Western Intellectual Property & Innovation Legal Clinic

Our Mission

WIPILC has a two-fold mission to fulfill Canada’s needs to increase IP awareness among postsecondary students and to contribute to the development of a sustainable innovation ecosystem in Canada. We aim to:


EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF IP PRACTITIONERS  


IMPROVE IP SAVVINESS & ACCESS TO IP LEGAL INFORMATION

Better equip future lawyers with the necessary skills to navigate the profession by providing experiential learning and client-facing opportunities to explore IP rights and innovation-related legal issues that start-ups, entrepreneurs, authors, artists, and inventors experience.

Eliminate early-stage educational and financial barriers to protecting IP rights and leveraging intangible assets by providing pro-bono legal information to researchers, authors, artists, inventors, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses.

About WIPILC

The Western Intellectual Property & Innovation Legal Clinic (WIPILC) provides a unique learning opportunity for law students to develop their professional skills while gaining exposure to a wide range of intellectual property (IP)-related client files. By providing pro bono legal information, WIPILC fills the gap in access to affordable IP rights and related legal support for authors, artists, inventors, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses in Southwestern Ontario.

Our Values



LEGAL EDUCATION

Expand Western Law’s professional training through experiential learning opportunities and advance public legal education.



LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONALISM

Empower students to become leaders and build confidence, responsibility, and ownership in their work while instilling a high standard of professionalism.



TEAMWORK

Promote collaboration and a team environment that encourages helping others and seeking help when needed.



ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Provide access to economic justice for individuals seeking to protect their intangible assets and offsetting the prohibitive costs associated. WIPILC also strives to increase the participation of Indigenous communities, women, and other underrepresented groups in Canada’s innovation ecosystem.



EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Provide equity of access and opportunity for members of underrepresented groups and foster an environment where all feel welcome and seen. Particularly aiming to support individual innovators and creators from various backgrounds, ethnicities, and Indigenous communities.



INNOVATION

Look to the future in the way we deliver legal information and support innovators and entrepreneurs in the pursuit of innovation within Canada and beyond.



SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES

Contribute to the economic development of Southwestern Ontario by promoting the success of innovators, entrepreneurs, and SMEs.