Re: A Patent Law Career

On 6/24/98, John Planow <jrp7731[_at_]ritvax.isc.rit.edu> wrote:
>
> I'm looking for information regarding patent law as a career. As a
> computer engineering major at Rochester Institute of Technology, I'm
> considering the next step I'll take after graduation. Before making a
> serious career path decision, I'd like to have some detailed information
> about where I'm headed. I would be much appreciative toward anyone who
> could offer to answer my questions regarding the good and bad aspects of
> a patent law career, law school, etc.

You might want to take a look at "Career opportunities in intellectual property law" at http://www.patents.com/opportun.sht , which discusses the following topics:

     Employment opportunities at the U.S. Patent Office 
     What is the difference between a patent attorney and a patent agent? 
     What technical background is needed to be allowed to take the patent
       bar exam? 
     Does a computer science degree permit me to sit for the patent bar 
       exam?
     Which law school should I attend if I am interested in intellectual
       property law? 
     Can I count on having my choice of job openings in such areas as
       computer law, new media law, and Internet law? 
     I have <large number> years of experience as a <physicist, electrical
       engineer, computer programmer, industrial manager, etc.> -- will 
       that improve my job prospects in intellectual property law? 
     I have a Ph.D. in <physics, electrical engineering, computer science,
       industrial management, etc.> -- will that improve my job prospects 
       in intellectual property law? 
     This sounds so bleak. Should I give up hope of a rewarding career in
       the law? 
     Which classes should I take in law school to enhance my intellectual
       property career? 
     Do I need to go to law school to pursue a career in intellectual
       property? 
     Do I need to take the patent bar exam to be an intellectual property
       lawyer? 
     How do I sign up to take the patent bar exam? 
     When is the patent bar exam offered? 
     What is the pass rate for the patent bar exam? 
     Who offers patent bar exam review courses? 
     Do I have to take a review course to be able to pass the patent bar
       exam? 
     What kinds of questions are on the patent bar exam? 
     Where may I obtain copies of past patent bar exams? 
     Can I just buy the study materials for the patent bar exam course 
       and not take the course? 
     Which patent bar review course is the best? 
     What does Professor Thomas G. Field, Jr. of the Franklin Pierce 
       Law Center say about careers in IP law in his excellent brochure 
       Mining the Information Age? 
     How much money do patent agents and attorneys make? 
     What is a typical day of work for a patent attorney or agent? 
     What job opportunities are listed with the Association of University
       Technology Managers?

Carl Oppedahl
<carl[_at_]oppedahl.com> Received on Thu Jun 25 1998 - 12:19:17 GMT