Loyola PLIP 2014 Thread - Strategies? Forum

[patent-o]

wow this gives me lots of hope!
were your callbacks distributed throughout cities or were they more tied to your geographic ties?

did you apply to "top prestige" firms or did you go the more safer route?

My CB's were distributed throughout cities. There were several places where I really didn't have any geographic ties, and it was a matter of honestly saying "I haven't been to X, but I would love to live there because of cost of living/friendly people/weather/some attribute to the place." A lot of the time attorney's aren't from the city that they practice, and I've found that it I am able to convey that there are legitimate reasons why I would want to practice there, they aren't going to cut me. For example, there were 6 main cities that my CB's took place. I used to live in one, I've been to 2 cities once, and I had never been to 3 of the cities, no do I have any connections there.

The majority of the firms that I applied to were "top prestige" firms. I applied to a handful (5 or so) firms that were smaller, just so that I would be able to see what they were like. One thing to keep in mind is that smaller firms aren't necessarily "safer." They usually take a smaller number of SA's, and are even more focused on the SA's fitting the culture.

[skri65]

1L here--I have my first semester grades, but career services give us the grade distribution (percentages) only after the second semester. I can base my GPA off of last years grade distribution/curve, but would this be unethical?

Would listing my GPA without any context be a bad idea?

[lhanvt13]

wow this gives me lots of hope!
were your callbacks distributed throughout cities or were they more tied to your geographic ties?

did you apply to "top prestige" firms or did you go the more safer route?

My CB's were distributed throughout cities. There were several places where I really didn't have any geographic ties, and it was a matter of honestly saying "I haven't been to X, but I would love to live there because of cost of living/friendly people/weather/some attribute to the place." A lot of the time attorney's aren't from the city that they practice, and I've found that it I am able to convey that there are legitimate reasons why I would want to practice there, they aren't going to cut me. For example, there were 6 main cities that my CB's took place. I used to live in one, I've been to 2 cities once, and I had never been to 3 of the cities, no do I have any connections there.

The majority of the firms that I applied to were "top prestige" firms. I applied to a handful (5 or so) firms that were smaller, just so that I would be able to see what they were like. One thing to keep in mind is that smaller firms aren't necessarily "safer." They usually take a smaller number of SA's, and are even more focused on the SA's fitting the culture.

Thanks for your response! pm-ed you

[kenwash]

Does anyone have any success stories of someone with a life sciences undergrad degree only and was successful landing a prosecution job? I'd like to practice patent prosecution, but with a chemistry BS (and 4 years industry work experience) I'm afraid it won't be an option. Feel free to PM me if you prefer.

[kcdc1]

I'm going a little crazy dealing with the Symplicity interface. Is there a way to edit bids after they have been selected?

Also, do we have a clear call on whether firms with multiple locations want you to apply to different locations individually? Those with special instructions addressing the issue are clear enough, but I'm not sure what to do with those that do not provide instructions.

[POTUS2044]

Anyone know about Foley & Lardner's location if you bid on them for IP litigation? Do they do this equally in all offices? Struggling to figure this out...

[09042014]

Advice for low ugpa people without a lot of work history or grad degree with good grades. Bid on general practice firms. They tend to not inquire into your ugpa.

Whoever said that tech degrees don't matter for patent lit is pretty crazy. A large majority of patent lit groups want a solid tech background. Some notable ones don't like Quinn and few others don't care. But most do.

[whsy]

Does anyone know how bad it would be to leave out uGPA on the resume. My ugpa is in life sciences and really low, 2.8, but I received honors for the entire last year of my undergrad... I'm not sure whether it would hurt more to put it on and add the honors thing, or to just leave ugpa off the resume altogether

Also I have 5 years of WE

[patogordo]

Has anyone attended PLIP as a transfer? I will be matriculating to GULC from a TTT in the fall and I am curious as to how big a factor that plays.

As for my other stats, I am in the top 5% of my TTT class, BS Biochem, MS Bio, 2 years of W/E in research, and 1L SA in an IP boutique specializing in prosecution. I know that I am disadvantaged by not having my doctorate but should i still try for patent pros or limit my bids to patent lit?

Bump

i did PLIP as a transfer, although not from a TTT. pretty similar resume to yours, except EE instead of bio. you should probably bid mostly lit. i assume you'll do fine with your gpa, just be ready for the first half of every interview to be about transferring because most of the interviewers will not have an updated resume and will be surprised to see a new school on top.

