Law School, after working for a few years

TrooperFarva · #1 04-15-2008, 09:28 PM

Lately, I've been thinking about a drastic career move. There's nothing wrong with my current job as an electrical engineer, it's fun, I work with some great people, and I make some good money.

But I'm looking into becoming a patent lawyer. I have a lot of experience with, and I'm very good at, Programming, Electrical Design, and Mechanical Design. Not to sound too pompous, but I'm very, very good at those things.

I think I could use those skills to great effect as a patent lawyer.

But I've been out of school for 3 years now. Is it difficult to get into law school after working for some years? Is it feasible to work and go to law school at the same time? Any ideas for good ways to pay for law school?

Thanks guys.

fdeck · #2 04-15-2008, 09:53 PM

I know people who have gone back to law school. It should not be difficult at all. Working at the same time might be a challenge.

One lawyer friend of mine warned me that patent law is Boring. I am concerned that you would be letting others do the things you enjoy -- programming etc. -- while you are basically doing their paperwork for them.

My patent lawyer told me that one can become a "patent prosecutor" without a law degree, and handle all aspects of the patent process except litigation. What I don't know is if it is a real career option in terms of actual jobs out there, but it might be worth researching. I think one gets into it by having a technical degree and then taking an exam.

**cheezewiz** · #3 04-15-2008, 10:57 PM

Quite a few lawyers I know went to law school after trying other careers out first. There's nothing unusual about it. Now paying for it, that's usually the problem.

TrooperFarva · #4 04-16-2008, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

One lawyer friend of mine warned me that patent law is Boring. I am concerned that you would be letting others do the things you enjoy -- programming etc. -- while you are basically doing their paperwork for them.

My patent lawyer told me that one can become a "patent prosecutor" without a law degree, and handle all aspects of the patent process except litigation. What I don't know is if it is a real career option in terms of actual jobs out there, but it might be worth researching. I think one gets into it by having a technical degree and then taking an exam.

I expect that being a patent attorney isn't all that exciting. But to be honest, neither is engineering. Sure, there are some moments where some behemoth that you designed is powered up for the first time, stuff like that is cool, outside of that, it's mostly a bunch of drawings and documentation. And I think I'd fine patent law to be interesting. So I'm not too concerned in that aspect.

But the 'Patent Prosecutor' role is interesting. I've also read about being a 'Patent Agent,' where you work at a law firm, after passing the Patent Bar.

Also, I've read that you don't need to go to law school to take the bar, and therefore, be an attorney. You can work at a law firm for some period of time, or for a judge, and then take the bar. But that might be a stigma, I don't think being an attorney who didn't go to law school is a great selling point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheezewiz

Quite a few lawyers I know went to law school after trying other careers out first. There's nothing unusual about it. Now paying for it, that's usually the problem.

Yep, the money is an issue. I think if I can work during the day, either at my current job, or in a legal position that pays as much, and go to school at night, I can get out of law school with little to no additional debt. But that's a hell of a lot of work.

i_got_a_mohawk · #5 04-16-2008, 06:03 AM

Over here if you have some graduate level training you dont need to go back and do law from scratch IIRC. But you do have to do quite a number of exams and such during your first few years. Also it helps alot if you have a second language.

Apparently one of the best parts of being a patent lawyer is getting to look at the perpetual motion machine patents that you get (apparently they are quite common), and (of course) none of them work. Dont know about the US, but over here you can't even patent them, which the 'inventors' never seem to understand!

peterbright · #6 04-16-2008, 06:20 AM

I recommend you study for & take the LSAT. If you do well on it & have good grades in your engineering studies, the "vacation" from school should not harm you.

MoD_Scotty · #7 04-16-2008, 06:51 AM

I was out of school for almost 9 years, and I've had no problem getting back into it. Judging by your previous success, you won't either.

Baryonyx · #8 04-16-2008, 06:52 AM

I'm doing a law degree. There are people on my course who are in their 40's, but working alongside the course would be a stretch, so most of them just work part time now.

MakiSupaStar · #9 04-16-2008, 09:00 AM

You only live once. Do whatever you feel like.

Christopher · #10 04-16-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

Lately, I've been thinking about a drastic career move. There's nothing wrong with my current job as an electrical engineer, it's fun, I work with some great people, and I make some good money.

But I'm looking into becoming a patent lawyer. I have a lot of experience with, and I'm very good at, Programming, Electrical Design, and Mechanical Design. Not to sound too pompous, but I'm very, very good at those things.

I think I could use those skills to great effect as a patent lawyer.

But I've been out of school for 3 years now. Is it difficult to get into law school after working for some years? Is it feasible to work and go to law school at the same time? Any ideas for good ways to pay for law school?

Thanks guys.

I'm a patent litigator, but I never worked in industry - I went straight from undergrad to law school. While the work is interesting, I don't think the majority of people in my profession are all that happy. True, you do get to deal with cutting-edge technology and legal issues, but a lot of the day-to-day work doesn't require intelligence so much as near-pathological attention to detail and lots of long hours and weekends.

Mix the lawyer stereotype with the engineering nerd stereotype and you have a pretty good idea of what patent lawyers are like. Needless to say, the people who are drawn to this type of work are not the most socially adept or pleasant types to be around 24/7.

My humble advice is that if you honestly enjoy your current job and co-workers, and are already making good money, stay where you are. I don't think you'll have any trouble getting into law school, but I'm reasonably certain you will regret what you'll find waiting for you when you graduate. And, as you point out, a good law school costs a lot of money.

TrooperFarva · #11 04-16-2008, 12:43 PM

I think what I'm going to do is get materials for, study for, and take the Patent Bar. You don't need to go to law school for that, and even if I decide that I don't want to pursue patent attorney as a career, it's still something to have on my resume. Once I pass the Patent Bar, I'll take it from there.

scootron · #12 04-16-2008, 02:44 PM

I'm surprised to hear you can take the Patent Bar without a law degree.

I have a buddy who is a patent lawyer living on Long Island (works for the US Patent Office), who could possibly give you his take on the work. But, for the most part, I'd say keep your current gig. I've been practicing law for 27 years. If I had it to do over again, I would have become an engineer.

Now that I have become a Judge, things are a lot better, but not that many people I know truly enjoy the day-to-day practice of law. Over my career, I have seen a huge increase in stress, pressure, irrational client demands, incivility among fellow attorneys, greed, corruption, unethical behavior, etc.

But don't let me dissuade you. Some people love the law.