Loyola PLIP 2014 Thread - Strategies? Forum

[Spartan_Alum_12]

SFIPLA schedules are out, 6 interviews here. Anyone know if there is a waitlist function or anything that you can put yourself onto? Missed out one or two employers I was really hoping for..

4 interviews here. Yeah, I'm wondering if cancellations can potentially open up more slots?

Edit: Just got an email from SFIPLA. It says they'll contact you directly if you're an alternate and an interview slot opens.

[Anonymous User]

Would any of you who got 10, 6 or 4 interviews with SFIPLA mind sharing your stats or science background?

I got rejected from everywhere and am wondering why I am not competitive; go to a LS in the 20s with a 3.4 (top 1/3), bio background, and some work experience; doing research over the summer. Those cover letters took a bit of my time, and it would be good to know if Loyola is going to be equally fruitless for me so I do not get my hopes up.

Thanks

[lhanvt13]

Would any of you who got 10, 6 or 4 interviews with SFIPLA mind sharing your stats or science background?

I got rejected from everywhere and am wondering why I am not competitive; go to a LS in the 20s with a 3.4 (top 1/3), bio background, and some work experience; doing research over the summer. Those cover letters took a bit of my time, and it would be good to know if Loyola is going to be equally fruitless for me so I do not get my hopes up.

Thanks

I'll pm you; so pm me

[Nammertat]

Would any of you who got 10, 6 or 4 interviews with SFIPLA mind sharing your stats or science background?

I got rejected from everywhere and am wondering why I am not competitive; go to a LS in the 20s with a 3.4 (top 1/3), bio background, and some work experience; doing research over the summer. Those cover letters took a bit of my time, and it would be good to know if Loyola is going to be equally fruitless for me so I do not get my hopes up.

Thanks

Bio without a masters/phd, and without significant lab experience (multiple years) is a tough sell anymore. You'll have better luck at PLIP, especially if you target NYC where most of the pharma work is being done.

[lhanvt13]

People who have experience with SIPLA: did you find the rate of CBs and offers similar to those at your OCI? What was your Screener:CB ratio? CB:Offer ratio?

is SFIPLA worth it?

[Nammertat]

People who have experience with SIPLA: did you find the rate of CBs and offers similar to those at your OCI? What was your Screener:CB ratio? CB:Offer ratio?

is SFIPLA worth it?

Honestly, I had really good luck at SFIPLA.

(1) There are just more slots available... think of applying to law schools in September.
(2) It can really help with your interviewing skills come OCI, especially if you've secured an offer super early and can go into OCI screeners without fear of unemployment.

[Anonymous User]

Would any of you who got 10, 6 or 4 interviews with SFIPLA mind sharing your stats or science background?

I got rejected from everywhere and am wondering why I am not competitive; go to a LS in the 20s with a 3.4 (top 1/3), bio background, and some work experience; doing research over the summer. Those cover letters took a bit of my time, and it would be good to know if Loyola is going to be equally fruitless for me so I do not get my hopes up.

Thanks

Without a Ph.D. in Bio, your best chance is to do patent litigation. Target Stern Kessler. They normally hire 10 summers total. This summer they had 4 litigation summers, many of whom have no Ph.D.'s . . .

For patent prosecution, a B.S. is not enough, especially at hardcore patent firms like Wilson and Foley. Even janitors there seem to have graduate degrees (tongue in cheek)!

[Anonymous User]

Would any of you who got 10, 6 or 4 interviews with SFIPLA mind sharing your stats or science background?

I got rejected from everywhere and am wondering why I am not competitive; go to a LS in the 20s with a 3.4 (top 1/3), bio background, and some work experience; doing research over the summer. Those cover letters took a bit of my time, and it would be good to know if Loyola is going to be equally fruitless for me so I do not get my hopes up.

Thanks

Without a Ph.D. in Bio, your best chance is to do patent litigation. Target Stern Kessler. They normally hire 10 summers total. This summer they had 4 litigation summers, many of whom have no Ph.D.'s . . .

For patent prosecution, a B.S. is not enough, especially at hardcore patent firms like Wilson and Foley. Even janitors there seem to have graduate degrees (tongue in cheek)!