[Hipster but Athletic]

How are yall communicating your summer plans?
"Will [win some fucking trials]"?

[Anonymous User]

Is it advisable to NOT bid for a firm which most certain to come for OCI, given that it is one of the most desirable firms you'd like to work in?

[Anonymous User]

Also, any recommendation on how to list that you intend to taking the Patent Bar this summer (prior to PLIP, of course)?
Would something like this below my name and address work?:
Patent Bar Eligible - Anticipated USPTO Registration Examination: July 2014

Also want a sanity check, I'm planning on taking the Patent Bar this summer (Working too). That's totally do-able too?
No patent experience, just planning on taking a prep course. Any recommendations? (Heard good things about PLI despite its price-tag).

Thanks.

[patogordo]

PLI strikes me as a huge waste of money, unless someone else is paying for it.

you could pass w/ a couple weeks of practice exams/prior question pool studying imo.

[lhanvt13]

How do I check how many people in the firm work in/with CSEE? Do I literally just check every one of their practice backgrounds?

[Anonymous User]

PLI strikes me as a huge waste of money, unless someone else is paying for it.

you could pass w/ a couple weeks of practice exams/prior question pool studying imo.

I don't know if this still holds true after the AIA changes.

[bulinus]

PLI strikes me as a huge waste of money, unless someone else is paying for it.

you could pass w/ a couple weeks of practice exams/prior question pool studying imo.

I don't know if this still holds true after the AIA changes.

I have also heard that the reuse of questions is much lower than in the past. If PLI can (help) get you a 2L SA, I think it is completely a worthwhile investment.

[lhanvt13]

PLI strikes me as a huge waste of money, unless someone else is paying for it.

you could pass w/ a couple weeks of practice exams/prior question pool studying imo.

I don't know if this still holds true after the AIA changes.

I have also heard that the reuse of questions is much lower than in the past. If PLI can (help) get you a 2L SA, I think it is completely a worthwhile investment.

The application process for the patent bar is excruciating. I wonder if PLI will step me through it so I don't have to do struggle through it

[patogordo]

PLI strikes me as a huge waste of money, unless someone else is paying for it.

you could pass w/ a couple weeks of practice exams/prior question pool studying imo.

I don't know if this still holds true after the AIA changes.

i mean i took it pre-AIA so i can't say for sure but i know that even pre-AIA when the test was updated for bilski/KSR PLI was pushing the same "THE TEST JUST CHANGED AND NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME" line of bullshit and i passed easily just studying practice tests and prior questions.

[09042014]

Is passing the patent bar actually helpful for getting a job?

[patogordo]

Is passing the patent bar actually helpful for getting a job?

i mean i probably wouldn't have got my 1L SA without patent bar. i think most pros firms like to see it or at least hear that you're gonna take it? lit firms didn't seem to give a fuck

[09042014]

Is passing the patent bar actually helpful for getting a job?

i mean i probably wouldn't have got my 1L SA without patent bar. i think most pros firms like to see it or at least hear that you're gonna take it? lit firms didn't seem to give a fuck

It just seems like a formality. Most patent litigators dont' even take it. Though IPR might change that. I'm considering taking it.

[patogordo]

Is passing the patent bar actually helpful for getting a job?

i mean i probably wouldn't have got my 1L SA without patent bar. i think most pros firms like to see it or at least hear that you're gonna take it? lit firms didn't seem to give a fuck

It just seems like a formality. Most patent litigators dont' even take it. Though IPR might change that. I'm considering taking it.

yea i don't think lit cares at all. i did 1L at a pros boutique.

[09042014]

Is passing the patent bar actually helpful for getting a job?

i mean i probably wouldn't have got my 1L SA without patent bar. i think most pros firms like to see it or at least hear that you're gonna take it? lit firms didn't seem to give a fuck

It just seems like a formality. Most patent litigators dont' even take it. Though IPR might change that. I'm considering taking it.

yea i don't think lit cares at all. i did 1L at a pros boutique.

But it's still a formality. Why would they care if you have done it yet.

[patogordo]

they billed me out as a patent agent. if i didn't have my bar # they probably wouldn't have taken me for the summer.

[Anonymous User]

they billed me out as a patent agent. if i didn't have my bar # they probably wouldn't have taken me for the summer.

So they hired you as a lawyer but paid you at par with the patent agents because you hadn't passed the bar?