<p>If I am planning to get either an MBA or Law Degree after my engineering undergraduate, which engineering field would be best for it in terms of job opportunities and salary? If someone did a ChemE B.S., could they work for an aerospace company (like Boeing)? If yes, would it hamper their ability to do the job in either managing or patent law? </p>
<p>ChemE, MechE, EE, or CivilE?</p>
<p>I've heard that EE is the best UG Engineering major to go into IP with.</p>
<p>Mechanical Engineering is the best, is is the broadest field of engineering.</p>
<p>Just wanted to bring this post up. Does the undergraduate major have any effect on the job of a patent lawyer? In my example above, do specific undergrad majors work on specific projects? Could a ChemE patent lawyer work for Boeing or General Motors?</p>
<p>I appreciate any replies as I am confused with these career fields.</p>
<p>I'm in law school; going into patent law.</p>
<p>First of all, look at the requirements for sitting for the patent bar (google "PTO" and "requirements") - get a major on that list. </p>
<p>Secondly, not to be too strident about this... but you absolutely NEED a good GPA to get into law schools. Roughly 40% of applicants don't get in anywhere, and there are exactly two things that matter for it: GPA and LSAT score. Most engineering courses will kill any chance you have of getting a good GPA, especially the more difficult ones. I would suggest mechanical engineering, as it's supposed to be easier (though that's not saying much). </p>
<p>When you ask about a patent lawyer working for Boeing or GM, you're not actually talking about something to do right out of law school - usually, in-house counsel positions aren't open to recent grads. But - as a patent attorney - you would be extremely attractive to law firms with IP work.</p>
<p>Some general thoughts: a lot of the trend is towards biotech - but don't get a biology major. If you can do something related to bio, or take a few bio courses, great. On the other hand, do what you like. Engineering is a long, miserable four years, even for people who love it. You are really not going to survive unless you enjoy enough of it to keep pushing through.</p>
<p>Thanks for the informative reply areisathena. If you don't mind me asking, what was your GPA and lsat that got you into law school (and which one)? Did you get many offers? </p>
<p>And I am aware that recent grads will not be doing in-house positions, but my question was are you limited to the kind of patent work you do depending on your engineerng major? Like would a Chemical Engineer be able to work for Boeing or GM (not right of of law school but after)? </p>
<p>And one more question for ya, did you go into engineering thinking about patent law? If not, what changed your outlook? I am a HS senior trying to decide what which engineering major to do (ChemE or MechE) next year, and I want to see what the outcomes of each are. Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>Anyone have any responses?</p>
<p>Any field of engineering would qualify for patent law; however probably there are more EEs in the field than MEs or ChEs. This is due to the large number of patents in the electronics and semiconductor fields. </p>
<p>Large companies like Boeing or GE have patent attorneys with all sorts of engineering degrees on their staff, as well as some physicists and folks with degrees in materials science. </p>
<p>Some corporations have entry level patent attorney jobs; some prefer their attorneys to have experience elsewhere, for example with a government or a law firm.</p>
<p>If you are looking for an MBA, bear in mind that most graduate business schools want their applicants to have some work expeience.</p>
<p>Typically a college engineering program will give survey courses introducing you to various engineering fields during the first year, after which you will have to choose. My advice: don't choose a field just because you think that it will offer more opportunity for the future; choose one which attracts you and in which you believe you can do well. You will be studying it for four years, then working in it for many more, in one way or another.</p>
<p>yeah, its easier to excel at what you love. and if you're at the top of your field, youll get into law school, no matter what field that is. -- talking very idealistically here.</p>
<p>my penn interviewer did ChE in penn's engineering school. he went on to get an MBA from wharton (just a frame of reference).</p>
<p>but what can you do with an MBA and an engineering degree?</p>
<p>Usually, when an engineer wants to go into management, he/she gets an MBA, and it makes it easier to get promoted (plus more money). </p>
<p>dadofsam, </p>
<p>thanks for the great advice. I know I want to do engineering, but I want to make sure the one I go into has some good prospects for the future (otherwise I would do my second choice major). So how much of an impact does the type of B.S. of Engineering have on the career of Patent Law?</p>
<p>what does IP stand for? </p>
<p>and how much can one expect to make in the field of patent law?</p>
<p>ignore zerox.</p>
<p>Zerox? </p>
<p>IP stands for intellectual property; patent law is a field within that. It is just another option for engineers after their UG training.</p>