Growing up, Professor Zaneta Robinson did not foresee her future in academia, particularly as a leader of the Intellectual Property Law Clinic at Wake Forest Law. Although law school was always a likely path due to encouragement from her teachers, becoming a professor was not part of her initial plan.
Professor Robinson’s career journey has allowed her to merge her passion for intellectual property law with hands-on learning experiences for students. As the director of the Intellectual Property Law Clinic, she provides mentorship while offering legal services to entrepreneurs and emerging businesses.
Her work extends beyond classroom teaching. She has helped clients secure trademarks and advocated for the intellectual property rights of Indigenous communities. Now tenured, Professor Robinson plans to delve deeper into questions about intellectual property and language through her scholarship.
Reflecting on how she decided to become a lawyer, Professor Robinson said it wasn’t a conscious decision at first: “I was encouraged to go to law school, probably beginning as early as eighth grade.” Interestingly, it was not her parents who pushed her towards this path but rather her teachers who recognized her potential in public speaking and legal advocacy.
She recalls enjoying high school biology for its hands-on approach—a theme that resonates with her current role in experiential learning. Her entry into academia came unexpectedly when she realized how much she enjoyed teaching while serving as an adjunct at UNC-Chapel Hill.
“My favorite part of my job is watching students grow personally and professionally,” said Professor Robinson. She appreciates helping students navigate uncertainties they face during their education and legal practice training.
Professor Robinson also challenges some accepted truths within intellectual property law. She believes that “certain types of intellectual property rights may only be owned by an individual or entity” is too limiting and highlights the lack of protection for traditional knowledge held by Indigenous communities in the United States.
Looking ahead, she sees emerging technologies like AI and blockchain significantly impacting intellectual property law: “Obviously, it’s going to be hugely impactful,” she stated. The evolution of these technologies raises questions about creators’ identification and ownership rights under current legal frameworks.
Despite advancements in scholarship, Professor Robinson emphasizes that many questions remain unanswered in intellectual property law: “There are still so many questions left to be answered.”
As a scholar, she’s writing about intersections between trademark registration limitations and dying languages worldwide. Her forthcoming articles will explore topics like trademark law’s impact on dead languages and corpus linguistics related to trademark doctrine.
For aspiring professionals seeking success strategies, Professor Robinson suggests goal setting alongside openness to unexpected opportunities: “Being open to things that present themselves that you may have never considered.”
Lastly addressing students’ paths within legal education environments; she encourages individuality over conformity: “Helping students recognize…that everyone does not have the same path is important.”
Professor Robinson also shared personal interests such as listening routinely Trevor Noah’s podcast “What Now?” which inspired one article based on Noah’s book Born A Crime experience growing up under apartheid South Africa.
Reflecting fondly upon formative influences like Sylvia Meadows—her first teacher—she credits Meadows’ support early on leading toward eventual accomplishments including tenure today: “That’s why I love teaching.”
