Programs & Awards

In line with our commitment to education and advancing the IP law profession, AIPLA is pleased to extend several annual award opportunities to regular and student members, as well as high school students with an interest in science and technology.

Learn more about each of our awards:

• AIPLA Giles Sutherland Rich Memorial Moot Court Competition
  This competition, named for the late Honorable Giles Sutherland Rich, Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is an annual inter-law school event sponsored by AIPLA. There is no entry fee for the competition. The competition is made possible through the volunteer service of attorneys, judges, and AIPLA members. 
  Deadlines for the 2025 Competition:
  Priority Deadline: December 6, 2024
  Regular Deadline: January 10, 2025
  
  
• Jan Jancin Award & AIPLA Past Presidents Award sponsored by FADIPL, AIPLA, and ABA-IPL 
  The first place Jan Jancin Award and second place AIPLA Past Presidents Award are merit-based scholarship awards that recognize diversity-minded rising second and third year law students who have expressed an interest in pursuing a career as an IP lawyer, and who have engaged in activities reflecting that interest. Students that exemplify excellence in the field of IP law are nominated by their law schools for consideration.
  Deadline: May 31, 2025
  
  
• Maurice Klitzman Award
  The Maurice Klitzman Award was created to help young corporate patent practitioners continue their learning. The Award provides for a junior corporate attorney or corporate patent agent the opportunity to attend the AIPLA Annual Meeting (with most expenses paid), and the opportunity to be paired with a mentor during the meeting.
  Deadline for 2025 Award: August 31, 2025
  
  
• Robert C. Watson Award 
  This student competition is designed to encourage interest in intellectual property issues. Law students are encouraged to submit an article on a subject related to the protection of intellectual property. Judges will consider the merit of the article and the extent to which it displays original and creative thought or information not previously written or published by the author. The winner will receive reasonable expense reimbursement to attend the AIPLA Annual Meeting, October 30 – November 1, 2025 in Washington DC, to receive their award.
  Deadline for 2025 Award: June 30, 2025
  

• Sidney B. Williams, Jr. Scholar Program, sponsored by the Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law
  This program assists STEM-Educated Individuals seeking admission to an ABA-accredited law school with an interest in the advancement of diversity-minded individuals that are underrepresented in the patent law profession in the United States. The Scholar Program offers selected Scholars $30,000 law school tuition grant awards and provides financial and non-financial assistance to Scholars during the law school admissions process and throughout law school.
  The deadlines for the Fall 2025 class of Scholars are as follows:
  Early Admission: December 15, 2024
  Grant Consideration: January 31, 2025
  Regular Admission: March 31, 2025