<p>I'm an honors chemistry major who's decided not to go into pure science (after experience in academic and industry research) and pursue law for a career. This came about after an internship at a pharmaceutical company whose in-house attorney got me interested in patent law. I've taken some introductory law courses at Penn and really enjoyed them. This summer I'm a paralegal for a medium size firm in Philadelphia and having a good time doing legal research and such. </p>
<p>For various reasons, I'm not planning on applying to law school this fall so Ill have an interim year after college to work and prepare my application. What job would be most valuable to have under my belt to strengthen my application? Should I do more paralegal-ing (maybe at an IP/patent firm), or should I do some more science?</p>
<p>Many patent lawyers have advanced science degrees so you may want to take some classes towards that goal while working or look towards preparing for the patent bar.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about trying to learn law during your year in between. Just do something you enjoy, will make a little money to pay for school and that you can talk about on your application. Your story about why you decided to go to law school will play well and they will teach you all you need to know about law when you get there. You might want to look at the patent bar requirements though - I found out that I was not qualified to sit for the patent bar because I did not have good enough grades in Physics (even though I went to MIT undergrad). I would have had to retake Physics. If you are an honors chemistry major you are probably all set but double check.</p>
<p>I second flalaw–get a job in something that interests and challenges you–the subject matter is not important. After a year of the real world under your belt, you will be an even more desirable candidate. I worked for 4 years before going to law school and that was a little too long in that I had a very rocky re-entry to the world of academia. Everything turned out fine in the end, but the first semester of law school was the most miserable few months of my life. A year or two hiatus is ideal.</p>
<p>I was in the Navy for six years between undergrad and law school. I didn’t have problem with re-entry because I knew what real work was like - and it increased my motivation to do well, get good job afterwards, etc. Just remember that law school isn’t like most undergrad - one test determines your whole grade for the course so you have to work hard from day one. </p>
<p>If I had to choose - science job or paralegal job, I would choose science job - it will be more attractive to patent law firms when you get out. Only exception would be if you establish good contacts at a patent/IP firm now - they may hire you after you graduate.</p>
<p>Does it really not matter what you do as long as its mentally challening, and I enjoy it? even if it has nothing to do with your career goals?</p>
<p>For example, Im an FAA certified flight instructor. Could I teach for a year after I graduate? Would this be considered “real world” enough? Or should I be traveling the world working for NPOs, or doing legal research or working in actual firms like people are suggesting..?</p>
<p>Though I teach part-time enough during school, its something I always wanted to do full-time, even if it was a brief stint. . but it doesnt really relate to what I am trying to do in the future.</p>
<p>When it comes down to it - law firms are going to look mostly at your law school performance (including summer clerkships) to determine whether you will do well in their firm. What you did before law school will give you good background but most new grads have no substantial work experience (straight from undergrad to law school). Do what you want to do and will enjoy because you will be better at it and will be able to discuss it in your interviews. Interviewers love to hear about flying or interesting work that you have done. But when you get to law school, focus more on your law school grades, summer internships and law review, etc. because that is what most firms will look at when hiring.</p>
<p>I was offered a summer externship at the USPTO. Would that be worth doing? I’ve heard on these forums that working for the patent office doesn’t necessarily help you to get a job as a patent attourney.</p>