grades for IP jobs? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Do the same grade 'cut-offs' apply for IP jobs?

I am a 1L at H, just got my first semester grades - 1 H, 4 P
MS in EE from S/MIT, ~3 years engineering work experience

Can someone comment on my chances at IP departments in big firms and at boutiques?

Much thanks

[Wavelet]

Was your BS also in EE? Do you know if you want to do patent prosecution or patent litigation? And are you talking about jobs for 1L summer or 2L summer?

[Anonymous User]

Was your BS also in EE? Do you know if you want to do patent prosecution or patent litigation? And are you talking about jobs for 1L summer or 2L summer?

my BS was in CompEng, more specifically i concentrated on computer architecture, which necessarily also covers anything from digital circuits to operating systems and compilers; so kinda like EE/CS i guess?

i'm still not entirely sure if I wanna do prosecution, litigation or tech transactions... it might ultimately depend on which one I'd be the strongest candidate for

Based on just the first semester grades, I'm curious about my chances for a 1L SA position, but it would also be helpful to know how I'd stand for 2L summer say if we just extrapolate my fall semester grades to estimate my overall first year results (ie. 2 - 3 Hs)

Thanks again!

[Bosque]

I think the fact that you are coming from Harvard is going to hurt you more than those horrible grades.

Seriously though, mind translating those grades into something the masses can understand? GPA?

[Anonymous User]

I think the fact that you are coming from Harvard is going to hurt you more than those horrible grades.

Seriously though, mind translating those grades into something the masses can understand? GPA?

H = 4, P = 3, L = 2

Factoring in credit counts, my GPA would be [(4*4 + 3*3*4 + 3*2) / 72]*4 = 3.22

[Big Shrimpin]

OP, I can't really speak for 1L hiring (a casual perusal of the employment forum shows that 1L hiring tends to be highly variable), but I can speak for 2L hiring. Compared to you, I have FAR inferior credentials, and I was able to lock up a couple boutique/V50 firm offers this past fall. Thus, at least for 2L hiring--assuming you (1) don't suck at taking exams this semester and (2) aren't a horribly awkward person/interviewer--you're in a pretty decent position for a biglaw/boutique/etc... SA.

PM me for perspectives/cycle info/stats.

[Anonymous User]

if you can't get a job everyone else is in trouble.

[tinman]

I think you will have no probably getting a 2L summer associate position. EE is the most desirable background for firms, as far as I know. I think you could get all passes at Harvard and still be fine. My advice: spend as much time as you can at Charlie's Kitchen, Cambridge Common, and the Kong ... and don't worry.

Oh, and I'd go to the Loyola Patent fair ... you will likely get some callback, maybe even an offer if you play your cards right, before OCI even starts. That will definitely help take the pressure off when your classmates are freaking out.

The worse times at HLS, I think: law review competition, and OCI for 2L SAs.

[Anonymous User]

I am a 2L at H, three years of computer engineering work experience, going to be in a V15 IP department this summer, etc. You'll almost certainly get a good job, but nobody can say for sure.

My advice: (a) work on telling cool stories about your work experience, as that goes an incredibly long way during interviews; (b) when you do OCI next fall, don't rule out litigation unless you have a good reason not to want to do it. My impression was that there are many more jobs in IP litigation than in IP transactional...

Also: study your ass off this semester.

[ben bernanke]

OP clearly went to Stanford, as MIT does not have a "computer engineering" major

sorry to out ya, bro

[Anonymous User]

OP clearly went to Stanford, as MIT does not have a "computer engineering" major

sorry to out ya, bro

OP said he was an EE? So... wtf are you talking about?

[ben bernanke]

Was your BS also in EE? Do you know if you want to do patent prosecution or patent litigation? And are you talking about jobs for 1L summer or 2L summer?

my BS was in CompEng, more specifically i concentrated on computer architecture, which necessarily also covers anything from digital circuits to operating systems and compilers; so kinda like EE/CS i guess?

[Bosque]

Was your BS also in EE? Do you know if you want to do patent prosecution or patent litigation? And are you talking about jobs for 1L summer or 2L summer?

my BS was in CompEng, more specifically i concentrated on computer architecture, which necessarily also covers anything from digital circuits to operating systems and compilers; so kinda like EE/CS i guess?

He said he went to either Stanford or MIT for his MS in EE. He didn't specify a school for his BS.

Learn to read.

[Wavelet]

For 2L OCI, all firms with good patent lit departments are in play. There might be a few reaches--Irell, Cravath, Covington (mostly because Covington does much more biotech than EE) come to mind--but you have at least a shot with basically every major IP lit firm.

Unless your MSEE grades are atrocious, you are pretty much a lock for any patent prosecution position (barring quirks like need for connections).

You can probably get a firm job for 1L summer if you really try to find one, but 1L hiring is often a crapshoot.