I was not aware that Sterne Kessler recruited bachelors only for litigation. I actually passed them over in PLIP because the description for their biotech group app said "Graduate degree required..." Wilson is just looking for CompSci people so obviously did not want to submit there. Did not submit to Foley either but they do not have a disclaimer saying you need a grad degree; so are you saying its worthless to look at them outside of PLIP? Looking at their IP Lit group, it seems as though a lot of people do not have grad degrees.

As another question, my grades improved by about 0.2 since I submitted my PLIP apps (school doesn't rank until spring grades are out). From what I understand, most firms have already made their decisions; so is there any good way to notify them of the GPA increase, to increase the firms that pick me? Or should I just make this a pleasant surprise at the interview? Thanks for all the help - this thread has been really instructive already.

[bulinus]

Would any of you who got 10, 6 or 4 interviews with SFIPLA mind sharing your stats or science background?

I got rejected from everywhere and am wondering why I am not competitive; go to a LS in the 20s with a 3.4 (top 1/3), bio background, and some work experience; doing research over the summer. Those cover letters took a bit of my time, and it would be good to know if Loyola is going to be equally fruitless for me so I do not get my hopes up.

Thanks

Without a Ph.D. in Bio, your best chance is to do patent litigation. Target Stern Kessler. They normally hire 10 summers total. This summer they had 4 litigation summers, many of whom have no Ph.D.'s . . .

For patent prosecution, a B.S. is not enough, especially at hardcore patent firms like Wilson and Foley. Even janitors there seem to have graduate degrees (tongue in cheek)!

I was not aware that Sterne Kessler recruited bachelors only for litigation. I actually passed them over in PLIP because the description for their biotech group app said "Graduate degree required..." Wilson is just looking for CompSci people so obviously did not want to submit there. Did not submit to Foley either but they do not have a disclaimer saying you need a grad degree; so are you saying its worthless to look at them outside of PLIP? Looking at their IP Lit group, it seems as though a lot of people do not have grad degrees.

As another question, my grades improved by about 0.2 since I submitted my PLIP apps (school doesn't rank until spring grades are out). From what I understand, most firms have already made their decisions; so is there any good way to notify them of the GPA increase, to increase the firms that pick me? Or should I just make this a pleasant surprise at the interview? Thanks for all the help - this thread has been really instructive already.

The common wisdom is that bio B.S.s don't work for pat pros. My guess is that firms don't want to send someone into a room of client Ph.D.s to talk about the nuances of an invention if they don't have to. In pat lit, you are a lawyer first, and your scientist second.

I got a request for updated grades this week from PLIP, so that is a thing.

[lhanvt13]

I got a request for updated grades this week from PLIP, so that is a thing.

Woah did anybody else get this? I didn't get this email

[bulinus]

I got a request for updated grades this week from PLIP, so that is a thing.

Woah did anybody else get this? I didn't get this email

It said "One of the firms that you applied to via the 2014 Patent Law Interview Program has requested an updated version of your law school transcript that includes your second semester grades". I'm guessing this is not a common request, or they would want us to upload to Symplicity by default. I wouldn't worry if you didn't get it.

[lhanvt13]

I got a request for updated grades this week from PLIP, so that is a thing.

Woah did anybody else get this? I didn't get this email

It said "One of the firms that you applied to via the 2014 Patent Law Interview Program has requested an updated version of your law school transcript that includes your second semester grades". I'm guessing this is not a common request, or they would want us to upload to Symplicity by default. I wouldn't worry if you didn't get it.

Thanks for the update !

[Anonymous User]

Human competition is the most brutal.

You may pride yourself with a B.S. degree in Bio. But most of your peers have Ph.D.'s in bio. Some of them have Harvard Ph.D.'s, or WE at Merck/Amgen. A subsection thereof may have worked as patent agents before attending law schools. Even if you got in the door, you might not survive while competing against those battle-tested Ph.D.'s at work; you might be yelled at more often because you do not understand a new technology; and you might not have a docket of your own for years because you CANNOT handle it.

