<p>I would like to pursue a carrer in patent law.
What are the best majors for this?
Would a chemistry major do well or would a chemical engineer do better?</p>
<p>See my pinned thread.</p>
<p>most patents fall into the category of either electronics or chemistry/biomedical science. i would say EE, ECE, or EECS would be the best degree, as well as perhaps advanced degrees in chemistry, molecular bio, or biochem (undergrad for these is less-highly-valued for these than for engineering). also, materials science is a hot topic right now.</p>
<p>this is by no means exclusive, just where the greatest demand is at.</p>
<p>What happens to be the greatest demand today is no sensible basis for choosing a major when one is now only at the beginning of (or perhaps not even in) college and will not become a patent attorney for at least 7-8 years, if at all.</p>
<p>Five to ten years ago, common wisdom was that mechanical engineering was a dead end for patent law as fewer and fewer patent applications were being filed on machinery, once a major area of patents.</p>
<p>Contrast that with right now, when the need for patent attorneys with a mechanical engineering degree and even a small amount of experience is high, for the medical device industry. One needs a great crystal ball to predict what industries and technologies will be "hot" in the future.</p>
<p>My advice, as in the pinned thread, is to major in what interests you. Chemistry and chemical engineering have some overlap in the early courses but diverge greatly once past the sophomore year. The OP should major in what interests him/her as opposed to trying to figure out what will be best for patent law or any other purpose; otherwise he/she could be in for some very unhappy years in college.</p>
<p>What about getting a MS or PHD? What would be your recommendation to getting that? </p>
<p>I'm currently a junior studying Biochemistry at UCLA and among all the career options of premed, prehealth, and research, I've begun to finally settle on my interests in pursuing patent law. What is of concern is that I don't know if getting a Masters or PhD is something I want to pursue--since it is such a long process. </p>
<p>Is it adequate to enter a career in patent law without a Masters or PhD? Does it depend on which law school I end up going to? I currently have a 3.8 GPA. </p>
<p>Also, since I haven't really found my interest in patent law, until later in my college career, most of the activities I'm involved in right now have nothing to do with that area--i'm working in a clinical research lab as of this moment--what are some good activities to try to invest in? types of internship opportunities? </p>
<p>I would be just as interested in the patent litigation process as I would be with patent prosecution, which I know requires more technical knowledge and skill. Thank you.</p>
<p>Read my pinned thread. If you want to prosecute patent applications in biochemistry or biotechnology you should get at least a Master's, as many candidates with whom you will be competing for jobs will have at least that degree, if not more. For patebt litigation you might not need that, but some litigators have advanced degrees.</p>
<p>My advice in general, is to do more than the minimum requirements for the profession; otherwise you will lose out to candidates who have done more.</p>