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View ICR - OIRA Conclusion

OMB Control No: 0651-0081	ICR Reference No: 202501-0651-002
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202211-0651-002
Agency/Subagency: DOC/PTO	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Law School Clinic Certification Program
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 03/19/2025
	Date Received in OIRA: 01/28/2025
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	05/31/2026	05/31/2026	05/31/2026
Responses	925	0	925
Time Burden (Hours)	1,241	0	1,241
Cost Burden (Dollars)	46	0	46

Abstract: Public Law 113–227 (Dec. 16, 2014) requires the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to establish regulations and procedures for application to, and participation in, the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program (LSCCP). The LSCCP Program allows students enrolled in a participating law school’s clinic to practice patent or trademark law before the USPTO under the direct supervision of a faculty clinic supervisor. Each clinic provides legal services on a pro bono basis for clients who qualify for assistance from the law school’s clinic. By drafting, filing, and prosecuting patent and trademark applications, students gain valuable experience that would otherwise be unavailable to them while in law school. The program also facilitates the provision of pro bono services to trademark and patent applicants who lack the financial resources necessary for traditional legal representation. In 2020, there were 60 law schools participating. This information collection covers the applications from law schools that wish to enter the program, faculty advisors who seek to become a faculty clinic supervisor, and students who seek to participate in this program. The information collection also includes the required biannual reports from participating law school clinics and biennial renewals required by the program as well as the request to make special under the Law School Clinic Certification Program, which allows a limited number of applications per semester to be advanced out of turn (accorded special status) for examination if the applicant makes the appropriate showing, to provide law students with practical experience as they will be more likely to receive substantive examination of applications within the school year that the application is filed.

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved
Annual Number of Responses	925	925
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,241	1,241
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	46	46

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Estimated Annual Responses and Hourly Burdens due to Adjustment in Agency Estimate The increase in annual respsonses (+22) and burden hours (+551) is due to the estimated normal fluctuation in the number of responses for the items in this information collection. Change in Annual (Non-hour) Costs due to Adjustment in Agency Estimate The USPTO estimates a decrease (-$1,675) for the total annual (non-hour) costs due to the decrease in estimated mailed submissions in this information collection. In the past the number of mailed submissions was significantly higher, but as respondents have grown use to emailing these items the percentage of electronic submissions have increased. The vast majority of items are now submitted without any postage required. As a result, the estimated postage costs for this information collection have been updated and show a reduction of $1,675 since the last renewal in 2020.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $49,208

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Howard Reitz 571 272-4097 reitz.howard@uspto.gov

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