What matters the most for a ip lawyer?
Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 6:36 pm
Which of the followings matters the most for a IP lawyer, pre-law working experience, IT certifications,the major of your bachelor degree or the patent bar? Thanks.
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I assume the sequence is from the most to the least?eriedoctrine wrote:patent bar, major of your bachelor degree, pre-law working experience, IT certifications
Thank you, does master degree help?Jchance wrote:major of your bachelor degree > patent bar > pre-law working experience,IT certifications
In some areas, MS or even PhD are more or less required. Patent litigation is less sensitive on this than prosecution. Certain BS degrees like engineering or CS are just as valuable as certain MS or PhDs, like biology.jrwhitedog wrote:Thank you, does master degree help?Jchance wrote:major of your bachelor degree > patent bar > pre-law working experience,IT certifications
Supply and demand. Bio is a lot easier to do than EE, and EE majors get legit jobs out of school more often that makes it less likely that they will go to LS.6lehderjets wrote:This has me curious. I was asked by someone considering law school the usefulness of a Bio BA/BS for patent work. I heard on here it's not as helpful as EE. Any reason for this?
From my experience (BS in Biology, passed patent bar before LS, have post-bar employment in M&A), the reasons seem to be twofold. First of all, in the industry, the scientists with whom biology type patent attorneys will work almost invariably have their own PhDs. Whether or not it is warranted, the culture in bio-fields calls for patent attorneys with equal eduction to the clients'. Despite the fact that someone with a BS or Masters in biology could probably understand the science sufficiently to do patent pros in biology, the scientist clients simply want those letter credentials after their attorneys names. The second reason is the overwhelming saturation of the market with biology PhDs. There are lots of Bio PhDs who go on to get legal degrees and so firms have access to those with the credentials their clients in bio-fields wish to work with.6lehderjets wrote:This has me curious. I was asked by someone considering law school the usefulness of a Bio BA/BS for patent work. I heard on here it's not as helpful as EE. Any reason for this?
Second the supply demand argument. Do you know how many jobs are out there for EE/CS people in Silicon Valley? Do you know how much they pay? A LOT. Firms will do anything to get there hands on a solid EE/CS engineering type recruit that is willing to go to law school and become a patent lawyer. The curriculum/content for EE/CS is much much harder than Bio. Trust me, I had my experiences in both.This has me curious. I was asked by someone considering law school the usefulness of a Bio BA/BS for patent work. I heard on here it's not as helpful as EE. Any reason for this?
To clarify, are you asking about patent prosecution, patent litigation, or soft IP (trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, etc). Needless to say, the answer depends upon whether you're asking about litigation or prosecution.jrwhitedog wrote:Which of the followings matters the most for a IP lawyer, pre-law working experience, IT certifications,the major of your bachelor degree or the patent bar? Thanks.
Mind answering for both litigation and prosecution? Not sure what I want to go into yet.ITrollPatentTrolls wrote:To clarify, are you asking about patent prosecution, patent litigation, or soft IP (trademarks?, copyright, trade secrets, etc). Needless to say, the answer depends upon whether you're asking about litigation or prosecution.jrwhitedog wrote:Which of the followings matters the most for a IP lawyer, pre-law working experience, IT certifications,the major of your bachelor degree or the patent bar? Thanks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinctio ... _languagesDesert Fox wrote:Patent lit
Major > Experience >> patent bar > whether you like blue or green better > IT certs
Pros
Patent Bar ELIGIBILITY > Major > experience > patent bar >> whether you like blue or green better > IT certs
Which category has the most fun if there is anyITrollPatentTrolls wrote:To clarify, are you asking about patent prosecution, patent litigation, or soft IP (trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, etc). Needless to say, the answer depends upon whether you're asking about litigation or prosecution.jrwhitedog wrote:Which of the followings matters the most for a IP lawyer, pre-law working experience, IT certifications,the major of your bachelor degree or the patent bar? Thanks.
pros has more fun but lit gets all the ladiesjrwhitedog wrote:Which category has the most fun if there is anyITrollPatentTrolls wrote:To clarify, are you asking about patent prosecution, patent litigation, or soft IP (trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, etc). Needless to say, the answer depends upon whether you're asking about litigation or prosecution.jrwhitedog wrote:Which of the followings matters the most for a IP lawyer, pre-law working experience, IT certifications,the major of your bachelor degree or the patent bar? Thanks.?
Agree with this. Note that, for patent lit, law school and law school grades are more important than everything the OP identified. That's less true for Pros.Desert Fox wrote:Patent lit
Major > Experience >> patent bar > whether you like blue or green better > IT certs
Pros
Patent Bar ELIGIBILITY > Major > experience > patent bar >> whether you like blue or green better > IT certs
This. If your grades are high enough from a reputable school, you can have your BA in History and do patent lit. That said, your major is a big factor outside of having top grades...rpupkin wrote:Agree with this. Note that, for patent lit, law school and law school grades are more important than everything the OP identified. That's less true for Pros.Desert Fox wrote:Patent lit
Major > Experience >> patent bar > whether you like blue or green better > IT certs
Pros
Patent Bar ELIGIBILITY > Major > experience > patent bar >> whether you like blue or green better > IT certs
I've been in patent law for almost 10 years now, and I see more and more algorithm type software patent battles. Think CS algorithms, like machine learning and telecommunications algorithms. These bring big bucks to the companies now.For an EE, it's really a semiconductor degree specialization or semiconductor industry experience that is valued the most. Most of the other fields tend to be easier to learn or are not as patent-heavy.
Agreed, but those are in the "easier to learn" camp. The work is much less technical and it's easier to get without any reference to technical expertise.Anonymous User wrote:I've been in patent law for almost 10 years now, and I see more and more algorithm type software patent battles. Think CS algorithms, like machine learning and telecommunications algorithms. These bring big bucks to the companies now.For an EE, it's really a semiconductor degree specialization or semiconductor industry experience that is valued the most. Most of the other fields tend to be easier to learn or are not as patent-heavy.
glitched wrote:pros has more fun but lit gets all the ladiesjrwhitedog wrote:Which category has the most fun if there is anyITrollPatentTrolls wrote:To clarify, are you asking about patent prosecution, patent litigation, or soft IP (trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, etc). Needless to say, the answer depends upon whether you're asking about litigation or prosecution.jrwhitedog wrote:Which of the followings matters the most for a IP lawyer, pre-law working experience, IT certifications,the major of your bachelor degree or the patent bar? Thanks.?