Harrity & Harrity, LLP Minority Firm Incubator Welcomes First Participant
Harrity launched its Minority Firm Incubator last year to help women and minorities establish their own law firms in an effort to change the disparity of minority-owned firms in the field. James was selected for the program from a large pool of applicants due to both his experience in IP law and his desire to create opportunities for minorities to succeed in underrepresented industries.
“Our firm’s Diversity Mission is focused on fostering inclusion within the legal community and encouraging the growth and success of individuals from all backgrounds,” said firm Managing Partner John Harrity. “The Minority Firm Incubator is a service-oriented program intended to further this mission by helping underrepresented groups flourish in a field where diversity is lacking. James not only shares our beliefs on the importance of diversity in the practice of law, but he is committed to using this role with the incubator as a community outreach platform to help overcome the socioeconomic barriers that many minority groups face. These values, in addition to James’s impressive background in intellectual property law, make him the ideal candidate to launch our Minority Firm Incubator program.”
James is a patent attorney with nearly 15 years of experience counseling clients on matters related to intellectual property law. His practice focuses on preparing and prosecuting patent applications in a variety of technological fields, including electrical and software technologies. James has experience in private practice and as an in-house attorney.
James began the Minority Firm Incubator program, which consists of four phases, Feb. 3. During the first phase, James is focusing on efficiently drafting effective, high-quality patent applications through the use of Harrity’s in-house tools and processes. In the second year, he will focus on prosecuting pending patent applications. The third phase consists of firm management training, during which James will learn best practices for hiring and training attorneys, establishing and maintaining an office, managing human resources, accounting, docketing, pitching and retaining clients, and more. At the beginning of the fourth year, James will launch his own firm, through which he hopes to reshape the perspective of minority-owned firms and improve the diversity of the legal field.
“Given my own background as an individual who was raised by a single mother in a low income household, who was the first college graduate in my immediate family, and who is a member of an underrepresented group in the legal profession, I am very grateful for and fortunate to have had great experiences in my legal career thus far,” James said. “I understand the obstacles someone with my background needs to overcome to be successful in this profession, and I understand the importance of improving diversity in the legal field. I want to use this program/platform as a means to give back in light of the great experiences in my legal career. I also hope to help provide a blueprint or guide to success for members of underrepresented groups, so they can see me as a testament that success in any professional field, and more particularly in the legal field, is a realistic possibility in their future.“
Harrity’s Minority Firm Incubator program is currently accepting new applications. To learn more and apply to the Minority Firm Incubator, and to read about Harrity’s other initiatives for driving diversity in the IP legal field, visit harrityllp.com/diversity.
About Harrity & Harrity, LLP
Harrity & Harrity is a leading patent preparation and prosecution firm specializing in the electrical and mechanical technology areas and is considered a Go-To Firm for the Patent 300®. Our clients trust in our high-quality work, experienced people, industry leading innovation, and outstanding service. For more information, visit harrityllp.com.
