Breaking into IP law

[Anonymous]

The NIH had a technology transfer fellowship last time I checked a couple of years ago. Prospects for getting hired there afterwards are good.

[Anonymous]

Just realize that if you decide to jump from science into patent law, there is no going back.

And patent law is boring boring boring, especially of you don't go to law school and become a litigation attorney. It is doing the same thing over and over and over.

[Anonymous]

Just realize that if you decide to jump from science into patent law, there is no going back.

And patent law is boring boring boring, especially of you don't go to law school and become a litigation attorney. It is doing the same thing over and over and over.

OP here. Yes, I realize this. This is why it's hard to get a feel on alternative careers--the first piece of advice you get is that if you don't do a postdoc, you're closing off all options to re-enter science, particularly academic science. I am considering a postdoc (get more connections, gain some new expertise), but part of me feels like it's just delaying if it's not what I want to do ultimately. I really don't want to get stuck in the holding pattern of doing one postdoc and then another, making maybe 40K with no benefits until I am in my mid-30s at the earliest, especially since I am starting to dislike benchwork. I kind of want to get my career and life going, and chose an area where there is at least the potential for higher earning pathways. I also do a significant amount of synthesis using a lot of halogenated solvents in my area, and I worry about chemical exposure when I decide to get pregnant/breastfeed.

There are definitely non-academic, non-traditional careers out there in consulting, policy, and IP to name a few areas, but the issue is all of these areas want 3-5 years experience, no one wants to train. I'll just have to be vigilant about seeking out new opportunities and networking.

[Anonymous]

Don't get stuck in the postdoctoral trap. In most cases these days it's a fast track to nowhere.
If you can get a real job right away do so. If you are moving to the DC area, then the NIH/FdA have a lot of non-research science jobs.
Science magazine has an excellent section on careers, mostly focusing on alternate careers. Their discussion forum is also useful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

FYI, being a patent examiner is a pretty tough job.

Yeah, I don't mind working hard and hustling. I just am starting to find benchwork unfulfilling (although have been told that I am a strong technical writer, and am generally pretty good at reading, synthesizing, and presenting information), and have deep concerns about the funding climate and academic job market as it stands right now and seeking out alternatives.

They have a quota system. A friend of mine works there and he said the people who care about their work and quality hate the job. But slackers who cut corners to make their numbers love it.

[Anonymous]

17:15 IP partner here again. OP, go look at the USPTO website. The San Jose office is in temporary space right now, but Detroit is up and running. There will be other satellite PTO sites soon, so you may be able to line those up with your SO's academic locations. Also, the USPTO, I believe, requires junior examiners to start and train on site, but will allow you then to telework ("hotel") after some period. I do not know what the current geographic or time in office restrictions are these days, but this might be good for you.

Also, if you really want to have a patent agent career, do not stay at the USPTO beyond a year or two. It's place to train, but firms look at your time there as being on the wrong side of the issue to serve clients. If you spend to much time on the wrong side, some firms figure you will never be able to be 100% on the client's side of the argument.

[Anonymous]

Denver is starting to hire for the new PTO office there as well.

As an aside, my husband is a patent attorney who started as an examiner, then became a patent agent, both while going to law school at night. He had several law school friends doing the same thing with PhDs in various fields.

We have a friend who has a PhD, had done a couple of post-docs and for whatever reason was ready to leave academia. He became a patent examiner, and then he ended up emigrating to New Zealand, where he worked for the NZ patent office and now is a registered patent attorney, without having to go to law school.

[Anonymous]

OP here--thanks to everyone who has responded--there's been a lot of good info on this thread. This definitely seems like an area where I can build a decent career and the possibility of coordinating with my spouse's career. When I'm a little closer to graduating, I'll try to get involved in the tech transfer office at my university (right now I'm buckling down on getting some projects finished), and then from there apply for patent examiner and technical specialist positions.

[Anonymous]

OP, you are smart enough to get a free ride at a TTT (third tier toilet), if not a better school (lower tier 1). i would do that, and you should be able to manage a biglaw associate gig. it's not like this for about 99.9% of lawyers, but IP types with a science background are the exception.

[Anonymous]

I work for the USPTO but not on the patent side. I was able to teleworking full time after 2 years. Patents also have a teleworking program but I don't know how long the training period is for patent examiners. Eventually you will be able to move anywhere in the,continental US. I say eventually only because I think there is a,waiting list for that program in the patent side, but don't quote me. I would encourage you to lock into it. USPTO is a great place to work or telework.

[Anonymous]

How much will any of these factors matter in future job searches and/or law school admissions (I know law school is mostly grades and LSAT score):

1. I attend a fairly well regarded graduate program. It isn't Harvard/MIT/Berkeley level, but it's top 15 in my field (usually ranked ~12).
2. I have a few peer reviewed publications, so it's not like I have been utterly unproductive in graduate school. My pub record isn't anything that would blow you out of the water (DH, for example has 10+ papers including a first authored Science paper, which is what I'm comparing it to), but I have a few solid pubs.
3. My area has a lot of relevance to pharma and biotech, especially startups that are a decade or less old.

[Anonymous]

17:15 again. When we are looking for an agent or an associate with a Ph.D, we look match what you can do with our clients needs. Your pubs only matter to the extent that they show what you know. Your actual bio and pharma experience are most important. Your school matters only to a certain extent.

[Anonymous]

OP, check out the profiles of tech specialists, patent agents and lawyers with science backgrounds at IP law firms. Sterne Kessler Goldstein Fox is one that comes to mind in the DC area. You seem to have solid credentials already.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I was recently at a conference and did a bit of networking with some IP lawyers (some of whom had been agents), and many of them said that what would really help in the job market and set me above and beyond other recent PhDs with no experience is if I passed the patent bar before applying for tech specialist/agent jobs, indicating that I have put in a solid commitment. I have found a few of the study materials and some practice exams online, but many of the courses and more intensive study books are rather expensive. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to best prepare for the exam and which practice books/courses are the most effective?

[Anonymous]

I just want to respond to your question about whether it is "sleazy"to network with your father's colleagues. Honestly, you would be crazy not to network with them. Don't do it in the guise of trying to get them to offer you a job. Right now, you are in the information gathering and planning stage. Ask to meet with them or have some conversations with them to get their advice and bounce all of these questions you're asking us off of them.