Student Patent Law Intern Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mitchell Hamline School of Law - a leader in pedagogical innovation dedicated to expanding access to high-quality legal education - seeks applicants for a tenured or tenure-track faculty position in intellectual property law. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2027.
We welcome applications from candidates at all career stages and particularly encourage experienced teachers and scholars, including candidates who currently hold tenure at another institution or whose records may support appointment with tenure under Mitchell Hamline's standards. We seek candidates prepared to contribute to teaching, scholarship, faculty governance, curricular leadership, and the strategic development of the law school.
The successful candidate will teach in the intellectual property curriculum. Candidates with expertise in patent law are particularly desirable. In addition to teaching IP-related courses, the successful candidate will be expected to teach a first-year, bar-tested, or large-enrollment course; engage in scholarship consistent with the expectations of a tenured or tenure-track faculty appointment; and participate in faculty governance and service.
We also seek candidates who are available and enthusiastic about teaching across multiple modalities: in-person classes, synchronous online classes, and in our innovative , which is the first and largest program of its kind in the country.
Mitchell Hamline's Intellectual Property Institute offers a robust IP curriculum, connects students with faculty and practitioners, and supports students through coursework, mentoring, networking, student organizations, competitions, externships, clinics, and scholarly opportunities. IP students may participate in Cybaris®, an Intellectual Property Law Review; the Student Intellectual Property Law Association; IP moot court; IP externships; and IP clinics that provide real-world experience representing clients and working with inventors, businesses, and members of the innovation community.
The law school has a particularly strong foundation in practice-oriented patent education. Mitchell Hamline was one of the first six law schools selected to participate in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program, which allows students to practice patent and trademark law before the USPTO under faculty supervision. Mitchell Hamline's patent-related offerings also include clinical, externship, and pro bono pathways.
This position carries a tenured or tenure-track faculty appointment, with rank and tenure status depending on qualifications and experience. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to Mitchell Hamline's IP Institute and support students pursuing patent-law and other intellectual property-related careers.
Mitchell Hamline is located in St. Paul, on the Indigenous homelands of the Dakota Oyate, at the center of a Twin Cities legal and innovation community that is especially attractive for intellectual property faculty. Minnesota is home to a globally recognized health-technology and life-sciences ecosystem, as well as major companies and innovators in medical devices, health care, food and agriculture, manufacturing, software, financial services, and consumer products. The region offers a deep and varied IP community, including patent lawyers, IP litigators, in-house counsel, inventors, start-ups, established technology companies, and public-interest organizations working on access to innovation.
Beyond its legal and innovation sectors, the Twin Cities offer a vibrant cultural and civic community, with nationally recognized arts institutions, diverse neighborhoods, an active nonprofit sector, extensive parks and trails, and a strong tradition of public engagement. The region combines the professional opportunities of a major metropolitan area with a high quality of life, making it an appealing place to teach, write, practice, and build connections across law, technology, business, and public service.
An appointment will be made either with tenure or on the tenure track. Anticipated annual salary range is from $105,000-$160,000 depending on qualifications and appointment. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance and 403(b) to eligible employees. Candidates will be expected to be available to teach in our in-person and blended modalities.
Equity and Inclusion
We seek to recruit and retain faculty members who share our commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive community aligned with the goals of equity and inclusion. Candidates may demonstrate this commitment through: (1) legal practice or community service experience; (2) a scholarly approach that contributes to the legal system's impact on underserved groups; or (3) teaching that incorporates effective strategies for the educational advancement of students from underrepresented groups.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum qualifications include a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school or equivalent law degree, distinguished academic or professional credentials, and demonstrated expertise in intellectual property law. Candidates must show promise or accomplishment as teachers and scholars. Experience in patent law practice, patent prosecution, patent litigation, technology transactions, innovation policy, or IP-related clinical or experiential teaching is strongly preferred.
Process
Candidates must submit:
(1) a curriculum vitae or resume;
(2) a two- to three-page cover letter that discusses their interest in and qualifications for the position and how their experiences in law practice, teaching, research, or community service have prepared them to contribute to our commitment to inclusivity, academic excellence, and the continued development of Mitchell Hamline's intellectual property curriculum; and
(3) a list of publications and other substantial written work, together with a statement of scholarly interests and agenda. Under Mitchell Hamline's Tenure Code, scholarship may take many forms, including traditional law review articles, books, practice-oriented materials, amicus briefs, bar journal articles, policy work, and other substantial written contributions.
The committee will consider applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To be considered for our initial interviews, candidates must submit their application materials by Friday, August 21, 2026.
For questions about the application process, contact Professor Jim Hilbert, Appointments Committee Chair, at .
MHSL provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We are committed to teaching and working in an environment focused on equity and inclusion.
Notice of Nondiscrimination re: Title IX Sex Discrimination
Mitchell Hamline School of Law prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions about sex discrimination or harassment to the Title IX Coordinator. The notice of nondiscrimination and information about reporting concerns is located on our website ( ).