PharmD/JD Combination Forum

[pharmjd]

Hey everyone,

I searched this topic (PharmD/JD) quite a bit - both on these forums and online and it seems that I find very limited information/repetitive. I have become interested in this option recently but I wanted to know what opportunities this combination of a PharmD/JD presents? (Like what type of jobs can one yield with this combo)

Also, what exactly do pharmaceutical lawyers do besides defend pharmaceutical companies when they have a lawsuit? How much do people with this combination generally make? Same for patent lawyers.

And though I know a JD is mostly only worth earning if its from a top tier school however, since one would potentially also have a PharmD (from a well known/accredited school), would the law school matter as much (ie: if it's not top tier).

Thanks in advance!

[MrSparkle]

This is a more rare field for a lawyer, and like patent law, expertise in another area probably pays more than the average lawyer. Keep in mind that you can end up being pigeon-holed by your expertise, if you find out you hate that field it will be harder to lateral into other fields of law, because you are an expert at something, so you get called on to do that job over and over again, and it quickly becomes the only job that you are able to do.

From what others have told me, in general, bio-sci patent law requires either a grad degree or lots of experience (unlike engineering, where a BS is enough). I've never seen a joint program offered in PharmD and law, so you'd probably have to do them sequentially.

The order of that should be 1) PharmD then 2) JD, because you want to ultimately become a bio-sci related lawyer. I still think the rankings game will matter, just because law is so prestige-oriented. So if you got UCSF PharmD and then McGeorge law, that'd look worse than UoPacific PharmD and Harvard law, IMO.

These are my guesses though, you really need to get in touch with a lawyer (mass emails perhaps) doing this work or in a related field. You might find out that you don't actually need a PharmD.

[bp shinners]

Also, what exactly do pharmaceutical lawyers do besides defend pharmaceutical companies when they have a lawsuit? How much do people with this combination generally make? Same for patent lawyers.

I've honestly never known someone with a PharmaD/JD. However, patent lawyers all have advanced degrees in a hard science (which I don't know if a PharmaD is considered), and those representing pharmaceutical companies in non-patent-related cases just have a JD and an undergrad - that's generic, corporate litigation, which requires nothing special.

Is PharmaD considered an advanced science degree a la a Master's in Bio/Chem/Physics?

[pharmjd]

Is PharmaD considered an advanced science degree a la a Master's in Bio/Chem/Physics?

A PharmD is a doctorate of Pharmacy and is considered an advanced science degree by the US Patent and Trademark Office, if that's what you're asking.

[Applying_Late]

A PharmD isn't really viewed as a doctorate degree within the medical community. While I was in undergrad, my institution made a change from a pharmacy bs degree to a pharmd and yhe requirements were roughly the same. The pharmd is much like the jd in that respect, and the pharmacists who consciously put Dr in front of their names are laughed at. A pharmd is basically a bs + 2 yrs or so, but it isnt a pharmacology phd (4 yrs bs + 6 yrs of phd) or med school (4 + 4).

[rinehart27]

No, a PharmD is either a BS + 4 years in pharmacy school, or you can get accepted in to a 6 year program out of high school.

And if I put in 8 years as a pharmacist I would put the DR. in front of my name. Just as much time as med school prior to specializing, and (most) pharmacists know their shit. If your degree afford you the DR, why not put it there. Except for chiropractors perhaps.

[Applying_Late]

From the programs Ive seen, it's often a 6 yr program. You do prepharm for two, two pharm ba, then two pharmd. Who can call themselves doctors for two years of pharmd? I think that's disgusting. It's more disgusting than a jd calling themselves doctors and they have 3 yrs postgrad. Also, anyone who does pharmd for 8 isnt very bright as these kids probably wanted medicine. Most kids who go pharmd couldnt make it to med school. Almost every pharmd program guarantees admission if within a certain gpa. During my time that gpa was a 2.8, and Im sorry but that's pathetic. Times may have changed, but I dont think pharmds are requiring med school requirements. Anyway, it's not me who just doesnt Accept a pharmd calling himself a doctor, it's a ood chunk of the medical community and pharma phds.

[bp shinners]

A PharmD is a doctorate of Pharmacy and is considered an advanced science degree by the US Patent and Trademark Office, if that's what you're asking.

It's not.

I'm trying to figure out if a PharmD is considered equivalent to at least a Master's in Chemistry/Biochemistry by those who work in the patent field, or in the greater scientific pharmaceutical research field. Qualifying to sit for the Patent Bar is one qualifier to get a job working at a patent firm; however, it's also the easiest one to meet. To actually practice patent prosecution/litigation, you need a certain level of education that isn't met with a Bachelor's (while that Bachelor's is enough for the USPTO). I don't know if a PharmD meets that level.

What classes do you take in addition to the Bachelor's requirements for just a straight up Chem degree?

[rinehart27]

From the programs Ive seen, it's often a 6 yr program. You do prepharm for two, two pharm ba, then two pharmd. Who can call themselves doctors for two years of pharmd? I think that's disgusting. It's more disgusting than a jd calling themselves doctors and they have 3 yrs postgrad. Also, anyone who does pharmd for 8 isnt very bright as these kids probably wanted medicine. Most kids who go pharmd couldnt make it to med school. Almost every pharmd program guarantees admission if within a certain gpa. During my time that gpa was a 2.8, and Im sorry but that's pathetic. Times may have changed, but I dont think pharmds are requiring med school requirements. Anyway, it's not me who just doesnt Accept a pharmd calling himself a doctor, it's a ood chunk of the medical community and pharma phds.

You literally have no idea what you're talking about and you sound like an idiot.