Re: Best Route to Become a Biotech Patent Attorney?

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On 6/04/04, Dirk wrote:
> Hi all, I am going to be a senior next year, majoring in
> Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Penn State
> University, and I have a keen interest in going on to
> become a biotech patent attorney. I've read many many
> statements and articles recomending pHD's for biotech
> patent attorneys, so the way I see it I have the option of
> going to get a pHD, then go to law school, or try to get
> into a joint degree JD/pHD program. Could someone please
> comment on the effectiveness and utility of these joint
> degree programs? Another idea I have been playing with, has
> been to go into industry immediately after receiving a
> bachelor's degree, using them to attain a Master's, then
> transfer to the law department and use them to attain a JD
> and some work experience. Could someone please comment on
> the attractiveness of a patent attorney with a Masters and
> several years industry experience? Thanks a great deal for
> your advice.

I would suggest getting a position in industry- preferably
big pharma if you can do so. You can study for the USPTO
exam on your own- there are self study guides, there are
week long classes. If you pass the USPTO exam, you'll be
able to be a patent agent. Patent agents are in demand- if
you're at a pharma company in an R&D position and pass the
USPTO exam, you'll have a good chance to get a job in the
patent department.

From there, I'd ask the pharma company to pay for law school
at night. Getting law school paid for is a pretty good way
to do it.

If you continue your education directly after your
undergraduate studies, I'd suggest law school if you get
into a good school, and grad school instead of a tier two
law school.

I've seen that a person with just a BS can make it as a
patent lawyer quite well if they go to a very good law
school. I've also seen PhD scientists go to tier three law
schools and do quite well in patent law.