The North Carolina Bar Foundation's Patent Pro Bono Program is an opportunity for volunteer patent attorneys to provide pro bono legal services to low-wealth solo inventors, nonprofit organizations and small businesses by assisting them with their applications to the USPTO. The NCBF has partnered with the non-profit Georgia Patents, which accepts, assesses and processes client applications for North Carolina residents and provides referrals to the Patent Pro Bono Program for attorney pro bono case matching.

Project Frequency

Ongoing

Project Time Commitment

After accepting a case, NCBF will send an email to the inventor that his/her case has been accepted. The volunteer attorney will be blind copied on the email, which will notify the inventor that s/he should hear from you within 5 business days. NCBF Patent Pro Bono Program will send out quarterly update emails regarding the status of the assigned case.

Project Location

Remote Electronic (service completed by phone or internet)

Area of Law

  • Trademark/Patent

Geographic Areas

  • Remote

Project For

  • Attorney

Population Served

  • General Low Income
  • Nonprofits
  • Small Businesses

Skills to be Developed

  • Document Drafting (Contracts/Advance Directives/Petitions/etc.)
  • Training Provided for Project Volunteers
    No
  • Volunteers Who Speak an Additional Language Requested for this Project
    No
  • Malpractice Insurance Provided for this Project
    Yes
  • Mentorship Provided for this Project
    No