Law School Clinic Certification Program

OMB Control No: 0651-0081	ICR Reference No: 201702-0651-008
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201702-0651-002
Agency/Subagency: DOC/PTO	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Law School Clinic Certification Program
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 04/03/2017
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 03/16/2017
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	02/29/2020	02/29/2020	02/29/2020
Responses	645	0	745
Time Burden (Hours)	1,085	0	1,185
Cost Burden (Dollars)	920	0	1,058

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Abstract: This rulemaking is required by Public Law 113-227 (Dec. 16, 2014). This law requires the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“Office” or “USPTO”) Director to establish regulations and procedures for application to, and participation in, the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program. This law removed the “pilot” status of the USPTO’s existing law school clinic certification program. The program allows students enrolled in a participating law school’s clinic to practice patent or trademark law before the USPTO under the direct supervision of a faculty clinic supervisor. Each clinic provides legal services on a pro bono basis for clients who qualify for assistance from the law school’s clinic. These students gain valuable experience drafting, filing, and prosecuting patent and trademark applications that would otherwise be unavailable to students while in law school. The program also facilitates the provision of pro bono services to trademark and patent applicants who lack the financial resources necessary for traditional legal representation. The proposed rules incorporate the requirements and procedures developed and implemented during the pilot phase of the program.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 113 - 227 1 Name of Law: USPTO Law School Clinic Program

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0651-AC99	Final or interim final rulemaking	80 FR 78155	12/16/2015

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 6

IC Title Form No. Form Name Application by Law School Faculty Member to Become a Faculty Clinic Member Application by Law School to Enter the Program Application by Student to Become a Participant in the Program (PTO-158LS) PTO-158LS Application for Limited Recognition in USPTO Law School Program for Law Students to Practice Before the USPTO Biannual Report Required of Law School Clinics Biennial Renewal Application Request to Make Special Under the Law School Clinic Program PTO/SB/419 Certification and Request to Make Special Under the Law School Program

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	645	745	0	-100	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,085	1,185	0	-100	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	920	1,058	0	-138	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Changing Forms

Short Statement: The frequency of collection for "Quarterly Report Required of Law School Clinics" has changed from quarterly to biannually.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $68,015

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Howard Reitz 571 272-4097 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 03/16/2017

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