<p>Hello All,</p>
<p>I am very seriously debating whether or not I would like to choose law and have a few questions I thought a few of you could help me out on.</p>
<p>First: The field I am thinking about going it to is Patent Law (Mechanical Engineering BA). Is top 25% from a top 50 school good enough to land a job over $100K/year in the area of Cincinnati (or in general) for a specialized concentration such as patent law (monetary risk/reward from not taking an engineering position out of school with zero debt). </p>
<p>Second: I have read various things about firms and the length to partner. It seems like the going rate is anywhere from 8-22+ years and this seems to be a giant factor in the work/free time equation and I was curious as to people experience in the area.</p>
<p>Third: Do lawyers working for big firms enjoy vacations? I assume they would receive them, I just wonder about the load of work that beginning associates would be dealing with.</p>
<p>Time for a reality check. Conditions have been changing rapidly in the legal profession; IP law is not an exception.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Major law firms have been dropping the salaries offered to new associates in general. Firms that jused to offer $ 140,000 are now offering $ 115 -120,000. Salary surveys show that first-year associates in the Midwest (outside of Chicago) could expect a salary of from about $ 90,000 - $ 100,000. You need to check the situation in Cincinnati with firms there.</p></li>
<li><p>Law firms have been tightening screws on making partner. Nowadays it takes 7-8 years or more, and you need to have shown an ability to generate business. A number of people are no longer considering that as a goal; you might rethink your goal as well. See my posted thread for more comments on this, as well as posts by SallyAwp.</p></li>
<li><p>Associates can take vacations; however, they are responsible for billing a certain minimum number of hours no matter what. In-house counsel are more able to take vacations.</p></li>
</ol>