Top Law Schools

Not sure which one to pick. What do you guys think? Life science background (PhD, publications etc), want to do IP in big law.

Berkeley:
1)It seems that most of life-science/biotech IP law jobs are in Cali
2)Berkeley has a good IP program (not sure how significant this is)

Columbia:
1)higher ranked
2)better placement in big law

Tough decision, would greatly appreciate your input!---thanks in advance

What are your COA and where do you want to work?

You should be able to get a job with your background fairly easily so I'd probably pick the cheapest. If similar, I'd probably still go to Berkeley. Not expert in the area however

aboutmydaylight wrote:What are your COA and where do you want to work?

Thanks AMDL!

COA of Columbia is slightly higher than Berkeley and I don't have any $ info from either school yet except that Berkeley is not giving me need-grants. I like both NYC and CA (both SO much better than TX where I am now LOL) but it looks like most of biotech-IP jobs are in CA. I guess the question is what the hiring managers like more: somebody from a neighborhood school (Berkeley) or a more prestigious (?? arguably??) school (Columbia)?

Law Sauce wrote:You should be able to get a job with your background fairly easily so I'd probably pick the cheapest. If similar, I'd probably still go to Berkeley. Not expert in the area however

Thanks LS!

Why would you still go to Berkeley if the cost is similar between both schools? Because it's closer to the potential jobs? Does the higher ranking of Columbia matter at all?

Greatly appreciate all your input! It's a strange new world haha -- for a science PhD, it doesn't matter at all which school you go to, only the lab/mentor you choose.

Any more input?

You'll get a good job in IP out of either school. You can probably even count on a 1L SA, at least out of CLS, if you want, which reduces your debt by another $20-25K.

Berkeley will help you navigate niche areas of the SF/SV markets simply due to proximity and alumni network. For "big" big law, like vault firms, all the major players come to EIP at CLS (MoFo, Gibson, Orrick, Skadden SV, ect) and you'd have no trouble getting back with a PhD.

I think if you are interested in boutique work at a more specialized firm, particularly a firm that will do both patent prosecution and patent lit in the same practice group, Berkeley will be a bigger name and you'd get to know more players. Their tech journal is better. However, again, for "top" nationwide/global firms, you're better off at Columbia. The placement difference is pronounced (see 78% to 55% AIII/large firm or NLJ250 stats) and only grows as you increase in perceived prestige and firm size. For example, Skadden SV office took more CLS summers this yr then any other law school.

I have experience with applying to IP-heavy jobs at both specialized and vault firms in CA, if you want to PM for more precise info.

I will say as one final note, if you're coming from CA as I was, New York winters can be a bitch. No fun.

jbagelboy wrote:You'll get a good job in IP out of either school. You can probably even count on a 1L SA, at least out of CLS, if you want, which reduces your debt by another $20-25K.

Berkeley will help you navigate niche areas of the SF/SV markets simply due to proximity and alumni network. For "big" big law, like vault firms, all the major players come to EIP at CLS (MoFo, Gibson, Orrick, Skadden SV, ect) and you'd have no trouble getting back with a PhD.

I think if you are interested in boutique work at a more specialized firm, particularly a firm that will do both patent prosecution and patent lit in the same practice group, Berkeley will be a bigger name and you'd get to know more players. Their tech journal is better. However, again, for "top" nationwide/global firms, you're better off at Columbia. The placement difference is pronounced (see 78% to 55% AIII/large firm or NLJ250 stats) and only grows as you increase in perceived prestige and firm size. For example, Skadden SV office took more CLS summers this yr then any other law school.

I have experience with applying to IP-heavy jobs at both specialized and vault firms in CA, if you want to PM for more precise info.

I will say as one final note, if you're coming from CA as I was, New York winters can be a bitch. No fun.

Thanks so much! PM'ed