For example, I knew that WSGR recruited many bio Ph.D.'s to become their patent agents. Other firms may do the same. Most of these agents will attend night school at GW, GULC, USD, or a night school at SF/NY/Boston/Chicago. It is really tough to compete against these "specialists."

Litigation is a different ball game . . . for now. Because AIA added a few postgrant review procedures to challenge patents, firms may have a need to manage those new cases filed at USPTO. FTC cases are another reason for firms to hire more litigators. Therefore, for those who have no Ph.D. degrees in Bio, patent litigation is an easier route than patent prosecution.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else get an email directly from a firm you bid on (plip) asking you to apply on the firm website? Does this mean the firm is looking to interview outside the 2 day fair?

[bulinus]

Yes and I don't know.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else get an email directly from a firm you bid on (plip) asking you to apply on the firm website? Does this mean the firm is looking to interview outside the 2 day fair?

I had this from a few firms last year (Sterne Kessler I think does this every year). Usually it just means that they're looking to gather more detailed information about their candidates ahead of the screener interviews, it doesn't change the interview process during PLIP.

[Hipster but Athletic]

Anyone ever write optional notes?

[Tubrid]

How serious does SFIPLA concern about membership? I don't remember having it last year but this year they seem to stress out membership or they won't allow you to attend... It costs $25 and a stamp

Just sign up. It only costs $25 and a stamp. Is caution on the safe side

Just to be on the safe side, are you two mentioning a stamp because it will cost you money to mail in an application? I just filled out the membership form online and paid through paypal. Is there some hard copy that I'm missing?

[lhanvt13]

How serious does SFIPLA concern about membership? I don't remember having it last year but this year they seem to stress out membership or they won't allow you to attend... It costs $25 and a stamp

Just sign up. It only costs $25 and a stamp. Is caution on the safe side

Just to be on the safe side, are you two mentioning a stamp because it will cost you money to mail in an application? I just filled out the membership form online and paid through paypal. Is there some hard copy that I'm missing?

No no you're fine. You've already registered though, right? Cuz deadlines have passed and bids are out

[Tubrid]

How serious does SFIPLA concern about membership? I don't remember having it last year but this year they seem to stress out membership or they won't allow you to attend... It costs $25 and a stamp

Just sign up. It only costs $25 and a stamp. Is caution on the safe side

Just to be on the safe side, are you two mentioning a stamp because it will cost you money to mail in an application? I just filled out the membership form online and paid through paypal. Is there some hard copy that I'm missing?

No no you're fine. You've already registered though, right? Cuz deadlines have passed and bids are out

Yeah, I received something like 7 interviews. I just procrastinated on becoming a member of SFIPLA.

[Anonymous User]

Where does it say one needs to be a member to participate in the SFIPLA?

[Tubrid]

Where does it say one needs to be a member to participate in the SFIPLA?

--LinkRemoved-- Second sentence below the greeting line.

[bulinus]

So I bid a specific Fish office in PLIP, and now they are in my school's OCI as well, with potential to bid on all offices; I just need to specify which offices I am interested in the cover letter. Can/should I do this for offices I didn't bid through PLIP, or does this look desperate?

[Jchance]

So I bid a specific Fish office in PLIP, and now they are in my school's OCI as well, with potential to bid on all offices; I just need to specify which offices I am interested in the cover letter. Can/should I do this for offices I didn't bid through PLIP, or does this look desperate?

After you bid for multiple offices, when they check your profile (Fish keeps track of this) and if 2 or more offices come up, it'd raise a red flag

[Anonymous User]

I've been considering other practice areas and have realized that I might want to practice in a non-IP field.

If I get screeners at PLIP, I will take them (can't afford not to ITE). After all, IP is still an option but just less of an ideal one.
However, does anyone know if it's possible or recommended for me to express my interest in non-IP work during the interviews? I know some firms go to PLIP with a sole focus on IP and have a separate group for IP hiring but are there some firms that are pretty flexible (if I say I want to do sec reg instead, though still open to IP, will they ding me)? If so, which firms are less specific at PLIP and are open to this?

Thanks