<p>I have heard from many lawyers (some employed, some unemployed) that the legal market is horrible right now, and half of law school graduates will be unemployed post-graduation and in significant debt. The thing is none of these lawyers were patent lawyers. They all had a non-science background, so patent law was not even an option for them.</p>
<p>I graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering one year ago (and having been working as an engineer since then.) I am aware that some engineers enter patent law, and more so, there are not a lot of patent lawyers around. I assume other law fields are extremely saturated because, theoretically, anyone with a law degree can enter them, which would account for part of the unemployment statistic.</p>
<p>So, is patent law a viable option for those who can pursue it? Will it be difficult to get a job? I have heard that for patent law, where a person goes to law school is not as important as with other fields (where law school prestige is a heavy factor). Please advise.</p>
<p>It’s easier than other fields of law but by no means guaranteed. It would help to know your undergrad school & GPA/LSAT, as your engineering credentials are an important part of getting a patent law job.</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that if you want exposure to patent law you are eligible to take the patent bar now and work as a patent agent for a patent firm. That would help give you an idea of whether you’d do well in patent law and whether you’d enjoy it.</p>
<p>There are openings for entry-level patent attorneys in electrical engineering or computer work. these are primarily at law firms and, especially in this economy, are heavily competed for. But they exist. Hopefully the economy will become better in the next four years, about the time you will be graduating from law school, assuming that you go.</p>
<p>First, though, you need to ask yoursefl why, after only one year of engineering, you already are looking to change positions. Is it because you have found that you don’t like being an engineer, or that you see limited opportunities for advancement in that field? Or is it because of the possibility of making a lot more money as a patent attorney?</p>
<p>Note that (a) if you become a patent attorney, you no longer will be doing any engineering. Instead, you will be writing about the work that others have done. So if you don’t prefer a desk job to actual egineering, the switch might not be for you.</p>
<p>And (b) bear in mind that you will be spending a huge amount on law school, which could leave you with a very large debt on graduation. If you go to law school full-time you’ll be earning little or nothing for three years while spending all that money on school. If you choose to continue working and go to law school at night (if that option is open to you), you’ll still be spending a lot on school and also using up almost all of your time working and on school (plus other things such as eating and sleeping). It’s not impossible; a lot of others have done it (including me), but you have to have the motivation.</p>
<p>So do some serious thinking. Also, consider taking the LSAT to see how you score; without a very good grade on it your chances of going to law school will not be high.</p>
<p>And if you haven’t already done so, you ought to read my pinned thread at the top of this board.</p>
<p>As a headhunter for lawyers, I have found that the prestige of the undergrad/grad programs for patent lawyers is very important. However, most of my law firm clients expect the patent attorneys to have advanced degrees.</p>