Top Law Schools

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How was OCI?

Do people with WE fare better?

Thanks!

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Whats it look like for nonEE patent people?(chemE/ME/science).

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I've got a 2.8 BSEE from UIUC. Which firms would ding me for such a terrible UGPA?

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yellowjacket2012 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:I've got a 2.8 BSEE from UIUC. Which firms would ding me for such a terrible UGPA?

Are you interested in patent litigation, prosecution, or full-service patent work?

Different firms have different philosophies. I happen to know the hiring chair's philosophies based on my callback experience at a couple dozen firms, just based on my sense of what kind of candidates they look for - no matter what the candidate professes his desire to be.

I'm leaning towards litigation, but it's hard to tell so early. I've heard many boutiques would be very concerned with my GPA.

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yellowjacket2012 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

yellowjacket2012 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:I've got a 2.8 BSEE from UIUC. Which firms would ding me for such a terrible UGPA?

Are you interested in patent litigation, prosecution, or full-service patent work?

Different firms have different philosophies. I happen to know the hiring chair's philosophies based on my callback experience at a couple dozen firms, just based on my sense of what kind of candidates they look for - no matter what the candidate professes his desire to be.

I'm leaning towards litigation, but it's hard to tell so early. I've heard many boutiques would be very concerned with my GPA.

You've heard right. Boutique leadership = old school patent guys, big law leadership = trial attorneys/general litigators who entered the patent space, you see where I'm going right?

Yea I'm going to have a much easier time at big firms with patent practices.

Desert Fox wrote:I've got a 2.8 BSEE from UIUC. Which firms would ding me for such a terrible UGPA?

Firms look at UGPA?

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Your EE background will give you the biggest boost at patent boutiques, but most hardcore boutiques will ding you for your UGPA.

That being said, your IP background will give you a big boost anyway for two reasons:

1) It makes you eligible for PLIP, which can double your interviews and give you a better chance of covering your bases as far as markets/firms.

2) Even big firms often have IP hiring tracks (including most that do PLIP). These IP tracks aren't necessarily less selective with regards to grades, but have the big advantage of having a lot fewer candidates competing for the same slots. Eg: Kirkland's cut-off might be top 1/4, but at OCI you'll be competing with all of law review for CB slots while at PLIP you'll be competing with a bunch of people from Loyola, DePaul, etc.

rayiner wrote:Your EE background will give you the biggest boost at patent boutiques, but most hardcore boutiques will ding you for your UGPA.

That being said, your IP background will give you a big boost anyway for two reasons:

1) It makes you eligible for PLIP, which can double your interviews and give you a better chance of covering your bases as far as markets/firms.

2) Even big firms often have IP hiring tracks (including most that do PLIP). These IP tracks aren't necessarily less selective with regards to grades, but have the big advantage of having a lot fewer candidates competing for the same slots. Eg: Kirkland's cut-off might be top 1/4, but at OCI you'll be competing with all of law review for CB slots while at PLIP you'll be competing with a bunch of people from Loyola, DePaul, etc.

+1

do PLIP, get an early early callback if possible (some will give you some b/s about "we're gonna wait till you do OCI at your school" which seems to be an auto-ding)

Does having a PE License help in anyway?

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Question: did you know you want to become a patent litigator before joining Boalt? How do you enjoy working as a patent litigator? Thanks.

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yellowjacket2012 wrote:

tbldc2009 wrote:Question: did you know you want to become a patent litigator before joining Boalt? How do you enjoy working as a patent litigator? Thanks.

Not a clue, I wanted to mix my engg. with law and do IP law, yes, but I didn't know the difference between litigation/prosecution/etc. I had a very vague idea.

I'm not a patent litigator, I'm a rising 2L, I've done 1 summer of pat lit, I liked it. I do like sub. pat. law. Too early to tell whether I'll enjoy being a patent litigator, I know people with my career path 4 years ahead of me who hate their jobs, and I know those who love it. I think I'll love it, hell I hope I love it, lol.

Thanks for the response. I majored biochem in undergrad, and most of law school admission folks that I talked to asked me if I plan to go into IP. I have no ideas, and don't event know if the two are relevant, but I guess I can explore more after I got into law school.

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I actually am getting a master in drug and health policy hoping I can become an in-house counsel for a pharm company. But now I think that I should look into this more. Well, need to get into law school first, then decide, right?! Thanks amyLAchemist and yellowjacket for the great insights.

How do biglaw firms and boutiques generally view bioengineers with only a M.S.? I'm leaning far more toward IP lit than patent prosecution.

Also, what sorts of ECs do you recommend for 1L techies? I will (hopefully) be joining a tech journal and a few tech clubs, but I am trying to refrain from stretching myself too thin this first quarter.

Also x2, how feasible are 1L summer firm jobs?