USPTO Indefinitely Delays Implementation of the Voluntary Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Certification
On December 16, 2021, The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) indefinitely delayed implementation of the voluntary continuing legal education (CLE) certification for registered patent practitioners and individuals granted limited recognition to practice before the USPTO in patent matters.
The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) assembled a joint committee task force comprised of the Patent Agents Committee, Patent Law Committee, Patent Relations with the USPTO Committee, and the Corporate Committee, to ensure that the proposed rules did not disproportionately impact patent agents and other practitioners for whom CLE self-certification would be a significant burden and/or legal risk, and to ensure that practitioners were made aware of requirements for the registration statement and the CLE self-certification. To read the full letter that was submitted in January 2021, please click here.
The USPTO plans to provide at least 120 days’ notice of any future implementation date for the voluntary CLE certification and at that time, will issue final CLE guidelines clarifying the types of courses and activities that qualify for CLE credit.
Upcoming Events
-
2025 Leadership Forum
January 29 to 30, 2025
AIPLA Leadership Forum – Elevate Yourself, Inspire the Future. This invitation-only two-day program will address building strong leadership skills for all levels of experience. See the program page for important event details. -
2025 Patent Prosecution Boot Camp - Arlington, VA
March 5 to 7, 2025
Register today and don't miss out! The 2025 Patent Prosecution Boot Camp is a comprehensive, CLE-accredited seminar that includes instructional lecture-style sessions with practical tips on U.S. and international patent preparation and prosecution, as well as hands-on interactive workshops that will walk you through drafting claims and responding to office actions. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! -
2025 Trade Secret Summit
March 27 to 28, 2025
Registration is now open! The AIPLA Trade Secret Summit is the leading trade secret conference in the nation, with speakers from across the spectrum of private practitioners, in-house counsel, government, and academia, as well as fantastic networking opportunities. CLE credits will be available. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! -
2025 AIPLA Spring Meeting
May 13 to 15, 2025
Save the Date! The 2025 Spring Meeting is a 2.5 day conference focused on trending topics in IP law. Registration opens February 2025.