Engineering Grad School after JD Forum

[Anonymous User]

Wondering if anybody had any experience/thoughts about getting engineering grad degrees after JD to increase marketability for patent law. This isn't very common. I think I've only seen it in about 1 out of 50 or so, but nowadays graduate degrees are more and more common in patent law, just like how LLMs are prevalent in tax law.

[Patriot1208]

I imagine if you did that you would miss the boat on the top IP firm hiring. Most people will get the masters before law school and take the patent bar before OCI to increase marketability.

[pu_golf88]

Get it before your JD.

If you got your MS after your JD you would probably miss out on OCI and thus dramatically lower your chances of finding a job. This is unless you already have connections.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. I already have a 2L SA in IP lined up. My BS is not in the most marketable area (it appears that the one and only marketable subject for BS degrees is EE these days). I am thinking about the scenario that I graduate unemployed.

[Big Shrimpin]

If the ONLY impetus for getting the MS is to increase your biglaw marketability because you missed out in 2L SA hiring, then I'd definitely do LOTS of research to see if it was a good idea. My initial impression is that such an endeavor would probably not be the best course of action. You'd probably have a better shot at working connections/making connections. If the MS could act as a backup plan for a job/career in engineering, then maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea. Don't know your situation, though, but the MS doesn't really seem like a great idea.

As a side note if you're an 0L/1L and are patent bar eligible, then I'd HIGHLY recommend taking the patent bar. I had a non-EE engineering degree and took the patent bar prior to law school. Having that bullet point, in my opinion, paid DIVIDENDS during 2L OCI (read: more than a couple offers). OP, if you've got particular questions, PM me. Good luck!

[benedict.assnold]

If the ONLY impetus for getting the MS is to increase your biglaw marketability because you missed out in 2L SA hiring, then I'd definitely do LOTS of research to see if it was a good idea. My initial impression is that such an endeavor would probably not be the best course of action. You'd probably have a better shot at working connections/making connections. If the MS could act as a backup plan for a job/career in engineering, then maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea. Don't know your situation, though, but the MS doesn't really seem like a great idea.

As a side note if you're an 0L/1L and are patent bar eligible, then I'd HIGHLY recommend taking the patent bar. I had a non-EE engineering degree and took the patent bar prior to law school. Having that bullet point, in my opinion, paid DIVIDENDS during 2L OCI (read: more than a couple offers). OP, if you've got particular questions, PM me. Good luck!

Ignorant UG non EE engineering major here also, so essentially any engineering degree qualifies one to sit for the patent bar?

[CyLaw]

If the ONLY impetus for getting the MS is to increase your biglaw marketability because you missed out in 2L SA hiring, then I'd definitely do LOTS of research to see if it was a good idea. My initial impression is that such an endeavor would probably not be the best course of action. You'd probably have a better shot at working connections/making connections. If the MS could act as a backup plan for a job/career in engineering, then maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea. Don't know your situation, though, but the MS doesn't really seem like a great idea.

As a side note if you're an 0L/1L and are patent bar eligible, then I'd HIGHLY recommend taking the patent bar. I had a non-EE engineering degree and took the patent bar prior to law school. Having that bullet point, in my opinion, paid DIVIDENDS during 2L OCI (read: more than a couple offers). OP, if you've got particular questions, PM me. Good luck!

Ignorant UG non EE engineering major here also, so essentially any engineering degree qualifies one to sit for the patent bar?

As long as it is in the following list (the names of the major must match according to a PLI rep I met last semester), then you can sit under category A

If your major is oddly named so it is not on this list, normally you can qualify under category B. It just takes some additional forms and effort

• Biology
  Biochemistry
  Botany
  Computer Science *
  Electronics Technology
  Food Technology
  General Chemistry
  Marine Technology
  Microbiology
  Molecular Biology
  Organic Chemistry
  Pharmacology
  Physics
  Textile Technology
  Aeronautical Engineering
  Agricultural Engineering
  Biomedical Engineering
  Ceramic Engineering
  Chemical Engineering
  Civil Engineering
  Computer Engineering
  Electrical Engineering
  Electrochemical Engineering
  Engineering Physics
  General Engineering
  Geological Engineering
  Industrial Engineering
  Mechanical Engineering
  Metallurgical Engineering
  Mining Engineering
  Nuclear Engineering
  Petroleum Engineering

[benedict.assnold]

If the ONLY impetus for getting the MS is to increase your biglaw marketability because you missed out in 2L SA hiring, then I'd definitely do LOTS of research to see if it was a good idea. My initial impression is that such an endeavor would probably not be the best course of action. You'd probably have a better shot at working connections/making connections. If the MS could act as a backup plan for a job/career in engineering, then maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea. Don't know your situation, though, but the MS doesn't really seem like a great idea.

As a side note if you're an 0L/1L and are patent bar eligible, then I'd HIGHLY recommend taking the patent bar. I had a non-EE engineering degree and took the patent bar prior to law school. Having that bullet point, in my opinion, paid DIVIDENDS during 2L OCI (read: more than a couple offers). OP, if you've got particular questions, PM me. Good luck!

Ignorant UG non EE engineering major here also, so essentially any engineering degree qualifies one to sit for the patent bar?

Does one require a JD in order to utilize the passing of the patent bar?
As long as it is in the following list (the names of the major must match according to a PLI rep I met last semester), then you can sit under category A

If your major is oddly named so it is not on this list, normally you can qualify under category B. It just takes some additional forms and effort

• Biology
  Biochemistry
  Botany
  Computer Science *
  Electronics Technology
  Food Technology
  General Chemistry
  Marine Technology
  Microbiology
  Molecular Biology
  Organic Chemistry
  Pharmacology
  Physics
  Textile Technology
  Aeronautical Engineering
  Agricultural Engineering
  Biomedical Engineering
  Ceramic Engineering
  Chemical Engineering
  Civil Engineering
  Computer Engineering
  Electrical Engineering
  Electrochemical Engineering
  Engineering Physics
  General Engineering
  Geological Engineering
  Industrial Engineering
  Mechanical Engineering
  Metallurgical Engineering
  Mining Engineering
  Nuclear Engineering
  Petroleum Engineering

[CyLaw]

If the ONLY impetus for getting the MS is to increase your biglaw marketability because you missed out in 2L SA hiring, then I'd definitely do LOTS of research to see if it was a good idea. My initial impression is that such an endeavor would probably not be the best course of action. You'd probably have a better shot at working connections/making connections. If the MS could act as a backup plan for a job/career in engineering, then maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea. Don't know your situation, though, but the MS doesn't really seem like a great idea.

As a side note if you're an 0L/1L and are patent bar eligible, then I'd HIGHLY recommend taking the patent bar. I had a non-EE engineering degree and took the patent bar prior to law school. Having that bullet point, in my opinion, paid DIVIDENDS during 2L OCI (read: more than a couple offers). OP, if you've got particular questions, PM me. Good luck!

Ignorant UG non EE engineering major here also, so essentially any engineering degree qualifies one to sit for the patent bar?

As long as it is in the following list (the names of the major must match according to a PLI rep I met last semester), then you can sit under category A

If your major is oddly named so it is not on this list, normally you can qualify under category B. It just takes some additional forms and effort

**snip**

Does one require a JD in order to utilize the passing of the patent bar?

You don't need a JD to be a patent agent.