Meet Jalen Saunders: 2026 NCBA IP Section Diversity Scholarship Recipient

By Cherell Harris

A Conversation with an Engineer-Turned-Law Student on Nuclear Energy, Patent Prosecution, and Building a More Inclusive Legal Community

The Intellectual Property Section of the North Carolina Bar Association is pleased to introduce one of our 2026 Diversity Scholarship recipients, Jalen Saunders. Jalen is originally from Augusta, Georgia and is currently a rising third-year law student at the University of North Carolina School of Law. I had the pleasure of sitting down with him to learn more about his fascinating path from nuclear engineering to the world of patent law.

Background & Motivation

What law school do you currently attend, where did you attend undergrad and what was your undergraduate major?

I am currently a rising third-year law student at UNC School of Law. I have two engineering degrees from Georgia Tech — an undergraduate degree in nuclear and radiological engineering and a master’s in material science engineering.

Nuclear engineering is such a unique path. What drew you to it?

I was initially drawn to nuclear engineering after seeing an upperclassman win a scholarship to study nuclear engineering during my school’s end-of-year academic award ceremony. My intrigue in pursuing nuclear engineering grew after learning nuclear energy generates a sizeable portion of America’s carbon-free electricity. Georgia Tech has one of the best nuclear engineering programs in the country, and a nuclear engineering degree is highly versatile.

What inspired or prompted you to become an attorney?

Three things inspired me to become an attorney. First, while in grad school, I worked at Southern Nuclear and Southern Company, which introduced me to the commercialization and protection of innovative ideas within large organizations. Second, working at GE Aerospace post-master’s taught me that an effective IP strategy aligns with clear business goals, drives innovation and is vital to a company maintaining its competitive advantage. Lastly, my father — a prosecutor and former judge, encouraged me to pursue a career in patent law upon hearing my excitement about potentially helping entrepreneurs and small businesses protect their inventions with my limited knowledge of patent law.

Law School Experience at UNC

Why UNC Chapel Hill?

My fiancée, now wife, was relocating to North Carolina to pursue a new job opportunity, and I followed to be closer to her and her family. UNC was a natural fit geographically and academically.

What has your experience been like at UNC Law so far?

Engaging. Television does a terrible job at portraying what lawyers actually do and what the law actually is. UNC has a solid number of IP courses, and I have been working my way through the offerings. I will definitely leave with both knowledge and meaningful contacts in the field.

Are there specific professors, clinics, or courses that have been especially influential in your development?

Two professors in particular have been wonderful — Andrew Chin and Debra Gerhardt. Regarding classes, I have enjoyed taking UNC’s patent law, copyright and art law courses. I look forward to taking trademark law in the fall and working in the Startup NC Law Clinic within UNC’s Institute for Innovation next spring.

How does UNC support (or challenge) students from diverse backgrounds pursuing IP law?

UNC does a good job of ensuring all students come away with the same level of knowledge and can go out and apply it. The patent class has only about 8 to 9 students, so it’s very interactive — real intellectual engagement with room for growth.

Intellectual Property Focus

What areas of IP law interest you most (e.g., copyright, patent, trademark), and why?

Patent prosecution right now. The idea sitting with an inventor, truly understanding their thoughts and the technical advantages of what they’ve created, and then drafting claims that give them the broadest protection possible — that’s exciting to me. I am planning to take the Patent Bar by the end of this year.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

What does receiving this scholarship mean to you?

It means a great deal. I plan to use the funds to study for the Patent Bar and to take another step towards becoming a patent attorney. I hope to make the legal field more inclusive and ensure that people who look like me are represented in the field of patent law. As they say, a legal community that reflects the wider communities it serves, better serves those communities.

Career Goals & Vision

What are your career aspirations after graduating from UNC Law?

I would love to work at the intersection of law, technology, and entrepreneurship. This spring, I worked as a Startup Analyst Associate for NC IDEA, an independent private 501(c)(3) foundation focused on fostering equitable economic development for all North Carolinians through competitive grants and programs. This role reinforced the importance of aligning a company’s IP strategy with their overall business strategy and was a great way to get integrated into the entrepreneurial community here in North Carolina.

This coming summer I’ll be at the Zucker Institute for Innovation and Commercialization at MUSC. The focus there is on helping the labs and start-ups commercialize their inventions — identifying the assets and protecting them. I found the opportunity through the UNC portal, and it lines up perfectly with where I want to go.

Advice & Reflection

What do you wish you would have known before starting law school?

That law school is a marathon, not a sprint. There are ebbs and flows throughout the year, and the key is really learning to pace yourself and not burn out too quickly. Knowing what to prioritize as a first-year law student would have been invaluable.

Rapid-Fire Q&A

Favorite class so far? Patent Law and Copyright Law

Coffee or tea during finals? Coffee, cortado

One word to describe law school? Engaging

Go-to stress reliever? Gym

The IP Section congratulates Jalen on this well-deserved scholarship. With his rare combination of deep technical expertise, entrepreneurial engagement and clear-eyed mission to build a more inclusive legal community, we have every confidence that Jalen Saunders is exactly where he is supposed to be.