We are seeking out new volunteer attorneys to join our panel and to participate in this worthwhile and rewarding Program. If you volunteer, you will have the opportunity to work with a student or a solo entrepreneur who has a great new idea and a true need for solid patent law advice—even if that advice is ultimately a reasoned recommendation against pursing a patent or refocusing resources elsewhere. The scope of engagement is defined entirely by the volunteer attorney in consultation with the client at the outset of the representation. As a result, many of our volunteers take a case with the understanding that he or she assist with the drafting of an initial application. Should the client require additional patent prosecution assistance, the volunteer would have to separately agree to continue on with such representation. If the volunteer chooses not to continue the representation, the applicant would simply be referred back through the Program to a new attorney. Looking ahead to 2016, leaders of the Patent Program hope to establish and develop relationships with local law schools to encourage law student involvement in cases under the guidance and mentorship of volunteer attorneys. We also hope to encourage and facilitate patent counseling for student entrepreneurs. We cannot accomplish any of these goals without skilled volunteer attorneys from our community. Please consider donating your time as a volunteer. If you are interested in participating in a the , , and .

Much has happened since that time. Most notably, under guidance and support from the USPTO, the Patent Program has expanded geographically. Whereas the Program was originally open to inventors and entrepreneurs in the greater Boston area only, it is now available to clients across the New England states of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island (Connecticut falls within the jurisdiction of New York’s program). This expansion was formally announced in June 2015 at a launch event in Burlington, Vermont, which was attended by and . Accordingly, the initiative has undergone a name change and is now officially called “” Although the Program was initially launched on a small scale to vet and refer only a few clients in its first year, in light of the Program’s geographic expansion and word of mouth, the pace of incoming applications and referrals has grown significantly. At present the Program has successfully referred 24 clients to Boston-area patent attorneys, and at least that many applicants are currently eligible for assistance and awaiting a referral.

This is where you come in.