IP/Patent Law w/ 2.9 Undergrad GPA in biochem/cell bio Forum

[risktaker]

I have an overall GPA of 3.2, but science GPA of 2.9. I will be attending law school this coming fall. Will I be able to find a job as a patent/IP lawyer with a low undergrad GPA assuming I do awesome in law school. Thanks in advance and only serious answers please.

[Anonymous User]

Thank you for your post.

[digitalcntrl]

I have an overall GPA of 3.2, but science GPA of 2.9. I will be attending law school this coming fall. Will I be able to find a job as a patent/IP lawyer with a low undergrad GPA assuming I do awesome in law school. Thanks in advance and only serious answers please.

First of all, your GPA will be viewed as a 3.2 for law school admissions.

Second, do well on the LSAT.

Third, don't list your GPA on your resume for job applications. If you go to a good school, no one will care. I am pretty sure a few people will back me up on that.

I would disagree with that. I have been involved with hiring decisions at my firm and not listing the UG GPA sets off alarm bells even if say you went to a a good school. Lawyers are a suspicious lot, you have a GPA and not including it makes us think you are hiding something. Just include your 3.2, it is an honest number and not exactly terrible. The larger issue is your degree type. Generally you need a PHd for a biochem/biology degree to get a job in patent prosecution.

[jerjon2]

I have an overall GPA of 3.2, but science GPA of 2.9. I will be attending law school this coming fall. Will I be able to find a job as a patent/IP lawyer with a low undergrad GPA assuming I do awesome in law school. Thanks in advance and only serious answers please.

First of all, your GPA will be viewed as a 3.2 for law school admissions.

Second, do well on the LSAT.

Third, don't list your GPA on your resume for job applications. If you go to a good school, no one will care. I am pretty sure a few people will back me up on that.

I would disagree with that. I have been involved with hiring decisions at my firm and not listing the UG GPA sets off alarm bells even if say you went to a a good school. Lawyers are a suspicious lot, you have a GPA and not including it makes us think you are hiding something. Just include your 3.2, it is an honest number and not exactly terrible. The larger issue is your degree type. Generally you need a PHd for a biochem/biology degree to get a job in patent prosecution.

How is it viewed to list the honors designation with which you graduated and not your GPA versus your GPA or both?

[Anonymous User]

I have an overall GPA of 3.2, but science GPA of 2.9. I will be attending law school this coming fall. Will I be able to find a job as a patent/IP lawyer with a low undergrad GPA assuming I do awesome in law school. Thanks in advance and only serious answers please.

First of all, your GPA will be viewed as a 3.2 for law school admissions.

Second, do well on the LSAT.

Third, don't list your GPA on your resume for job applications. If you go to a good school, no one will care. I am pretty sure a few people will back me up on that.

I would disagree with that. I have been involved with hiring decisions at my firm and not listing the UG GPA sets off alarm bells even if say you went to a a good school. Lawyers are a suspicious lot, you have a GPA and not including it makes us think you are hiding something. Just include your 3.2, it is an honest number and not exactly terrible. The larger issue is your degree type. Generally you need a PHd for a biochem/biology degree to get a job in patent prosecution.

This is exactly opposite of my experience, and this is what many people at my school did who had less than a 3.6. This was also for some of major prosecution firms like Townsend. However, many more people at my school at litigation focused than prosecution, so it could be anecdotal.

[digitalcntrl]

I have an overall GPA of 3.2, but science GPA of 2.9. I will be attending law school this coming fall. Will I be able to find a job as a patent/IP lawyer with a low undergrad GPA assuming I do awesome in law school. Thanks in advance and only serious answers please.

First of all, your GPA will be viewed as a 3.2 for law school admissions.

Second, do well on the LSAT.

Third, don't list your GPA on your resume for job applications. If you go to a good school, no one will care. I am pretty sure a few people will back me up on that.

I would disagree with that. I have been involved with hiring decisions at my firm and not listing the UG GPA sets off alarm bells even if say you went to a a good school. Lawyers are a suspicious lot, you have a GPA and not including it makes us think you are hiding something. Just include your 3.2, it is an honest number and not exactly terrible. The larger issue is your degree type. Generally you need a PHd for a biochem/biology degree to get a job in patent prosecution.

This is exactly opposite of my experience, and this is what many people at my school did who had less than a 3.6. This was also for some of major prosecution firms like Townsend. However, many more people at my school at litigation focused than prosecution, so it could be anecdotal.

Just to be clear, we are referring to UG GPA not law school GPA. A 3.6 is quite high for a science/engineering major, a 3.2 is not shabby either since the average grade is usually a C+. The highest GPA in my own electrical engr. graduating class was a 3.8. I am not saying it is impossible to find a position, however, it is just more work for us. Your GPA in your technical arts is of primary importance, even more than your law GPA, in getting a prosecution gig. The only exception I can think of is if you have actual work experience (e.g. you are a patent agent or examiner) that can compensate for a low GPA, then it maybe ok to leave it off.

[digitalcntrl]

I have an overall GPA of 3.2, but science GPA of 2.9. I will be attending law school this coming fall. Will I be able to find a job as a patent/IP lawyer with a low undergrad GPA assuming I do awesome in law school. Thanks in advance and only serious answers please.

