IP interviews - what are they like? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have experience here regarding IP callbacks? Are there technical questions in your specific major, or is it just like all the other callbacks?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have experience here regarding IP callbacks? Are there technical questions in your specific major, or is it just like all the other callbacks?

It depends, I've had some normal CBs and I've had some with technical questions. For the most part they're normal, but you need to be able to speak in technical language at least a little.

[Anonymous User]

What type of IP position is it for?

Some IP boutiques do ask technical questions for patent prosecution positions. It's rare, but it did happen to me. However, the questions were very basic.

I've never been on a non-IP callback since I'm only interested in patent prosecution, but I've found that I always had to make a case on why I'm interested in patent prosecution (as if there's a presumption that I shouldn't be interested). I also had to discuss why I'm interested in a boutique/small firm over a biglaw firm.

[drdolittle]

In my experience, they're generally very similar to other callbacks (from talking to non-IP types) though everything will depend on your interviewer as usual. Just be ready to summarize your tech experience if you are asked about it, which you may not be, not in any great detail but definitely in a clear and organized fashion. And do not oversell your skills or outright bullshit, b/c there's a decent chance interviewers will know more about your tech area than you might expect.

[farmernate]

The most frequent question I was asked repeatedly was why I was interested in IP. (I do have EE background w/ WE), and also why litigation as opposed to prosecution. If you have relevant WE, you will need to talk about it to varying degrees depending on the interviewer. I was never explicitly asked any technical engineering questions, but some did ask me if I could read circuit diagrams (a plus for patent litigation), and others asked me to describe some of the projects I worked on (always high level, generalized overviews).

Otherwise the interviews seemed pretty similar when i compared stories with my friends who were going after Corporate lit/transactional work.

[BioEBear2010]

Only had experience with BigLaw patent litigation, but the interviews were pretty standard. Interviewers almost invariably asked (1) why law school, (2) why IP, and (3) any other practice area interests. A number also asked some moderately substantive questions about my 1L summer position, along the lines of "favorite project" or "most difficult legal issue."

I imagine soft IP (read: (c)/TM) litigation interviews are very similar. No idea what a patent prosecution or IP transactional interview would look like.

[Anonymous User]

This isn't typical of IP interviews, but my friend told me about his screener interview at OCI with an IP Boutique.

Friend sits down
Friend: "How are you do-"
Interviewer: "What is the equation for Bragg's Law?"
Friend: "Well, I bel-"
Interviewer cuts friend off and rattles off equation; starts laughing hysterically
Interviewer: "Beat you!"
Awkward interview continues... 15 minutes later, iPhone alarm on table goes off.
Interviewer: "Okay that means it's your turn to ask me questions."
Friend: "You know, I think I'm good. Thank you!"