IP Program Forum

[trishad555]

I really need some advice. I plan on doing IP. I have been told its tough to find a job unless you have a lot of experience. Is this true? How would I be able to find a job right after graduating?

[nlee10]

Do you have a STEM degree?

[Companion Cube]

yeah if you don't have a hard science degree (and not just any hard science degree either) IP is going to be a steep uphill battle

[Thelaw23]

Does anyone know if Finance is considered a STEM?
Doesn't it fit into Mathematics? We messed around with some complicated derivatives in class.

[ihenry]

Does anyone know if Finance is considered a STEM?
Doesn't it fit into Mathematics? We messed around with some complicated derivatives in class.

No.

Source: http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/stem-list.pdf

[boslaw56]

Post Removed.

[trishad555]

I have a science degree. But speaking about experience, how will I be able to get a initial job coming from mediocre law school?

[ihenry]

I have a science degree. But speaking about experience, how will I be able to get a initial job coming from mediocre law school?

I think they are talking about science-related work experience before law school, i. e. with your undergrad degree.

[trishad555]

I majored in the sciences but worked later on for about 2 years in consulting company ( not related to health sciences)

[87mm]

Is IP safer than other fields in law to have a "big law" salary? Seems like it has it easier than other practice areas both in job opportunity (if you have a hard science/engineering degree) and in salary (financially beneficial to move from an engineering job to law).

Someone asked about attending a lower ranked school and getting a job. Can IP guys expect a good shot at a high salary from lower ranked schools? T50 instead of mostly t14/t20?

Sorry to hijack thread

[totesTheGoat]

I majored in the sciences but worked later on for about 2 years in consulting company ( not related to health sciences)

IP firms (and IP groups of GP firms) don't care only about whether you worked or not. They care whether you have acquired technical experience. They're looking for 3-5 years of technical experience (research lab for chem/bio, engineering work for engineers) and/or a PhD. The analysis isn't a "check the box" sort of thing. They're looking for you to have the technical exposure that shows that you're not going to balk when you have to learn the ins and outs of a new technology in 2 hours.

[totesTheGoat]

Is IP safer than other fields in law to have a "big law" salary? Seems like it has it easier than other practice areas both in job opportunity (if you have a hard science/engineering degree) and in salary (financially beneficial to move from an engineering job to law).

Yes. It is much easier to get jobs and to get good jobs in hard IP (patents). Soft IP (trademarks, copyrights, etc.) is more like every other field of law.

Someone asked about attending a lower ranked school and getting a job. Can IP guys expect a good shot at a high salary from lower ranked schools? T50 instead of mostly t14/t20?

I'm at a T50 and am patent bar eligible. I'm a little different than most because I work full-time and go to school part-time, so I have over a year of patent prosecution experience already. The jobs are plentiful, and they're mostly at or around market ($160k-ish). Obviously, your results may vary depending on your specific resume, but my experience is that the firms offering market salary will hire patent bar eligible students with above median GPA at a T50.

[FSK]

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