at sea or in the Blue Ridge mountaintops, and Zoe Freedom Center in Fredericksburg, Va., a faith-based addictions recovery home. Students also assisted The Silicone Kitchen, a company that sells silicone kitchen products and had their products featured on “Good Morning America.” The company originally received the clinic’s help in obtaining their trademark, and the clinic has also assisted them with a variety of other legal needs.

“We have been a client of Liberty Law IP Clinic for several years and for a variety of IP related cases,” said Rachel Breuhaus, founder and CEO of The Silicone Kitchen. “Over this time, Professor Connors and his students have been an integral part of our company. Whether from Professor Connors or one of the IP Clinic students, we’ve had nothing but positive, professional, and expert legal advice and aid. We enjoy working with (them), and they are our go-to for any legal matters.”

Liberty Law students work under the supervision and guidance of Connors, who said some of these students chose Liberty Law because of the opportunity to join the clinic.

“Many law schools around us don’t have an IP Clinic, and this sets Liberty Law apart,” he said.  “The IP Clinic draws prospective law students’ interest to the school.”

Connors accepts four to five students each year for the clinic, though he receives many third-year student applicants who are eager to practice law and gain hands-on experience before they graduate.

Third-year student Emily Newman, president of the clinic, said the role is rewarding. She will be joining Connors’ law firm, Darkhorse Attorneys, as an  intellectual property litigator after graduating.

“To people starting their business, their branding is personal; they have put their blood, sweat, and tears into creating it,” she said. “Our job is to help them protect it. We not only get to learn about so many different businesses and fields of life, but we also get to help a person protect all that they have built.”

“The clinic allows you to build key skills such as experience filing legal documents, conducting legal research, and practicing for a limited time (with) the United States Patent and Trademark Office through real-life client interactions with assistance from a practicing attorney,” she added. “When we graduate, we already have filed trademark applications, which everyone else will have to wait until passing the bar to do. I will be forever grateful for this experience.”

Third-year student Tyler Ward assisted a youth theater ministry through the clinic. Despite the group initially being rejected by the USPTO for trademark registration, Ward drafted a legal memorandum in response to the USPTO, securing its trademark.

Ward said he gained experience working with real clients and filing documents and arguments while collecting work samples he can show future employers.

“Working with the clinic has helped me jump-start my career in a number of ways,” he said. “Good work samples are a major step for future employment and finding future clerkships. Having a work sample that I drafted as a 3L that convinced the USPTO to withdraw its arguments should serve as a great (example) to show prospective employers and judges.”

Often, the students not only help clients but also represent Christ in their interactions. Connors recalled a Muslim client they had advised on changing his company’s brand name, which can be a difficult choice to make. The students and Connors asked if they could pray over him as he decided what to do, and the client was ultimately grateful for their support and prayer.

“One of the coolest things I get to see is when students recognize how their faith permeates everything,” Connors said. “The clinic students get to learn how clients run their operations and then we come alongside to help them accomplish their business objectives. Through this, students reflect Christ in ministering to and helping the clients.”

Newman added that learning to be an advocate for others reminded her of Christ’s own sacrifice.

“The school always says that we should be Champions for Christ,” she said. “This means when we do something, as Christians, we are called to do our very best. We have been able to minister by putting in our best effort for every client’s trademark. Jesus is our advocate, literally dying for us to have eternal life, so we get to show the world a little piece of this by being an advocate for other people.”

In addition to the Intellectual Property Clinic, the School of Law also has a Prosecution Clinic and a Constitutional Litigation Clinic. For more information, visit Liberty Law’s website.

For 20 years, Liberty University School of Law has Trained Champions for Christ to enter their careers as practice-ready attorneys and legal professionals. With an innovative Lawyering Skills Program, Liberty Law is modeling for the academic world how to equip students to pursue excellence in their field while maintaining a commitment to biblical values. Liberty Law offers a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) with 12 areas of study; Juris Master (J.M.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) programs are offered online.