Diversity

PCK recognizes and embraces the diverse nature of our clients, colleagues and vendors.

We continuously look for ways to strengthen our firm’s values of trust, security, innovation and creativity to better serve our market of varied international clients and vendors.  We actively seek opportunities to engage across humanity’s spectrum of color, race, age, ability, ethnicity, religion, gender and sexual identity.  We are also committed to providing quality service by maintaining a work environment that supports and respects individuality and which reflects the distinctiveness of our clients and vendors.

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Babatunde Joseph, Grade 12 student at Meadowvale Secondary School:

“Receiving this 2023 scholarship is a sign to me to continue to further my education. It also validates the sacrifices of my mother. It is an honor to be recognized by an organization that values diversity and supports students with less opportunities and who come from different backgrounds. With this assistance, I will continue to pursue my passion which is to study computer science in a University of my dream and I am committed to being a role model to other students who face similar challenges and also serve as a source of inspiration to pursue their dream. I’m extremely grateful to PCK Intellectual Property for the golden opportunity.”

Hodan Mohamud, 1st year medical student at University of Toronto:

“As the recipient of the 2022 PCK Diversity Scholarship, I would like to express my immense gratitude to PCKIP for the tremendous support that the scholarship will provide. The scholarship will help alleviate some of the financial burden associated with my tuition and other school fees. Additionally, as a first-year medical student the scholarship will allow me to maintain focus on my studies, as well as continue to dedicate time to my community through my volunteer work, which I am grateful for. I look forward to successfully completing my degree in the future and this will be in part due to the support provided by the PCK Diversity Scholarship. I want to thank PCK for establishing this award and I strive to help students similarly in the future.”

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Rashad James, 2nd year student at Western University:

“For the summer of 2021, I had the privilege of working with PCKIP after being selected for their inaugural Scholarship and Internship program. In these 16 weeks, I collaborated with numerous kind and understanding co-workers who were always available to help me with any questions I had. These friendly and welcoming attributes of the firm made my initial training and transition very easy. Various people checked in with me throughout the day and offered help wherever needed. As the weeks went on, I was given the independence to choose how and when I worked on my assignments. This was a crucial part in keeping the work I was assigned fun and fresh.  I wholeheartedly endorse the Internship program to anyone given the opportunity. PCK’s professional workplace environment teaches critical skills like organization, time management, and cooperation. It was the perfect job to keep my skills sharp over the summer and stay prepared for my return to university.  I am thankful to have had the opportunity to work with PCK and will always remember and value the beneficial life skills learned”.

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PCK IP Announces Diversity Initiatives

PCK IP unconditionally supports the Black Lives Matter movement and all peaceful protestors who have been expressing the sorrow, grief and outrage at the violent deaths of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor and, closer to home in Greater Toronto, D’Andre Campbell and Regis Korchinski-Paquet.  These deaths raise troubling questions about whether our legal system functions more as a tool of suppression than an institution that supports the rule of law and equal treatment for all its citizens.  Paraphrasing the remarkable James Baldwin, our future depends on confronting and answering these questions.

“The PCK team firmly believes, and the evidence shows, that long overdue and seriously needed reform will never take hold unless each of us takes concrete action”, said Andrew Currier, CEO.  PCK is launching three Ontario diversity initiatives that have been developed in collaboration with Roots Community Services. They all share the goals of relieving hardship or economic disadvantage to attempt to achieve equal opportunity. One of the initiatives is an annual scholarship for University students. We may also offer a regular “open-house” program, where professionals in the firm will provide educational sessions on intellectual property to disadvantaged youth, based on the IPO IPPatch program.  Also, there may be an opportunity for a paid summer internship for a University student. These initiatives are specifically designed to support disadvantaged groups including black and indigenous youth.

As stated in the final LSO report, Strategies to Address Issues of Systemic Racism in the Legal Professions, “The Law Society works to ensure that the law and the practice of law are reflective of all the people of Ontario, including Indigenous peoples, Francophones and equality-seeking communities.”

We raise a challenge to all of our peers in the legal industry to implement their own programs.  If we all work together in this way, we can make a difference.

For more information, please contact Andrew Currier, info@pckip.com.

Scholarship Details

Eligibility Requirements

  • Part-time or full-time enrollment at or acceptance by an Ontario university or college, accredited in science or engineering program, any year
  • Black, African, Caribbean or Indigenous youths up to age 30, from low income families
  • Should otherwise qualify for financial aid or be able to clearly demonstrate financial need
  • Residency in the Greater Toronto Area

Application Requirements

  • Copies of high school and/or college/university transcripts
  • 300-400 word essay on any of the following topics:
    • Brief history on an inventor who is Black, African, Caribbean or Indigenous.  If the inventor has patents, please cite them and refer to them; or
    • An overview of the intellectual property system and how it helps, or harms, racialized groups, and how the system could be adjusted to support racialized groups.
    • The essay of the scholarship recipient may be published and promoted through the firm’s social media channels
    • With consent, the other essays may be published and promoted through the firm’s social media channels
  • Interview at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee. Interviewees will be selected by the Committee based on desire, need and likelihood of putting education into practice in intellectual property.
  • A list of academic and/or non-academic awards and/or achievements or a description of extra-curricular or community involvement
  • A cover letter with explanation of financial need
  • Letters of recommendation from teachers, advisors, employers, etc.
  • Work history (if any)

Award

  • $2,000 CAD per year. Subject to change.

Application and Selection Process

  • Applications will be due by March 31 of the academic year in which the funds will be applied
  • Final selection will be made by May 1st and the recipient will be notified by email
  • Applications should be sent to scholarships@rootscs.org.

Notification

  • The Scholarship Administrator will notify the selected recipient in writing, likely through email

Award Presentation

  • The funds will be released to the student with the expectation that it be applied towards tuition or books
  • The award will be announced on PCK’s website and through PCK’s social media channels

Brochure

Internship Details

Eligibility Requirements. Please note we are not offering an internship position for 2024.

  • Part-time or full-time enrollment or acceptance in an Ontario college or university, accredited in science or engineering program
  • Black, African, Caribbean or Indigenous youth from low income families
  • Residency in the Greater Toronto Area
  • Should otherwise qualify for financial aid or be able to clearly demonstrate financial need

Application Requirements

  • Copies of high school and/or college/university transcripts
  • Resume/work history (if any) and cover letter (letter can list academic and/or non-academic awards and/or achievements or a description of extra-curricular/community involvement and should detail an explanation of financial need as well as what they are interested in learning during their time at the firm and their preferred placement i.e. summer break)
  • Letters of recommendation from teachers, advisors, employers, etc. (if any)
  • Interview at the discretion of the Recruitment Committee. Interviewees will be selected by the Committee based on desire, need and likelihood of putting education into practice in intellectual property.

Selection Process

  • Applications will be due by March 1 of each calendar year
  • Final selection will be made by April 1; the recipient will be notified by email
  • Applications should be sent to internship@rootscs.org.

The Candidate

  •  The successful candidate will be enrolled in a science or engineering program at an accredited University or community college.
  • While PCK includes a law practice, PCK prefers candidates who wish to enter the patent or trademark profession as agents rather than lawyers.

The Role

  • Depending on the Intern’s qualifications, the intern will perform one or more of the role of IT programmer, IT support desk, patent agent trainee or trademark agent trainee.
  • The intern may be rotated through a variety of these roles or be focused on one particular role.
  • The duration will be 2 months (typically June and July) but may also be a co-op placement at another time.

Details of the 3 PCK diversity initiatives are subject to change at any time.