The first thing to remember if you are wanting to join the ranks of intellectual property lawyers is that a science or engineering background is almost a necessity. This is because you will be dealing with technical subject along the way and the courses that you will take when you attain your first degree will definitely come in handy in the long run. While it is possible to become a lawyer with any type of Bachelor's degree, intellectual property law is entirely different and will force you to analyze things that you would not have to otherwise.
Once you have obtained your first degree, you can begin applying to law schools. Your GPA will be highly important as you apply to these schools, since law schools only want outstanding academic achievers to attend. The Law School Admissions Test is another important thing to remember to take, as this is similar to the SAT tests that you take in high school. Basically, law schools want people who will succeed once they graduate, as this makes the school look even better. Intellectual property attorney jobs are no different, as in order to receive an education from a good school, you must be able to show that you will eventually be a good lawyer.
Once you have taken the test, you can begin applying to various law schools. Although it is important to apply to as many law schools as possible, it will cost $75 each time, so you will want to be selective. Most of these law schools will have an alumni page on their websites, so take a look on this page for current intellectual property lawyers. If the school has graduated multiple people who have gone on to this career, this is probably a good school to apply to because it has a positive track record. When you apply to a school, you will need to include a personal essay, your resume, and any recommendations that you have acquired. Make sure that you consider financial aid options as well, since law school can be very expensive.
In order to have access to intellectual property attorney jobs in the future, it is important that you gain as much experience as possible with the subject. Your law school should have some courses on this subject for you to take and there are definitely other ways to gain experience. One such method of gaining experience is to take an internship at a law firm that specializes in intellectual property, as this will give you an advantage once you begin applying for jobs.
Either before or after graduation, all intellectual property lawyers must pass not only their state's BAR exam, but also the patent bar. The patent bar is specialized for your career path, as it was created by the federal Patent and Trademark Office. This is mandatory for anyone who has interest in any intellectual property attorney jobs, as it will show the committee that you have the knowledge to succeed in this type of law.
While intellectual property attorney jobs might not be the easiest form of law to get involved with, it is definitely a very rewarding career that pays very well. Many people who become intellectual property lawyers end up opening up their own firms, since this allows them to attract the very specific clients that they are looking for. Remember that these jobs are available for both prosecutors and defendants, so there should never be a shortage of work should you choose this as your career path.
- See Top 10 Reasons Most Law Firms Have No Idea How to Hire and Evaluate Patent Attorneys for more information.
