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What exactly is required for the patent bar?

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 4:57 pm
by kswiss
I'm finishing my humanities UG degree, but I was able to take quite a few electives in the sciences. I am going to attend law school this fall, but I'm wondering if I can at some point get a hard sciences degree and take the patent bar. Its not something that I would do as a life plan or anything, but I am very interested in physics so I would like to get a degree one day. I can do it in 3 semesters, and one of the schools I'm attending allows UG courses for LS credit in the later years (but not very many.)

Anyone know? Do I need an applied degree, or can it be any hard sciences degree? If I receive the degree after the JD can I still take the patent bar?

Thanks in advance.

Re: What exactly is required for the patent bar?

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:59 pm
by merichard87
Check out the USPTO (US Patent and Trademark Office) website to see the specific requirements but they are A) Get a degree in engineering/hard science OR B) take a specific number of classes in the sciences OR C) pass the FE

However, the attitude here on TLS is that simply taking enough classes to qualify for the patent bar does not make you attractive to future employers especially biglaw. Also, I'm not sure how big of a market there is for patents in physics and it would probably be reserved for PhDs so I suggest you do some serious investigation. HTH.

Re: What exactly is required for the patent bar?

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:00 pm
by 270910

Re: What exactly is required for the patent bar?

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:04 pm
by dood
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Re: What exactly is required for the patent bar?

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:41 pm
by kswiss
sorry, I should've checked:

[url]http://lickmyhugehairyballsyoufuckingretardwhowastestimetrollingonthreadsandwritingworthlesscommentsinsteadofdoingsomethingproductivewithyourtime.com[/url]

Re: What exactly is required for the patent bar?

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:44 pm
by BriaTharen
merichard87 wrote:However, the attitude here on TLS is that simply taking enough classes to qualify for the patent bar does not make you attractive to future employers especially biglaw. Also, I'm not sure how big of a market there is for patents in physics and it would probably be reserved for PhDs so I suggest you do some serious investigation. HTH.
TITCR

Patents are all about inventions- application of physics and mathematics, not just the principles themselves. This is why engineering majors typically only need BS or MS to get a good patent attorney job, while the physics, biology, and other science majors need the PhD.

Re: What exactly is required for the patent bar?

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:48 pm
by CyLaw
Also, there is a good article here on TLS regarding the patent bar

http://www.top-law-schools.com/patent-bar-prep.html

Re: What exactly is required for the patent bar?

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 12:06 am
by jpSartre
merichard87 wrote: However, the attitude here on TLS is that simply taking enough classes to qualify for the patent bar does not make you attractive to future employers especially biglaw.
And boutiques. All of the patent job listings for smaller firms I've seen require a BA in the relevant field (e.g. chem for pharmaceuticals, etc.)

Re: What exactly is required for the patent bar?

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 2:51 am
by kswiss
Thanks for the input. Like I said, I just want to get another degree in the future for my own enrichment, and I would like the option of taking the patent bar if I felt the need.