Adjunct Instructor, Patent and Trademark Clinic, College of Law

The University of Cincinnati College of Law, an ABA-accredited law school, seeks lawyers to serve as a Co-Director of the Patent and Trademark Clinic (PTC) on a part-time basis during the 2025-26 academic year. This Co-Director will oversee the non-patent portions of the clinic. The PTC allows students to obtain "hands on" experience representing local business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and inventors in identifying, protecting, and commercializing their intellectual property, focusing on work to be performed in the patent and trademark areas, as well as transactional documents relating to intellectual property. Services for individual clients may include completion of patent applications (provisional and non-provisional); completion of federal trademark applications; analysis and opinions on patent and trademark registrability; analysis and opinions on patent, trademark, and/or copyright infringement; assistance on responding to office actions from the USPTO; preparation, review, and/or negotiation of IP licenses and other related agreements; and general IP advice. The PTC will not represent its clients in litigation/dispute resolution or on foreign applications. The PTC will be structured to simulate practice in a law firm. PTC students also will learn how a small law office operates, including procedures for client intake, conflict checks, file maintenance, project tracking, timekeeping, scheduling, coordination, and client communications. Students will perform all work at the PTC under the close supervision of its directors and volunteer lawyers with relevant expertise. Students will be expected to average 8-12 hours per week working on clinic matters. The PTC will share the offices of the Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic. The PTC will prioritize representation of clients of limited financial means and/or local entrepreneurs who cannot afford the services of the private bar.

The law school's adjunct faculty, drawn from the region's most distinguished jurists and practitioners, offer a wealth of practical experience and special expertise to our students. The law school uses adjuncts to enrich the curriculum with specialized courses, unique perspectives, and more choices than we might otherwise offer. With adjunct faculty, students can experience different pedagogical approaches and gain access to leading practitioners and judges. Adjunct faculty are also valuable in teaching about newly emerging or rapidly changing areas of law. Adjunct professors are part-time, non-tenure/tenure track employees who teach specific courses during specific semesters as agreed. The College is currently seeking applicants to Co-Direct the Patent and Trademark Clinic.

• Prepare for your course, which includes preparing the syllabus, selecting any unique teaching materials, selecting books for student purchase, preparing course materials and assessments/exams, and devising lesson plans. Syllabi include course descriptions, learning objectives, assessment/exam dates, teaching and exam policies, required and recommended materials, assignments, and College/University policies.
• Provide a classroom environment conducive to learning.
• Teach the assigned course(s) using pedagogical and other teaching methods fairly and effectively.
• Track student attendance and refer students to the Administration if required for attendance and/or performance issues.
• When appropriate, use the institution's learning management platforms (Canvas) to post assignments, syllabi and other reference materials, and to communicate with students.
• Read submitted student work and assessments/exams and provide written comments to students in a timely manner to provide feedback on performance.
• Establish and meet with students during "office hours" to provide individualized direction and assessment of progress.
• To ensure the proper number of teaching hours is completed, work with Administration to schedule make-up classes for any cancelled classes.
• Grade all mid-term and final exam papers/exams, and other assessments as appropriate and in accordance with the College's rules and submit those grades per timelines established by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
• Review student-completed course evaluations to analyze student perceptions of your teaching and to provide insight into possible teaching improvements.
• Adhere to all University and College of Law policies.
• Complete all employment documentation and any required trainings.

• Hold the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school or the equivalent.
• Five years post-J.D. work experience in legal practice or a related field, though exceptions will be made for an applicant with fewer years of experience when that person co-teaches with someone who has the minimum experience.
• Communicate effectively.
• Maintain professional composure and demeanor at all times.
• Promote vision, mission, and core values of the College.

• Prior teaching experience is desirable, but not essential. Applicants, however, must demonstrate evidence of teaching potential.
• Face-to-face instruction is the default mode of teaching, though the College will approve distance learning instruction under conditions outlined in its Distance Learning Policy.

Applicants should submit a cv, a list of course(s) and/or area(s) of teaching interest, and a cover letter. This posting is not a guarantee of an open position. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a continual basis.

Kimberly D. Bailey, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, baile2kr@uc.ucmail.edu

For questions about the UC recruiting process or to request accommodations with the application, please contact Human Resources at jobs@uc.edu.