Re: Advice Needed for future IP/law school applicant

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On 12/18/03, Lawman777 wrote:
> I couldn't agree more with his statements about the right
> school and grades. I had the grades but not the school
> reputation. If only I had known that 12 years ago. I went to a
> good local law school (however it was rated in the 3rd/4th
> tier)in the Chicago area. I graduated 3rd in my class with
> numerous accolades and awards. Yet, I got a job at the largest
> and best known IP firm in Chicago (on basis of grades and
> personal attributes) where I worked for 4 years.
>
> After a run in with a pompous ass partner who graduated from
> Michigan, that's when I learned that credentials not skills
> open doors for a legal job. I was downsized because of the
> economy and the partner's ego at having a "non top 10 law
> school graduate" stand firm, and (actually) save his ass from
> making a couple of big legal errors in a case. After that, he
> wanted me out because I knew. I was on track for partnership,
> and had good reviews except the one partner, yet, I was out
> the door because the economy meant cuts would be make. I was
> told some partners battled for me; but, I had no say to
> dispute the partner's false statements about me. In the end,
> the economy did me in as 10&37;-15&37; of the firm associates
were
> laid off.
>
> It took me almost a year to get a job at a smaller IP firm on
> the west coast, while lesser skilled attorneys (with better
> reputation schools and lower grades) got much better jobs.
> Now, after 7 years in that smaller firm, I find myself looking
> again after downsizing, and its the same thing all over. When
> I get in the door, I am only rejected because someone went to
> a better school.
>
> The morale - go to a top ranked school even if you cannot
> afford it. The benefits are worth it. I had the grades and the
> LSATs. I was married, lacked money, worked about 10 years
> before going back to school, and foolishly thought that good
> law school grades, and exceptional skills would win out. I was
> wrong.
>
> I am member of the patent bar, Illinois Bar, California Bar,
> and numerous federal district courts, Fed. Cir. and Ninth
> Circuit. I have prosecution, litigation, and transactional
> skills - even did a due diligence investigation for the
> largest biotechnology merger, and I can't get in the door for
> my dream job - corporate counsel for a life science based
> corporation.
>
>
>
>
> On 12/13/03, lawdawg wrote:
>> Look at the patent firms as follows:
>> www.patentratings.com
>> www.martindale,com (type in "patent" under area of practice).
>> Look at the websites of some firms in your area that hire
>> technical advisors/agents. Applying as a registered agent is
>> a plus, so take the patent bar NOW!!!
>>
>> Most law schools look at 2 things: undegraduate GPA and
>> LSAT. Most use an admission formula that take these two
>> numbers into account. Graduate GPA is usually not factored
>> into the admissions formula. However, a few schools consider
>> other things besides GPA & LSAT, which may include grad
>> school performance.
>>
>> Just remember that your law school's reputation (see link
>> below) and your law school grades will determine the your
>> future as a lawyer. Law is a very credential driven
>> profession, unlike medicine and engineering. In medicine and
>> engineering, you can just barely graduate and get a
>> relatively good paying job. However, in the extremely
>> competitive legal profession, just getting a JD degree doe
>> not cut it. You need to graduate from a top tier school and
>> be in the top 10&37; of your class. Why? Because the law is
>> flooded with an oversupply of lawyers allowing law firms to
>> be overly picky about who they hire.
>>
>> Note:
>> See "http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/law/lawin
>> dex_brief.php" for ranking information.
>>

Re: Advice Needed for future IP/law school applicant, 2/19/04, by patentguy.

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