Chance Me? Interested in Patent Law Forum

[floatie]

I just graduated from a T25. Top 25%, Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, and passed the patent bar earlier this week. I also have three strong LORs from professors, and two are willing to make calls for me. I spent my 1L summer in BigFed and 2L summer at a V5 firm that I'm going back to (unless covid tanks that). I'm joining the patent lit practice and I'm applying for 2022/2023 clerkships, so I'd have 2-3 years at the firm before the clerkship starts. I'm looking at pretty much all federal district courts plus Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

[justanotherlurker]

There are only a few district courts that are heavily focused on patent litigation - EDTX, NDCA, Del. Those clerkships are fairly competitive, as is CAFC.

It sounds like you have a patent-bar-eligible degree, so that's a boon. Particularly strong LORs, including calls to chambers, and/or a well-connected colleague at your firm, ideally a former clerk, would also be very beneficial.

If you're geographically flexible, a district court clerkship isn't out of the question. But in most district courts, you could go all year without a patent case. Those 3 districts and CAFC are more competitive, but perhaps not out of the question. The answer is really just to apply and see what happens.

[Anon-non-anon]

There are only a few district courts that are heavily focused on patent litigation - EDTX, NDCA, Del. Those clerkships are fairly competitive, as is CAFC.

It sounds like you have a patent-bar-eligible degree, so that's a boon. Particularly strong LORs, including calls to chambers, and/or a well-connected colleague at your firm, ideally a former clerk, would also be very beneficial.

If you're geographically flexible, a district court clerkship isn't out of the question. But in most district courts, you could go all year without a patent case. Those 3 districts and CAFC are more competitive, but perhaps not out of the question. The answer is really just to apply and see what happens.

DNJ has a lot of drug patent specific work. Some judges require a patent eligible person. I believe EDVA does a fair amount of it too. Those are competitive districts, but prob easier than ND Cal.

[decimalsanddollars]

Look for a list of judges that participate in the Patent Pilot Program, and focus on those judges. Most of the judges who participate are in competitive districts already, but indicating interest in patent law could give an extra boost with these judges. EIC doesn't hurt. Idk if he's on PPP, but Judge Albright in Waco (WD Tex) has received significant patent litigation since his appointment, so he should be on your list also.

[Anonymous User]

There are only a few district courts that are heavily focused on patent litigation - EDTX, NDCA, Del. Those clerkships are fairly competitive, as is CAFC.

It sounds like you have a patent-bar-eligible degree, so that's a boon. Particularly strong LORs, including calls to chambers, and/or a well-connected colleague at your firm, ideally a former clerk, would also be very beneficial.

If you're geographically flexible, a district court clerkship isn't out of the question. But in most district courts, you could go all year without a patent case. Those 3 districts and CAFC are more competitive, but perhaps not out of the question. The answer is really just to apply and see what happens.

SCOTUS took EDTX out behind the shed in TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods. It's effectively dead as a patent venue, largely because EDTX massively overplayed its hand in pandering to patent trolls. Venue is now dictated by place of incorporation, and EDTX is probably going to fade back into (relative) irrelevance.

D. Del. is the place to be for patent lit now (besides NDCA and other places where the relevant companies are physically located).