Top Law Schools

If you're interested in concentrating on intellectual property law courses etc... while doing your J.D., what is the best undergrad major for that? Is there a requirement in general, for example, should you have taken biology or some sort of technology-related course, or would a business/poli sci grad do just as well?

Electrical engineering.

For trademark, copyright, trade secrets, etc it doesn't matter. But patent law isn't viable without and engineering degree, or an advanced science degree.

GermX wrote:If you're interested in concentrating on intellectual property law courses etc... while doing your J.D., what is the best undergrad major for that? Is there a requirement in general, for example, should you have taken biology or some sort of technology-related course, or would a business/poli sci grad do just as well?

There are some types of IP (copyright, trademark rights) that do not need a technical background. However, if you are planning on doing patent prosecution/litigation, it will be hard to market yourself without a significant technical background. Most people applying for these jobs will be engineers, chemists, programmers, and other researchers. Really, a business/poli-sci undergrad will hardly stand a chance here.

I highly doubt that any law course in ls will require a certain ug major, or if it is even relevant to the course at all, unless there's a course like bioethics and law or something where it would help to be a biologist or soemthing.

That's what I thought. Interesting. I was more interested in Corporate and Business law but Seeing as how GW has such a powerful IP program, I was looking into it but I've known for a while that your undergrad major really comes into play here.

How about Corporate/Business law, in general, do people succeed without a significant business background? (I've taken many calculus etc.. courses, but my major itself was not business/accounting).

^ For example, Banking and Finance law, do law schools in general help provide the accounting etc.. information that you would need, or is this something you should have come in with having graduated with your BA?

Leeroy Jenkins wrote:I highly doubt that any law course in ls will require a certain ug major, or if it is even relevant to the course at all, unless there's a course like bioethics and law or something where it would help to be a biologist or soemthing.

Courses? No, of course not. But I think the OP is really concerned about jobs.

...although upon reading those last two posts maybe not. OP, you do not need a particular background for any classes offered in law school. If you want to actually get a job in the subject though, that is a different matter. Although in that case, IP is really the only one where it matters.

And too be clear, anyone can take IP the class. You just are not getting a job if you are not an engineer (or other tech major).

...

Well, IP is out for me. Should have been taken engineering or CS, heh, considering how well I did at Calculus (I took 6 Calculus classes, all the way up to the most advanced shit, back in college when I was experimenting with Computer Science then got bored).

Anyways, so from what I get from dood, most IP lawyers get the job easily, except for the socially inept people?

GermX wrote:Well, IP is out for me. Should have been taken engineering or CS, heh, considering how well I did at Calculus (I took 6 Calculus classes, all the way up to the most advanced shit, back in college when I was experimenting with Computer Science then got bored).

Anyways, so from what I get from dood, most IP lawyers get the job easily, except for the socially inept people?

Oh come on you studied for the LSAT and still can't discern sufficient/necessary conditions?

Also, there are not 6 "calculus" classes in college. Even if you're a math major, they're called something different. Good try, though.

Do you want me to list them for you, lol? Seriously, I hope one day you will have the intelligence to realize that "6 calculus classes" is basically a grouping of math-related classes for the purpose of the post. If you're interested in reading up on exactly what those courses were, I suggest you check UCLA's undergraduate curriculum for Computer Science majors. I'm sure you'll find it interesting. Dumbass.

As for sufficient/necessary, not sure what you're getting at here, but in no way did I say that it is sufficient for me to have studied some calculus in College (in terms of being capable of succeeding in an IP law career OR in succeeding in computer science). Neither did I say it was necessary, although, if I'm not mistaken, I believe it is necessary for someone to take courses in calculus, physics, etc... in order to obtain a degree in Computer Science and Engineering.

If the sufficient/necessary remark was with regards to my interpretation of dood's post, well, take it up with him, or clarify my interpretation, because that is what he said--that IP lawyers get jobs, except for the socially inept.

*sigh* Can't believe I just typed all that. Guess I'm bored.

...

GermX wrote:Do you want me to list them for you, lol? Seriously, I hope one day you will have the intelligence to realize that "6 calculus classes" is basically a grouping of math-related classes for the purpose of the post. If you're interested in reading up on exactly what those courses were, I suggest you check UCLA's undergraduate curriculum for Computer Science majors. I'm sure you'll find it interesting. Dumbass.

As for sufficient/necessary, not sure what you're getting at here, but in no way did I say that it is sufficient for me to have studied some calculus in College (in terms of being capable of succeeding in an IP law career OR in succeeding in computer science). Neither did I say it was necessary, although, if I'm not mistaken, I believe it is necessary for someone to take courses in calculus, physics, etc... in order to obtain a degree in Computer Science and Engineering.

If the sufficient/necessary remark was with regards to my interpretation of dood's post, well, take it up with him, or clarify my interpretation, because that is what he said--that IP lawyers get jobs, except for the socially inept.

*sigh* Can't believe I just typed all that. Guess I'm bored.

Your "6 calculus classes" are 31AB, 32AB, and 33AB. Math majors like GeePee are rightly peeved when anyone calls multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations "the most advanced shit." Those are basic classes that any science/engineering major should have, and certainly not advanced or even intermediate math.

To answer your question, you'll do fine in the IP classes without any background, but getting an IP job is another matter.