Intellectual Property Law Schools Forum

[lawschoolkid0122]

I am planning on starting law school in the fall of 2016. I've gotten into a few places, my top two choices being Maryland and George Mason. Does anyone know if either have a strong IP program? That's what I'm thinking of studying.

[totesTheGoat]

GMU has better connections in the DC area, which is good for IP. Beyond that, I think there are only a few schools that have an IP-specific reputation, and neither of your schools are on that list

[Clearly]

are you patent bar eligible? Also, this isn't how picking a law school works.

[lawschoolkid0122]

are you patent bar eligible? Also, this isn't how picking a law school works.

I don't know what you're referring to when you say, "this," nor do I understand why you think you can tell me how I should or should not pick a law school. Just trying to get input from the web. Looks like this is the wrong place to do so.

[Clearly]

Alrighty, have it your way! I'm of the mind that everyone who isn't picking a school based on the probability of getting a job, is picking a school wrong. For instance, if you aren't patent bar eligible (my first question you ignored), banking on IP is foolish. Specialty rankings are nonsense, no school is really better for IP than any other, the question is what is your chance of getting a job in IP from each school, and that's pretty much going to fall in line with your odds of getting any job from that school.

[kingpin101]

The strength of an IP program should be as much of a deciding factor for you as is the color of the building walls. That might be a slight exaggeration, but it really doesn't matter much at all. Also, if your top choices are those two, I hope you are actually patent eligible.

[Clearly]

The strength of an IP program should be as much of a deciding factor for you as is the color of the building walls. That might be a slight exaggeration, but it really doesn't matter much at all. Also, if your top choices are those two, I hope you are actually patent eligible.

You must not have heard.

nor do I understand why you think you can tell me how I should or should not pick a law school

You see?

Kidding aside OP, we're largely here to help you. If you lay out what your game plan is in terms of school, debt, jobs etc people here will help you not utterly fuck up your life. I'll even try to be less sarcastic since you're so sensitive to it.

[lawschoolkid0122]

The strength of an IP program should be as much of a deciding factor for you as is the color of the building walls. That might be a slight exaggeration, but it really doesn't matter much at all. Also, if your top choices are those two, I hope you are actually patent eligible.

You must not have heard.

nor do I understand why you think you can tell me how I should or should not pick a law school

You see?

Kidding aside OP, we're largely here to help you. If you lay out what your game plan is in terms of school, debt, jobs etc people here will help you not utterly fuck up your life. I'll even try to be less sarcastic since you're so sensitive to it.

That was my main concern, whether strength of IP programs really made a difference. I realize those schools aren't the best, but I am confident that I will be able to find a career in IP law.

I am an engineer, so I am patent bar eligible.

[Clearly]

Why are you looking at these two schools? Engineering is pretty tough stuff, I'm certain you could up your LSAT score and go to a school where your odds of employment are miles better.

[lawschoolkid0122]

Why are you looking at these two schools? Engineering is pretty tough stuff, I'm certain you could up your LSAT score and go to a school where your odds of employment are miles better.

Try as I might, my LSAT score plateaued at 163 - not phenomenal, but pretty decent. And as you said, engineering is tough stuff, so my GPA was horrendous (<<25% for just about every school). And because I need to go somewhere that offers me a scholarship, I can't shoot for top 25, top 30 school because I won't receive any $$.

Tricky spot to be in.

[Clearly]

Right, I feel you, I was a 2.87 164.

Till I wasn't. Don't give up so easy. I feel the struggle, you need to balance likelihood of getting a job with scholarships because your GPA and LSAT aren't great, but you still have control over the LSAT. I personally worry your balance may be too far towards scholarship and not close enough towards jobs, unless you know people high up in firms that are making you promises, your odds of getting a good job (even IP) are really quite bad. Simply put the only firms that pay more than you could make as an engineer aren't even recruiting at these schools.

[dnptan]

Engineer here. Feel free to PM me if you have questions. I'm assuming you want to go into hard IP (patents) and not soft IP (tm/copyright).

Currently a 1L at HLS and was lucky to get a summer associate position at a biglaw firm in DC. The other two summer associates are 2Ls from George Mason and GULC. The George Mason one was a summer associate her 1L year as well (really tough to get. Even at HLS only 10-20% get it)

Completely anecdotal of course. I don't know if my fellow summer associates were top in their class or invented something cool prior to law school - both of which can really bump one up.

Two things to consider: 1) hard IP is generally divided into two types, litigation and prosecution. The hiring market is a bit different for each. 2) unlike other fields of law, IP (esp. Pros) seems less (but still extremely tied to) law school pedigree. Undergrad pedigree matters as well.