Can you do Patent Law with Chemical Engineering? Forum

[IP_wannabe]

I'm currently a rising junior, with a major in Chemical engineering and minor in Mechanical engineering. I'm highly considering law school, and want to start studying for the LSAT so I can take it at the end of this school year.

Can Chem E's make it in IP or Patent Law? I know EEs and CS are the highest in demand, but would I be ok as a Chem E with a Mech E minor?

Also, is it stupid to go straight into law school for IP? Or is it better to work as an engineer for a couple years then apply?

[Power_of_Facing]

Working as an engineer before law school will almost certainly be worth your while:

A) Your work experience will make you more valuable to firms should you decide to pursue law.
B) Work experience of (basically) any kind will slightly/moderately increase your law school admissions chances.
C) You'll gain some real-world perspective, which is valuable regardless of what you choose to do careerwise.
D) You might end up liking your job enough that you opt out of law before dropping six figures on a degree.

[timbs4339]

I agree with the above poster. A few years of WE will be invaluable on the job market. You would also be able to (if you had the time) study for and take the patent bar before law school.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USPTO_regi ... xamination

[Nammertat]

These general responses are valid, but the real key here is CHEMICAL. If you were electrical, computer engineering (or even CS), or even mechanical, your chances would be significantly greater than ChemE. It's still a reasonable shot from the right school, but know that your job opportunities are significantly less than peer engineers.