Re: Patent Practice as Solo.

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On 7/30/06, Richard wrote:
> On 5/25/06, L wrote:
>> On 5/24/06, randy wrote:
>> And I am at the top of my
>>> class.....
>>
>> randy, where are you at? UH, South Texas?
>
> I don't think any of these individuals are very knowledgeable
> about patent practice. There are many solo/small firm
> practitioners out there. They usually end up getting swallowed
> by larger boutiques or general practice firms at handsome
> profits. I have been in IP for 15 years, and seen many solo
> practitioners do very well. Send me an email if you like, and I
> can provide you with more info....

Well, I know SOMETHING about it--I worked in it for 3 years before
going to law school. I also know of 3 solos, one a patent agent who
walked away from the boutique I worked at with a major client
(Corning), and another who worked for many years as a patent atty
at Schlumberger, then quit and now works for schlumberger on
contract making big $$ and living as he pleases. Another who
graduated law school and worked as a patent atty in Silicon Valley,
then moved back to Houston to work as a solo. He sent me a resume
when I worked at the boutique. We had nothing for him, and he was
going broke.

Here is the clincher--> you have to have a solid connection with a
major corporate client in order to START as a solo IP atty/agent.
And even then, corporate IP work depends very much on R&D budgets,
which are affected by the stock price/capital available. If your
sole client's stock takes a dive, goodbye to your income.

Solo IP is either all chicken (big $$) or all feathers (go apply to
the night shift at walmart for rent money).

Wooing corporate clients takes MONEY, honey, if you have not
already established a connectio with them.

The atty who does divorces or crim defense or workmens comp or Soc
Security is in a completely different situation. You won't get rich
most likely, but if you are in a market where there are not as many
lawyers around, you can buy a home and pay health insurance and eat.

THAT is why I am not going back to IP.