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Having seen the 1L summer internship tips thread,
I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me on 1L SA expectations in biglaw IP (patents). Lets assume I have a BS and great school/grades and no USPTO license.

i wouldn't expect much. it's very tough.

it's definitely possible -- i know someone with same credentials and good 1L grades who got a biglaw job. however, it requires a hell of a lot of research, footwork and time spent on applications. apply everywhere and anywhere and emphasize your interest in IP. it would be better if you passed the patent bar, esp considering that the patent reform act might make all the prep materials out there obsolete very very soon. good luck.

erico wrote:i wouldn't expect much. it's very tough.

Care to explain? Naturally I assume that if it is tough then there are high expectations.

And just for clarification, I'm asking about work expectations, not job qualification expectations

Anonymous User wrote:

erico wrote:i wouldn't expect much. it's very tough.

Care to explain? Naturally I assume that if it is tough then there are high expectations.

And just for clarification, I'm asking about work expectations, not job qualification expectations

wtf? do you have such a job or do you often consider work expectations for jobs you don't have and are likely not to get?

c3pO4 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

erico wrote:i wouldn't expect much. it's very tough.

Care to explain? Naturally I assume that if it is tough then there are high expectations.

And just for clarification, I'm asking about work expectations, not job qualification expectations

wtf? do you have such a job or do you often consider work expectations for jobs you don't have and are likely not to get?

Lets say #2, expectations of jobs not yet obtained.

Anonymous User wrote:

c3pO4 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

erico wrote:i wouldn't expect much. it's very tough.

Care to explain? Naturally I assume that if it is tough then there are high expectations.

And just for clarification, I'm asking about work expectations, not job qualification expectations

wtf? do you have such a job or do you often consider work expectations for jobs you don't have and are likely not to get?

Lets say #2, expectations of jobs not yet obtained.

Lulz. Engineering degree from top 20 UG, top 5% after 1st semester at a top 20 school. No 1L SA, and not for lack of trying. But you go on and expect away, son. Unless of course you're URM, in which case... yeah, probably still not getting one.

ETA: didn't even get screening interviews, just FYI.

I don't know any non-minority who got a summer SA from my lower T14, and I know a lot of IP people. IP ain't what it used to be.

The expectations are similar to those for 2L SAs, which are not particularly high. Everyone I knew with a 1L BigLaw SA (many in IP) got return offers.

The most important thing is to maintain a positive, enthusiastic attitude and make an effort to get to know other people. Don't act or feel special/entitled/different/clueless just because you are a 1L at the firm. Get your work done in a timely fashion, but understand that it's ok to ask a lot of questions, screw up, turn in stuff that is not perfect, especially at the beginning. Just remember to keep a smile on your face and be. positive. even if you get criticism, even if you have to stay late working on stuff you think is miserable.

At the end of the summer, people are really just asking themselves if you're someone they'd like to train. As someone who has been on both the training and trainee end of corporate america, attitude goes a LONG way.

If you want to make an extra positive impression, under promise and over deliver.

Also, 1L BigLaw SAs are definitely a longshot, but 10-15% at my T6 were able to score them, which is not insignificant. Vast majority of people from my (#1/#2) engineering undergrad --> law school in recent memory had 1L BigLaw SAs, regardless of their law schools (I'm observing this anecdotally, but I think a quick linkedin search will confirm). Most of them were not minorities (some of them overrepresented minorities). It helps if you know people within the firm and have good work experience.

yea. it's definitely very very difficult. if you're EE (MS or PhD) AND have work experience you might have a better shot.

my recommendation is to focus on IP boutiques. A few in Chicago recruit almost exclusively through 1L hiring - (McAndrews/Banner & Witcoff/Leydig). Some prosecution focused boutiques will take on exceptional 1Ls (Fitzpatrick OC, Christie Parker in Los Angeles).

another recommendation is Morrison & Foersters 2 Summer Patent Program. This is for prosecution only. Not sure if they will be running the program in 2012, but job posting should be on Symplicity December 1st)

If you are URM a few of the boutiques do Diversity 1L hiring and you can always throw an app at the general Diversity 1L Programs at large firms.

Be aggressive, apply early!! (first week of December) if things don't work out by February, it's best cut your losses and focus on getting experience with a judge/small law/in-house/etc.

BigLaw and IP Boutiques take on 1L patent summers with the objective of beating other firms to the best, rarest engineering/science talent. Typically this means candidates with several years work experience and in-demand tech backgrounds like EE and usually advanced degrees MS/PhD.

Lets please get back on topic - I'm asking about work expectations, not job availability.

Thanks to the anon response comparing it to 2L SA and the tips about attitude.