IP lawyer without engineering background--not competitive? Forum

[Split90]

Hi everyone. If one doesn't have an engineering/science background, will it be unwise of her to focus on IP law? I mean, she can't be a patent lawyer, and there are already millions of IP lawyers from HYS with engineering/science background in the market.

My friend majored in Art History during her undergraduate. She loved it. It has been her dream to research on copyright law in relation to art and creativity (I don't know exactly...).

But since she needs to get a corporate job post law school to pay off her debt, she is wondering whether she should begin to gain the knowledge in areas like M&A instead of researching on copyright law. What do you think? Any opinion is welcomed. Sincere thanks in advance!!

[Split90]

She's also international. It will be marginally more difficult for her to get a big law job.

[ft8fc]

I do not think that there have been millions of JD students graduated from HYS with hard science undergraduate degrees, let alone all of them went to practice patent law.

FWIW, copyright is a rather small section of IP law. With your friend's credentials, corporate law would be a better choice because it has much more job openings for fresh JD graduates than copyright law.

[rinkrat19]

I didn't get any interest from IP firms/IP groups within larger firms and I just have the wrong type of engineering degree. I would not advise anyone to aim for IP law only without one of the degrees that firms look for.

[kyle010723]

I know someone that is SAing at K&E doing soft IP without an engineering background. I do not think it is impossible to do IP without a technical degree, the key is you are limited to IP litigation. To gain a job in IP lit then, you do not get the so-called IP buff (i.e. overlook your school ranking, GPA, etc) that you gain from doing prosecution, so you need to compete for a litigation job just like any other litigator would.

So as to your question, the answer is yes and no. Without a technical degree (or without the right technical degree even), you are essentially barred from doing prosecution. Her best chance is to do IP litigation and sprinkle in some copyright/trademark prosecution.

[legit]

Hope it's okay to piggyback on this thread!

What about not the right technical background and passed the patent bar?

Also, for scientific publications on a legal resume, do people list them with proper formatting?

[kyle010723]

Hope it's okay to piggyback on this thread!

What about not the right technical background and passed the patent bar?

Also, for scientific publications on a legal resume, do people list them with proper formatting?

Passing the patent bar can only help you, but keep in mind if you are doing prosecution, firms typically break down by practice groups, i.e. an EE/ME group, a Bio group, a Chem group, etc. Therefore lets say if you only have a B.S. in Bio, you will not likely find something in an EE group. And without an advance degree, you will not likely qualify for the bio group, chem group, etc. You can always try your luck on a general practice firm with a small IP practice, whereby they may handle every kind of IP and does not break them down by specialties. This is particularly a problem for those who qualify to sit for the patent bar under Category B (except CS, those people are the typical Category B that firms have no problems with).

In terms of litigation, patent bar can be a plus and technical background is not required, so you will have better chance there.

As to scientific publication, my guess is whatever the standard practice is would be acceptable. I can't see any reason why you can't just list the title with a citation behind it.

[legit]

Hope it's okay to piggyback on this thread!

What about not the right technical background and passed the patent bar?

Also, for scientific publications on a legal resume, do people list them with proper formatting?

Passing the patent bar can only help you, but keep in mind if you are doing prosecution, firms typically break down by practice groups, i.e. an EE/ME group, a Bio group, a Chem group, etc. Therefore lets say if you only have a B.S. in Bio, you will not likely find something in an EE group. And without an advance degree, you will not likely qualify for the bio group, chem group, etc. You can always try your luck on a general practice firm with a small IP practice, whereby they may handle every kind of IP and does not break them down by specialties. This is particularly a problem for those who qualify to sit for the patent bar under Category B (except CS, those people are the typical Category B that firms have no problems with).

In terms of litigation, patent bar can be a plus and technical background is not required, so you will have better chance there.

As to scientific publication, my guess is whatever the standard practice is would be acceptable. I can't see any reason why you can't just list the title with a citation behind it.

Thank you!

[Split90]

Thank you all for the input! especially Kyle. Thanks dude.

Yea, she's not really interested in litigation. So I think it will serve her best if she starts to dig in corporate law.

[Aureusmons]

I wouldn't recommend anyone go into ip without a STRONG engineering background. there's just not enough work to go around in ip lit these days, and if you don't have that background, you'll be the first to get shitcanned. plus, the skills you'll learn will not be transferable to any other area of law

[Split90]

I wouldn't recommend anyone go into ip without a STRONG engineering background. there's just not enough work to go around in ip lit these days, and if you don't have that background, you'll be the first to get shitcanned. plus, the skills you'll learn will not be transferable to any other area of law

roger. thanks!