Shannon Bates Begins Third Year as Director of Patent Clinic at SMU Law

Harper & Bates LLP is pleased to announce partner Shannon Bates will continue serving as the Director of the Patent Clinic at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law during the 2020-2021 school year. Classes began on Aug. 17.

Bates joined the faculty of SMU Dedman School of Law as an adjunct professor in 2018 to become the Director of the Patent Clinic, where she teaches and manages a group of students who are provided limited recognition to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

SMU Dedman School of Law is one of 59 law schools around the country participating in the USPTO’s Law School Clinic Certification program and is one of 29 law schools to provide both a patent and trademark program.

During her first two years as the Director of the Patent Clinic, Bates structured the program to emphasize client interactions and hands-on skills, including drafting and filing patent applications, and preparing client reporting correspondence about the status of each matter. Students confirmed the client interaction aspect of the course was especially helpful. In the upcoming school year, students will continue learning how to draft patent applications, as well as how to respond to Office Actions issued by the USPTO during the examination stage of the patent application process.

Through this position, Bates formally trains and mentors SMU law students who are interested in practicing patent law. In addition, she has informally mentored other law students from the DFW area who seek Bates out for career advice as they approach graduation. Bates enjoys learning about their interests, goals and opportunities, answering their questions, and providing guidance as they make decisions about future employment.