Re: Working as a patent examiner before going to law school

More | Report Post

On 7/21/03, John wrote:
> I was curious about something and thought to ask this
> question about becoming a patent examiner to solicit some
> responses. Basically, I don't know if I want to go to law
> school straight out of college, or become a patent examiner
> for quite some time, then let them pay for my law school,
> and then finally enter into the practice of law. What I am
> trying to gauge is the benefit of becoming an examiner for
> a rather decent amount of time, say 8 years before I become
> a lawyer and enter the field if patent law.
>
> I am graduating with my degree in electrical engineering
> from a top 20 ee program and have a good gpa.
>
> THANKS!!

You won't get any extra credit from the law firms by staying
in the PTO any longer than necessary. If you stay 4 years you
get a 'by' in the patent bar, provided your SPE (supervisor)
countersigns. This coincidentally is the same amount of time
it takes to do law school at night.

Alternatively, with your background you may be able to get a
law firm to pay for law school. Normally I would say that was
definite, but no-one is hiring very much. You could weather
out the cr*p job market by being an examiner, as they at least
are hiring.

If you did get hired as a law clerk you would have to pass the
patent bar, though, and it's not trivial. I know a guy who
just got made partner who took it six times! I, a lowly patent
agent, however, passed it first time, but I am not going to be
a partner anywhere anytime soon because I can't afford to go
to law school.

Just my two cents!

Re: Working as a patent examiner before going to law school, 7/21/03, by Alun Palmer.

Intellectual Property Law Chatboard

LATEST POSTS | BY TOPICS | SUBMIT A POST