Overview
Gowling WLG is committed to supporting the next generation of legal leaders in the life sciences sector. Our firm's $5,000 Life Sciences, Society and the Law student scholarship was created to do just that.
A companion to Gowling WLG's annual "Life Sciences, Society and the Law Symposium," the scholarship is awarded each year to the law student who writes the most distinguished paper exploring the evolving relationship between the life sciences and society from a legal perspective.
The winning paper will be decided by a panel of judges and will be announced at the BIO International Convention in San Diego on June 3, 2024. In addition to the $5,000 financial package, the author of the winning paper will be invited to participate in our symposium and recognized across Gowling WLG’s various channels.
Gowling WLG gratefully acknowledges the leadership and generous funding contribution from Bayer Inc., both of which made this scholarship possible. The firm will be working closely with Bayer to promote broader interest in life sciences and highlight the opportunities for law students who are interested in pursuing a career in the sector.
Eligibility
Applicants must be:
- A law student enrolled in a JD/LLB program at an accredited Canadian law school
Note: All applicants will be screened to confirm enrollment.
- A Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Interested in pursuing a legal career in the life sciences sector
How to apply
To apply for the scholarship, applicants must provide the following in English or French:
- Completed scholarship application form
- Cover letter detailing applicant's interest in the life sciences sector
- A 1,500-word paper exploring the following topic:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly influential in drug discovery and therapeutic development, and its impact is only expected to dramatically increase. This raises important questions about the ownership of inventions, the future of the “patent bargain,” and what it means to be an inventor deserving of the fruits of their labour that may be asserted against others. Can Canadian patent law absorb this new paradigm or are fundamental changes necessary?
Discuss whether IP laws should be revised and how they should be modified to effectively address the emergence of AI-driven “inventions” and their impact on the patent system.
Application deadline
All materials must be submitted using the application form below no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on April 30, 2024.
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