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If one doesn't have a tech background, and wants to get into patent litigation, would clerking on the Federal Circuit be one way to get in?

Federal Clerskships can lead to jobs at law firms.
Law firms generally like their litigators to have clerking experience.
Patent litigation generally falls to the litigation group.
So in theory, yes, a federal clerkship could lead to a job in patent litigation. But, it has nothing to do with making up for a lack of technical expertise because there isn't one necessary to litigate patent matters.

it would be an in. however, there is a chicken/egg problem. its hard to get fed. cir. even with a tech background and good grades from a top school right out of LS. my impression is that you would have to either work in ip lit for a few years and/or do a d.ct. with large patent docket and connections to fed. cir.

Anonymous User wrote:Federal Clerskships can lead to jobs at law firms.
Law firms generally like their litigators to have clerking experience.
Patent litigation generally falls to the litigation group.
So in theory, yes, a federal clerkship could lead to a job in patent litigation. But, it has nothing to do with making up for a lack of technical expertise because there isn't one necessary to litigate patent matters.

Ignore this. Poster above obviously can't tell the difference between Fed. Cir. Clerkship and Federal clerkship.

But yes, as englawyer states, Fed. Cir. clerkships generally require a tech background to get in the first place.

The answer is unequivocally no, in that you won't get a Fed Cir clerkship if you're not already on a patent lit track. Fed Cir clerkships require some combination of connections, a tech background, good grades, and patent experience.

Hon. Legrome Davis (E.D. Pa.) - busy patent docket.