Articles and Essays

Abstracts of articles/essays with links to the full documents.

Articles and Essays

EshipLaw, iLINC, and Building the Network of Network for Startup Law Clinics

Summary:

Clinical legal training programs are widely recognized as playing vital roles both in training lawyers prior to their admission to the bar, and in providing valuable legal services to various underserved communities. While clinical education is well-established in America, the concept of the generic law school clinic – much less one that specifically represents startups -- did not enjoy  widespread adoption in European legal pedagogy, until now.  This article discusses iLINC, a European network of startup law clinics to bridge European Information and Communication Technology (ICT) entrepreneurs and startups with law students.

Download: pdfEShipLaw_iLINC_and_Building_the_Network_of_Network_for_Startup_Law_Clinics.pdf

The Future of Legal Education? Northwestern Law's First MOOC: Law And The Entrepreneur

Summary:

Distance learning and online classes have become a fundamental component of higher education, and education experts expect them to continue to grow in popularity and expand going forward.  This article explores Northwestern Law’s first MOOC, Law and the Entrepreneur, which had enrollment of over 35,000 students and approximately 1,400 students who completed and passed the course.  

Download: pdfTHE_FUTURE_OF_LEGAL_EDUCATION.pdf

Gift Horses, Choosy Beggars, and Other Reflections on the Role and Utility of Social Enterprise Law

Summary:

The U.S. law of social enterprise is growing rapidly.  Since 2008, one-half of all U.S. states have modified their business law to establish special legal forms designed for social enterprise.  Meanwhile, even with twenty-five states adopting special laws for social enterprise, the legal debate surrounding social enterprise continues.  Rather than rehashing that debate, this essay sets forth the author’s personal perspective on the role and utility of social enterprise.  The essay argues that, except in limited circumstances, social enterprise is superior to traditional philanthropy when it comes to solving longstanding humanitarian or environmental problems.  U.S. business law thus should continue to evolve to facilitate social enterprise.

Download: pdfGIFT_HORSES_CHOOSY_BEGGARS_AND_OTHER_REFLECTIONS_ON_THE_ROLE_AND_UTILITY_OF_SOCIAL_ENTERPRISE_LAW.pdf

Where are all of the Patent Agents?

Summary:

Why aren’t there more patent agents? Most engineering and science graduates are eligible to sit for the patent bar and become registered Patent Agents with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, but relatively few of them do. More non-lawyers working in patent prosecution could lower costs and, therefore, a significant barrier for small businesses and entrepreneurs to securing their ideas and inventions.  This article explores the requirements for and resources available to non-lawyers that have interest in patent practice.

Download: pdfWhere_are_all_the_patent_agents_Menkhus.pdf

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