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USD Law School and CONNECT Launch Unique New Law Clinic for Technology Start-ups

SAN DIEGO (April 29, 2010) – CONNECT, regarded as the world's most successful regional program linking inventors and entrepreneurs with the resources they need for success, and the University of San Diego (USD) School of Law today announced that they are launching a new Technology Entrepreneurship Law Clinic. The clinic will provide USD law students with mentoring from practicing attorneys along with real world experience assisting start-ups in CONNECT’s internationally recognized Springboard mentoring program with corporate, intellectual property and employment legal needs.

“Creating a partnership between CONNECT and USD Law School is a win-win for the whole community. Our students will gain valuable experiences to assist them in transitioning to the practice of law, accelerate the success of our local technology start-ups, and provide extra bandwidth for our law firm partners,” said Kevin Cole, Dean and Professor of Law, USD School of Law.

Springboard, CONNECT's flagship program, is a business creation and development program. Innovators at all stages from researchers working in the lab to major companies considering a spin-out of technology receive hands-on mentoring by successful CEOs. They are provided with advice on developing a business model, marketing plan, financial model and projections, intellectual property, valuation, due diligence, financing, industry feedback or valuable introductions to potential clients or strategic alliances. Industry clusters addressed by the program include pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics and wireless health, clean technology, software, action and sports products, and communications technology.

“At the very time technology start-ups need legal help the most they have few resources to obtain help with corporate formation, bylaws, financing, due diligence, security interests, intellectual property and licensing and employment law and stock option agreements. This innovative new program will dramatically change the prospects of success for some of our region’s most promising technology start-ups,” said Duane Roth, CEO, CONNECT.

A select group of students will be admitted to the new clinical program each semester. Participating law firms and CONNECT Springboard staff will review the students’ applications and conduct interviews with them. CONNECT Springboard companies CortiCare, Yolia Health, CPO Portal, Ever-dry Hearing Aid, and mywijjit have already signed up to receive legal assistance.

Actual legal services will be available in September when the Fall semester kicks off. The course will begin with an intensive “boot camp” covering the core types of transactions encountered in technology startups. There are no scheduled classes during the semester. Instead, students will work with the companies and supervising lawyers each week, and meet one-on-one on a regular basis with USD School of Law Professor Ted Sichelman, who will be overseeing the Technology Entrepreneurship Clinic.

“This partnership is the first of its kind in San Diego and will give students an advantage in competing for positions in private industry and law firms,” said Professor Sichelman.

The CONNECT Springboard program is financially supported by many of San Diego’s major law and accounting firms. Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo P.C., Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, Benchmark Law Group PC, and Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch LLP have signed up to participate in the Clinic and providing coaching and supervision to the law students.

Carl Kukkonen, Co-chair of CONNECT’s Springboard Executive Committee and a partner at Mintz Levin said, “The Clinic will help participating law firms provide a greater level of support to Springboard companies. In addition, the Clinic will give the next generation of lawyers a unique view into the skills required and business issues faced by an essential segment of our local community, namely technology-centric start-ups.”

About the University of San Diego School of Law
The University of San Diego School of Law is a center of academic excellence focused on preparing its students for legal practice in the new century. One of the most selective law schools in the country, the School of Law’s nationally recognized faculty create a demanding, yet welcoming environment that emphasizes individualized education. USD law school graduates consistently score higher than the state average on the California Bar Exam and go on to practice law throughout the country and abroad, forming an influential network of alumni. The USD School of Law is one of only 81 law schools in the country to have a chapter of The Order of the Coif, the most distinguished rank of American law schools. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, nonprofit, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949.

About CONNECT
CONNECT is non-profit organization dedicated to creating and sustaining the growth of innovative technology and life science businesses in San Diego. Founded in 1985, CONNECT has assisted in the formation and development of over 2,000 companies and is widely regarded as the world's most successful regional program linking inventors and entrepreneurs with the resources they need for success. CONNECT focuses on research institution support, business creation and development, entrepreneurial learning, access to capital, awards, recognition and networking, public policy and advocacy. Almost 40 countries and regions have adopted the CONNECT model, including the U.K, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Australia, and China.

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