About me: top 10% of class from a T-14. Computer engineering background with 2-3 years of work experience as a patent agent before law school. 1L summered at a big IP boutique (i.e., Fish/Finnegan), and then 2L summered at a big law IP group.
I recently accepted a district court clerkship in a "flyover" district. The district is not patent heavy (e.g., not EDTX, WDTX, D.Del) (I actually specifically decided not to apply to those "patent" districts because I wanted a more general experience / become more exposed to other areas of law). The clerkship starts in 2024, so I would spend one year at my big law firm in the IP group before starting.
Question: Assuming I want to return back to IP lit (considering other options though), would I get dinged much for the fact that my district court clerkship was not IP-heavy (e.g., in terms of a return offer back to the firm or lateral offer to a firm of similar caliber)? Or do IP groups look at a district court clerkship favorably in general, whether or not it is in an IP-heavy district?
(My resume has a good amount of IP experience (including the 2-3 of patent agent work), so I assume that past experience + 1-year big law IP + a general district court clerkship would make me quite competitive for a return/lateral offer and more competitive than say a candidate with just 2 years in big law IP. Obviously, however, I understand that I would not be as competitive as 1 yr big law + a Fed Cir or EDTX/WDTX/D.Del clerkship).
Questions About Clerkship w/ IP Background Forum
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Anonymous User
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Anonymous User
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Re: Questions About Clerkship w/ IP Background
Yeah you'll be fine, especially since you're a very competitive candidate on your own right. Also the clerkship is still a great experience even if not patent heavy—improves your writing, etc...
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jotarokujo
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Re: Questions About Clerkship w/ IP Background
This is right. I know someone who was in the same boat as you and they got plenty of offers for patent positions as well as more generalist positions (though still with patent involved)Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sun Apr 16, 2023 10:37 am
(My resume has a good amount of IP experience (including the 2-3 of patent agent work), so I assume that past experience + 1-year big law IP + a general district court clerkship would make me quite competitive for a return/lateral offer and more competitive than say a candidate with just 2 years in big law IP. Obviously, however, I understand that I would not be as competitive as 1 yr big law + a Fed Cir or EDTX/WDTX/D.Del clerkship).
