Engineering manager looking to transition to law Forum

[Chelsealaw]

Folks- i’m an engineering manager working in an automotive company. I have bachelors and a masters in engineering. I want to take on a new challenge and have been very interested in law school.

Two questions for the wise folks on this forum:

1. What are my odds for getting into a law school? I’m in mid 30s and this is a bit unconventional

2. What’s the best path forward? Assuming my previous education helps me... for example I already have a bachelors. What do I need to do?.

Thank you all
Chelsea

[Eleven]

What is your undergraduate GPA? You need to take the LSAT.

[Chelsealaw]

Undergrad 3.7 and grad 3.9

[mcmand]

Your UGPA is all that matters here and it's decent for getting into most good law schools. The only other major factor is your LSAT.

If you want to take it, do a prep course and give yourself at least 6 months to prep. You want to get north of a 165. Scores range from 120-180, and 165+ is what will get you into decent schools, and even higher will get you into top schools. But it's pretty impossible to get a solid LSAT score without extensive prep.

The question remains if it's worth going through all of the prep. What animates your interest in being a lawyer? What sort of practice are you envisioning? Have you talked to many lawyers?

[doggozeg]

All you need to do is take the LSAT (only offered on paper and a few times per year) and then put together an application on LSAC. Applications for the next cycle open around September 1, 2018. I'd recommend an LSAT prep course or at least some practice tests.

Your age, while not common, is definitely fine. And engineering is viewed favorably.

Your odds will be based on GPA + LSAT primarily. So get a high LSAT. Aim for 170+ if possible. Your GPA is excellent.

Steps:

1. Make an account at https://www.lsac.org/.
2. Sign up for LSAT and take said LSAT.
3. Get application components (letters of rec, official transcript, essays, etc.)
4. Apply. I would recommend next cycle, 2018-2019, starting September.

So you have a good timeline. Everything is centralized through LSAC.

[pancakes3]

why do you want to go to law school?

[Chelsealaw]

why do you want to go to law school?

Fair question... I want to be at the intersection of patent law and technology. There’s a lot of opportunity to streamline and optimize how corporations manage and handle that space. I’ve personally dealt with it as an engineer. I also don’t understand it well enough, and think this is an opportunity to get s better understanding.

Financially, I don’t think law will be better for me.. currently at $150K+bonus... but it’s a passion / interest I’ve always had. Following my passion

[Chelsealaw]

All you need to do is take the LSAT (only offered on paper and a few times per year) and then put together an application on LSAC. Applications for the next cycle open around September 1, 2018. I'd recommend an LSAT prep course or at least some practice tests.

Your age, while not common, is definitely fine. And engineering is viewed favorably.

Your odds will be based on GPA + LSAT primarily. So get a high LSAT. Aim for 170+ if possible. Your GPA is excellent.

Steps:

1. Make an account at https://www.lsac.org/.
2. Sign up for LSAT and take said LSAT.
3. Get application components (letters of rec, official transcript, essays, etc.)
4. Apply. I would recommend next cycle, 2018-2019, starting September.

So you have a good timeline. Everything is centralized through LSAC.

Thank you so much

[totesTheGoat]

I want to be at the intersection of patent law and technology. There’s a lot of opportunity to streamline and optimize how corporations manage and handle that space.

I'm interested in hearing more about this (if you don't mind sharing). As an in-house patent attorney, I definitely can relate to how some of the less-than-optimal processes drive a wedge between the IP department and the engineers.

Financially, I don’t think law will be better for me.. currently at $150K+bonus... but it’s a passion / interest I’ve always had. Following my passion

There are in-house opportunities (I'm assuming that you want to stay at a company rather than a law firm) around that pay point. They're extremely hard to come by, though. Around here they're called "unicorn" jobs. Most IP attorneys spend 3 or 4 years busting their humps in law firms before getting a chance to go in-house.

If you want more info about the engineering to patent law transition, feel free to PM me. I was an engineer for 3 years before law school, and now I'm a patent attorney at a tech company.