First of all, your GPA will be viewed as a 3.2 for law school admissions.

Second, do well on the LSAT.

Third, don't list your GPA on your resume for job applications. If you go to a good school, no one will care. I am pretty sure a few people will back me up on that.

I would disagree with that. I have been involved with hiring decisions at my firm and not listing the UG GPA sets off alarm bells even if say you went to a a good school. Lawyers are a suspicious lot, you have a GPA and not including it makes us think you are hiding something. Just include your 3.2, it is an honest number and not exactly terrible. The larger issue is your degree type. Generally you need a PHd for a biochem/biology degree to get a job in patent prosecution.

How is it viewed to list the honors designation with which you graduated and not your GPA versus your GPA or both?

I have never had that happen. I guess it could pass muster, you have demonstrated that you have a decent GPA you just are refusing to disclose it on the resume. The real question is why would you? If you graduated with honors that presumes you have a good GPA.

[jerjon2]

I have never had that happen. I guess it could pass muster, you have demonstrated that you have a decent GPA you just are refusing to disclose it on the resume. The real question is why would you? If you graduated with honors that presumes you have a good GPA.

I go to an engineering school that has a very low mean GPA. My GPA isn't great but I will be graduating with honors here. Also, that is what our career services department advises because of the low mean GPA.

[risktaker]

How can I improve my resume to become a patent attorney? Would it be a good idea to possibly get a masters in biochem after I am done with law school. I was also thinking of maybe going back and getting a bioengineering degree after I am done with law school. Is this a good idea at all? I am the OP by the way.

[Anonymous User]

How can I improve my resume to become a patent attorney? Would it be a good idea to possibly get a masters in biochem after I am done with law school. I was also thinking of maybe going back and getting a bioengineering degree after I am done with law school. Is this a good idea at all? I am the OP by the way.

Actually to work in the field you are interested in. This would help you much more than the master's would. It shows that you have a working knowledge of the practical applications of the science, not just the theory. Take two years off and work for a company in this scientific field if you really want to look desirable to patent law firms.

[digitalcntrl]

I have never had that happen. I guess it could pass muster, you have demonstrated that you have a decent GPA you just are refusing to disclose it on the resume. The real question is why would you? If you graduated with honors that presumes you have a good GPA.

I go to an engineering school that has a very low mean GPA. My GPA isn't great but I will be graduating with honors here. Also, that is what our career services department advises because of the low mean GPA.

You can do one of to things: include the GPA, say it is with honors (maybe provide your class rank) and small explanation of the low mean GPA OR leave off the GPA say it is with honors and include your class rank.

[notyou]

Do employers really care that much about undergrad gpa?

I had a 2.8 or 2.9 gpa in undergrad several years ago (graduation with honors back then at my school was a 3.15 or so); I majored in Electrical Engineering. I went on and got an MSEE. Afterwards, I worked in industry for a few years as an engineer. Now I'm a 1L in a T1 law school.

Will I be judged on my undergraduate GPA by employers? It sucked enough to have my undergraduate gpa considered when applying for law schools even though it was so long ago.

[digitalcntrl]

How can I improve my resume to become a patent attorney? Would it be a good idea to possibly get a masters in biochem after I am done with law school. I was also thinking of maybe going back and getting a bioengineering degree after I am done with law school. Is this a good idea at all? I am the OP by the way.

It is a bit awkward to get a technical degree after law school(I am not saying you cannot do it). Biochem/biology degrees generally require PhDs especially ITE. However the patent market is heating up, filings are on the way up again so they may cut you a break. In general do not try out for exotic degrees (biomedical engr., bio engineering etc.). You want a degree that covers a broad variety of technologies (e.g. electrical engineering). Talk to bio agents or attorneys to see what the situation is like out there.

[jerjon2]

I have never had that happen. I guess it could pass muster, you have demonstrated that you have a decent GPA you just are refusing to disclose it on the resume. The real question is why would you? If you graduated with honors that presumes you have a good GPA.

I go to an engineering school that has a very low mean GPA. My GPA isn't great but I will be graduating with honors here. Also, that is what our career services department advises because of the low mean GPA.

You can do one of to things: include the GPA, say it is with honors (maybe provide your class rank) and small explanation of the low mean GPA OR leave off the GPA say it is with honors and include your class rank.

I would tend towards the second one. I need to find out my class rank before I jump on that though...

Thanks for the advice.

[roadkilllaw]

i've heard that for ip/patent they they do want your ug gpa, BUT i have no first-hand experience with this yet

[digitalcntrl]

Do employers really care that much about undergrad gpa?

I had a 2.8 or 2.9 gpa in undergrad several years ago (graduation with honors back then at my school was a 3.15 or so); I majored in Electrical Engineering. I went on and got an MSEE. Afterwards, I worked in industry for a few years as an engineer. Now I'm a 1L in a T1 law school.

Will I be judged on my undergraduate GPA by employers? It sucked enough to have my undergraduate gpa considered when applying for law schools even though it was so long ago.

Generally the further back your UG is, the less relevant it is. Since you have a masters and work experience, we are likely to look at that. You could put on your master's GPA since they are usually higher.