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Working in the same firm as SO in different roles?

Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:38 pm
by Anonymous User
TL;DR Incoming associate at a firm in a non-patent-related group, my significant other (SO) is considering working as a patent agent in the same firm. Pros/Cons?

The above pretty much sums it up. I am heading to a firm post-law school as an incoming associate in a corporate/corporate-adjacent practice group. My SO will get his/her PhD this semester and is actively applying for patent agent jobs. My firm has a pretty big patent prosecution group (think MoFo, Fenwick, Baker Botts, Wilson Sonsini, etc), so s/he is obviously applying there. If s/he does get an offer, is there any major negative to working in the same firm?

I would be a lot more hesitant if we were both going to be an attorney, or if I were a patent attorney, but I feel like this might not be as bad. Wanted to solicit opinions regardless. Anon for obvious reasons. TIA.

Re: Working in the same firm as SO in different roles?

Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 9:05 pm
by 2013
Some firms have really strict rules against this. Others don’t care at all. I’d read your firm’s handbook to figure out where it stands.

Re: Working in the same firm as SO in different roles?

Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 2:19 am
by Anonymous User
Assuming firm is ok with it, I don't think it'll be a problem at all. My SO and I went to the same firm as associates in the same practice group lol and it was fine