Jan Jancin Competition

AIPLA congratulates the 2023 Jan Jancin Award recipient - Jerome Miller!

The 2024 award deadline is May 31, 2024.  CLICK HERE FOR 2024 NOMINATION INFORMATION

The Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law (FADIPL), formerly the American Intellectual Property Law Education Foundation (AIPLEF), the Intellectual Property Law Section of the American Bar Association (ABA-IPL), and AIPLA invite institutions to nominate a law student who has excelled in the study of intellectual property law for the Jan Jancin Award and the AIPLA Past President's Award.  The Jan Jancin Awards 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.

Eligibility

Law schools may submit one nomination of a rising second or third year law student who is a member of an underrepresented racial or ethnic minority group enrolled in the current year that has exemplified excellence in intellectual property academic studies, is interested in pursuing a career in intellectual property law, and may have participated as a leader in intellectual property-related student activities for consideration. Please note: Only ONE nomination and recommendation letter from each school accepted.

Award Criteria

Any law school having at least one IP course is eligible for participation. The dean or appropriate faculty member of each law school, who has a direct knowledge of the student, will determine which IP student among the men and women in that law school best exemplifies excellence in the field of intellectual property law and thereby qualifies as a candidate for these awards. Each dean will have the flexibility to use any reasonable criteria, including, by way of example, any of the following:

  • best grades in IP courses overall;
  • outstanding achievement in specified IP courses;
  • best IP paper written by a student;
  • determination by a faculty consensus; or
  • membership and activity in student IP organizations

Application

Please submit a nomination in the form of a letter of recommendation on law school letterhead, enclosing a one-page written summation of the achievements from the nominee, along with all items listed in the exemplary criteria including student’s application summary.

The student must also complete the Jan Jancin Application Summary and submit a one-page essay discussing their personal achievements in the field of IP law to be included in the package submitted by the law school. The (i) nomination letter (ii) application summary and (iii) the one-page written summation of achievements written by the student are essential for selection consideration to receive the award. 

The 2024 award deadline is May 31, 2024.  CLICK HERE FOR 2024 NOMINATION INFORMATION

To be considered, nominations must be received no later than May 31, 2024 addressed to: 

Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law
formerly AIPLEF
1400 Crystal Drive, Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22202 

or emailed to admin@diversityiniplaw.org ​

Award

The winner of the Jan Jancin Award will receive a $5,000 cash award, and reasonable travel expenses to receive the award during the 2024 AIPLA Annual Meeting.

The runner-up, and winner of the AIPLA Past Presidents Award, will receive up to a maximum cash award of $2,500, and an invitation to attend the 2024 AIPLA Annual Meeting. If unable to attend, the award will be mailed to the winner.  

More Information

Please visit www.diversityiniplaw.org or contact the Foundation Administrative Office at admin@diversityiniplaw.org for more information.


About Jan Jancin...

The first award is the prestigious Jan Jancin Award, named after Mr. Jancin, who served not only as President of AIPLA and Chair of the ABA-IPL Section, but served with distinction in other leadership roles in other intellectual property law associations, nationally and internationally. Students of IP law and growth in quality IP law education were keen interests of Mr. Jancin. Additionally, he was a persistent and perceptive observer of the legislative process as it related to all aspects of IP law, and regularly reported to several IP law associations on those activities. ​​