Do you need a B.S. to practice IP Law? Forum

[notaznguy]

What's the difference between IP and Patent?

Also, for either, do you need an undergrad science degree?

[c3pO4]

What's the difference between IP and Patent?

Also, for either, do you need an undergrad science degree?

IP = Patent, Trademark, Copyright, Unfair Competition

Patent = Patent

You do not need a BS in science (or a PHD or MA) but it helps substantially for both litigation and prosecution. You do need a sci degree for prosecution.

[northerniowan]

You need a science degree to sit for the patent bar and practice patent litigation.

http://www.patentbarstudy.com/exam/qualifications.html

[c3pO4]

You need a science degree to sit for the patent bar and practice patent litigation.

http://www.patentbarstudy.com/exam/qualifications.html

you don't need to be a member of the patent bar to practice patent litigation. patent bar is only required for prosecution. many patent litigators have humanities degrees.

You are clueless don't give advice if you don't know what you are talking about.

[northerniowan]

You need a science degree to sit for the patent bar and practice patent litigation.

http://www.patentbarstudy.com/exam/qualifications.html

you don't need to be a member of the patent bar to practice patent litigation. patent bar is only required for prosecution. many patent litigators have humanities degrees.

You are clueless don't give advice if you don't know what you are talking about.

Well this is good to hear. I completed an internship in IP last year and was interested in working in IP law. I was disappointed when I heard from an admissions officer that I needed a science degree to sit for the patent bar. Apparently you don't need to sit for the patent bar to be an IP lawyer, I appreciate the information. What are employment prospects like in the IP field for those who don't have science degrees?

Please don't answer like a jackass though.

[c3pO4]

You need a science degree to sit for the patent bar and practice patent litigation.

http://www.patentbarstudy.com/exam/qualifications.html

you don't need to be a member of the patent bar to practice patent litigation. patent bar is only required for prosecution. many patent litigators have humanities degrees.

You are clueless don't give advice if you don't know what you are talking about.

Well this is good to hear. I completed an internship in IP last year and was interested in working in IP law. I was disappointed when I heard from an admissions officer that I needed a science degree to sit for the patent bar. Apparently you don't need to sit for the patent bar to be an IP lawyer, I appreciate the information. What are employment prospects like in the IP field for those who don't have science degrees?

Please don't answer like a jackass though.

IP litigation, including patent copyright and trademark can all be done without a science degree. It is much harder in that positions are limited and you might lose out to candidates with science degrees, though. Litigation means lawsuits surrounding infringement of patents copyrights and trademarks, prosecution means filing actual patents themselves.

[Yukos]

I've heard, though this is just informally so don't put too much stock into it, that a lot of the top IP firms need people without science backgrounds for patent litigation, because us social science/humanities majors will be able to explain things better to the judge/jury since we're all at the same knowledge level.

Also, copyright/trademark/trade secrets don't require any science knowledge. Copyright is a huge field on its own.

[poprox]

You need a science degree to sit for the patent bar and practice patent litigation.

http://www.patentbarstudy.com/exam/qualifications.html

you don't need to be a member of the patent bar to practice patent litigation. patent bar is only required for prosecution. many patent litigators have humanities degrees.

You are clueless don't give advice if you don't know what you are talking about.

Well this is good to hear. I completed an internship in IP last year and was interested in working in IP law. I was disappointed when I heard from an admissions officer that I needed a science degree to sit for the patent bar. Apparently you don't need to sit for the patent bar to be an IP lawyer, I appreciate the information. What are employment prospects like in the IP field for those who don't have science degrees?

Please don't answer like a jackass though.

IP litigation, including patent copyright and trademark can all be done without a science degree. It is much harder in that positions are limited and you might lose out to candidates with science degrees, though. Litigation means lawsuits surrounding infringement of patents copyrights and trademarks, prosecution means filing actual patents themselves.

None of my classmates w/out hard science degrees got picked up for IP law 2L internships (at a top school) fyi. For patent prosecution, as I understand it, the hard science degree is vital. If you're bio or chem major, a grad degree is almost required these days to get hired in biglaw for IP pros. For patent litigation, I've been told a 4 yr degree will suffice. The issue is that the firm cannot market you to clients if you don't actually have a science degree (regardless of how many hard science credits you have...perhaps even if you've already sat for the patent bar. I'm sure enough technical experience could overcome this...but assuming your avg undergrad to law school type, you need the degree)

ask me how I know.

[c3pO4]

None of my classmates w/out hard science degrees got picked up for IP law 2L internships (at a top school) fyi. For patent prosecution, as I understand it, the hard science degree is vital. If you're bio or chem major, a grad degree is almost required these days to get hired in biglaw for IP pros. For patent litigation, I've been told a 4 yr degree will suffice. The issue is that the firm cannot market you to clients if you don't actually have a science degree (regardless of how many hard science credits you have...perhaps even if you've already sat for the patent bar. I'm sure enough technical experience could overcome this...but assuming your avg undergrad to law school type, you need the degree)

ask me how I know.

sure, but many of mine w/out it did get picked up for IP. anecdotal ev ... but im just saying, you can do fine w/o a science degree. look around firm websites - plenty of partners of biglaw firms in the IP dep't are history/english/polysci ba's and associates too. its tougher but still possible. also technical exp goes a long way.