Crazy?? Leaving FAANG Engineering for Law Forum

[Anonymous User]

Most people here don't know what they are talking about re patent work. Biglaw patent litigator here with multiple grad level EECS degrees from top eng schools and the capability of quite easily getting fang jobs. You wouldn't be crazy for preferring law, I definitely do. Don't listen to the t14 or you won't even get Biglaw drivel either. If you want patent biglaw you can get it with a BS in CS for either patent pros or lit even with median grades at a school like Santa Clara with the current market, especially with FAANG worthy tech skills.

Do you know anything about the viability of getting a mscs and then doing IP law? Current t14 3L and not sure if I can still get biglaw after doing a master's in CS. No previous background in CS, simply interested in the field & want to have the option of working in tech and/or IP in the future.

[Anonymous User]

Most people here don't know what they are talking about re patent work. Biglaw patent litigator here with multiple grad level EECS degrees from top eng schools and the capability of quite easily getting fang jobs. You wouldn't be crazy for preferring law, I definitely do. Don't listen to the t14 or you won't even get Biglaw drivel either. If you want patent biglaw you can get it with a BS in CS for either patent pros or lit even with median grades at a school like Santa Clara with the current market, especially with FAANG worthy tech skills.

Do you know anything about the viability of getting a mscs and then doing IP law? Current t14 3L and not sure if I can still get biglaw after doing a master's in CS. No previous background in CS, simply interested in the field & want to have the option of working in tech and/or IP in the future.

The ship may have passed for the masters, but you really only need a tech background for prosecution work. If you want to do IP lit or technology transactions, lots of firms don't require any technical background whatsoever. Most IP groups are short staffed, so expressing an interested is the only prerequisite. IP jobs are easier to land for sure, but I'm not sure deferring a year and getting a masters would help you. FWIW, most people who do tech/computer side don't have advanced degrees. Contrast that with pharma/biotech, where everyone and their mother has a PhD.