Twice a month, TALA publishes a list of available cases to all attorneys and pro bono coordinators registered in our volunteer database. Volunteers may request a case by replying to this email. If the volunteer is found to be a good match for the matter and artist, TALA will send a notification to both the artist and the volunteer containing each party’s contact information. It’s the artist’s responsibility to reach out to their matched volunteer within five business days for an initial interview, though we encourage volunteers to make initial contact if they wish to do so.

Artists are advised that an attorney match is not a guarantee of assistance, and that they must provide an initial interview and clear a conflict checking process. Artists are further advised that a case may be referred back to TALA if their case will require more resources or greater expertise than anticipated. If, after an initial interview, a volunteer determines they will not be able to assist for any reason, the matter may be referred back to TALA for reassignment. There’s no obligation to provide services to the artist until the volunteer and artist have discussed the case, agreed on the scope of services to be provided, and an engagement agreement has been signed. 

Volunteers may not charge legal fees for work performed within the scope of matters assigned by TALA. However, artists are advised that they’re responsible for all other costs and filing fees.

TALA is a pro bono referral source and does not engage clients directly. While TALA provides professional malpractice coverage for all work performed within the scope of cases matched through TALA, all engagements are between the volunteer (or their firm) and the artist or arts organization. Volunteers should use their office's standard pro bono intake and engagement procedures, including fact-gathering interview, conflict-checking, a written engagement agreement detailing the scope of work being performed, and termination letter. 

The time commitment varies for each case, but generally, TALA cases are fairly brief in nature. TALA does not provide ongoing representation with the same attorney or accountant, so once an individual matter is complete, client representation is closed. However, we’ve also seen some attorney-client relationships develop into ongoing partnerships that have lasted many years beyond the artists’ association with TALA. 

Volunteers are free to determine the scope of their engagements within ethical guidelines, as long as the work performed doesn't exceed the scope of the originally assigned matter. Some engagements may be limited as consultation only or limited services (assisted pro se). Some of our artists find it empowering to do as much as they can on their own and want to learn by doing. The level of assistance required should become apparent after an initial interview with the artist.

If, for any reason, a volunteer determines that an artist requires assistance beyond the volunteer’s availability, the case may be referred back to TALA. 

TALA is recruiting volunteer patent attorneys and agents to consult with income-eligible inventors desiring to file and prosecute nonprovisional patent applications.  Volunteer patent attorneys or agents will determine the scope of representation upon initial consultation, which may include advice related to the patentability of the invention and the filing of the nonprovisional patent application.

If you’re interested in receiving notices and updates about opportunities with the TALA Patent Pro Bono Program, complete the form at the link below (estimated completion time: 3 min.).  This in no way obligates you to take cases. 

Patent attorneys and agents will assist with the following:

• Filing nonprovisional applications

• Drafting answers to office actions from the USPTO

• Providing patent advice and counsel

• Participating in Patent Pro Bono clinics

• Presenting workshops to inventors wishing to learn more about the patent process

Guidelines and Scope of Volunteer Services

Volunteer patent attorneys and agents can elect to work with inventors to prepare and file provisional and/or non-provisional patent applications. 

• If a volunteer agrees to file a provisional patent application, we encourage the volunteer to continue working with the inventor to convert to a non-provisional patent application, but volunteers are not required to do so. 

• Similarly, volunteers who agree to prepare and file a non-provisional patent application are encouraged to help the inventor during the examination process (such as by filing office action responses) but are not required to do so. 

• Opportunities also are available for more senior attorneys/agents to mentor less experienced attorneys/agents who may wish to have experience working one-on-one with inventors but could use someone to review their work prior to filing.

• The attorney is not responsible for requests for continued examination, appeals, challenges to USPTO decisions in a court of law, prosecution after issue or response to final office action, foreign patent applications, international patent applications, or additional U.S. patent applications.

• The attorney's services may be expanded by mutual agreement between the inventor(s) and the attorney, which should be in writing.

• The attorney may only withdraw from representation if allowed to do so under applicable ethical rules.

The attorney will require no attorney fees or paralegal fees for the listed services but may require prepayment of outside costs such as government filing fees.

Engagement Letter and Reporting to TALA

• All matches are subject to satisfaction of a conflict check and execution of an engagement letter between the inventor and the attorney.

• The attorney will commit to completing any reporting forms providing information needed for reports to the USPTO and will submit a close-out form when the case is concluded indicating date of close, results, and hours of service.

• The attorney will keep TALA informed of the status of the case, commitment to continued representation of the client, and any critical dates that may require TALA’s intervention to ensure that the client meets all deadlines.