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I am currently admitted in Maryland and I debating whether to take Patent bar or Virginia Bar next.

I have an undergrad degree in Biology and I have been thinking about taking the Patent Bar for a while long time. I am currently clerking for a judge, so the Patent bar is not necessary for my current job. But I feel it may help me in my post clerkship job search. My ideal position would either be in IP litigation or FDA/Pharmaceutical Regulatory work.

However, I also would like to work in the MD/DC/Northern VA area. I feel that since I have just taken the MD bar, now is an ideal time to take the VA bar and it will be harder to pass the further out I get from law school

Which ever one I choose to take will require months of study time. Which is the best move at this time?

I'm not sure if either will help you all that much. But I don't see why you'd take the VA bar at all. Unless you work at a VA firm, it's totally unnecessary.

Waiving into the DC bar w/Patent Bar sounds ideal for your ideal

Desert Fox wrote:I'm not sure if either will help you all that much. But I don't see why you'd take the VA bar at all. Unless you work at a VA firm, it's totally unnecessary.

I guess I should have added that my family is from Va so I would like to work there. Really I would work wherever I find a job, but I don't think many Va firms would hire someone not admitted to the Va Bar. Thus, being admitted to Md, Va, and Dc(waiving in) would allow me to cast a broader net in my job search now and later in life.

SDviaVA wrote: My ideal position would either be in IP litigation or FDA/Pharmaceutical Regulatory work.

I've heard of people going into IP lit taking the patent bar, but I don't get why. As I understand it, passing the patent bar is not at all necessary for the practice of IP lit.

Being a registered patent agent/attorney is necessary for things like long term work in patent prosecution, and for going before the PTAB.

L’Étranger wrote:

SDviaVA wrote: My ideal position would either be in IP litigation or FDA/Pharmaceutical Regulatory work.

I've heard of people going into IP lit taking the patent bar, but I don't get why. As I understand it, passing the patent bar is not at all necessary for the practice of IP lit.

Being a registered patent agent/attorney is necessary for things like long term work in patent prosecution, and for going before the PTAB.

I imagine they do it the same reason I would do it....it makes their resume stand out in the dozens of resumes the employer is getting for one job in IP lit. It not necessary, but its also not "necessary" to pay 40K+ to go to Harvard when you can go to a lower ranked school for half that price, but people do it.

I doubt it'll make it "stand out" because who the fuck cares. 90% of patent lit guys can do the patent bar.

But maybe IPR will end up being the huge deal many think it will be. Then you'll need it.

Desert Fox wrote:I doubt it'll make it "stand out" because who the fuck cares. 90% of patent lit guys can do the patent bar.

But maybe IPR will end up being the huge deal many think it will be. Then you'll need it.

A fuck may be given because the patent bar covers procedural steps for filing a patent, which is important to know if you were a patent litigator. Also I am sure patent firm would prefer to have someone who could file patents it need be even if they were not doing it full time. Plus it shows you are really interested/dedicated to the area of law, not just applying to the job on a whim.

SDviaVA wrote:A fuck may be given because the patent bar covers procedural steps for filing a patent, which is important to know if you were a patent litigator.

Being patent bar registered ≠ having knowledge of procedural steps for filing a patent.

SDviaVA wrote:Also I am sure patent firm would prefer to have someone who could file patents it need be even if they were not doing it full time.

I can almost guarantee you that a patent firm would never have a litigator with no pros experience write a patent application if the firm's patent prosecutors do not have the bandwidth.

Dr. Mantis Toboggan wrote:

SDviaVA wrote:A fuck may be given because the patent bar covers procedural steps for filing a patent, which is important to know if you were a patent litigator.

Being patent bar registered ≠ having knowledge of procedural steps for filing a patent.

SDviaVA wrote:Also I am sure patent firm would prefer to have someone who could file patents it need be even if they were not doing it full time.

I can almost guarantee you that a patent firm would never have a litigator with no pros experience write a patent application if the firm's patent prosecutors do not have the bandwidth.

So you're saying there would be no benefit to my career if I passed the Patent Bar?

SDviaVA wrote: So you're saying there would be no benefit to my career if I passed the Patent Bar?

No, I think your biggest challenge is going to be convincing firms that you really are interested in IP lit, and I think that patbar registration could be one element that would help with that. It would probably be a better use of your time to start getting involved in the IP community and to start networking with IP lit attorneys. Join and become an active member of AIPLA, write articles, go to speaking conventions and network (i.e., just introduce your self and talk) with the attorneys there. Just making yourself and your interest in IP known to the IP community will probably better than the patbar badge. You need to get out and start hustling now so that you have a network in place when it comes time to search for your next job.

SDviaVA wrote: I imagine they do it the same reason I would do it....it makes their resume stand out in the dozens of resumes the employer is getting for one job in IP lit. It not necessary, but its also not "necessary" to pay 40K+ to go to Harvard when you can go to a lower ranked school for half that price, but people do it.

I realize that there is an impression among some law students that getting a reg number will help land a job in IP lit. I was just curious if anyone had real or anecdotal evidence that that was true given that having a reg number is not necessary for doing the job.

It seems more like grades/clerkship/school prestige and the like will make an applicant stand out to employers. Having the patent bar on a resume may just end up being something to chat about during an interview once one gets an interview.

It's true, as I said in an earlier post, that a reg number is (essentially) necessary for going in front of the PTAB, however, I was under the impression (although I may be totally wrong) that historically (i.e. pre-IPR) interferences and reexams were handled by prosecutors rather than litigators.(?)

A reg number signals a legit interest in specializing in IP and thus is an asset even when interviewing for IP lit. Several partners commented on my reg #.

I think tcr has already been stated. Waive into DC and pass patent bar. DC is a bigger legal market with a lot more/better opportunities than MD/VA.

patent bar does not require months of studying. two weeks and you should be fine.