From: chapin@ssvax.gte.com (Barry Chapin)
Subject: Re: Law schools for Intelect. Property / Patent?
Organization: GTE/SCSD
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 14:21:52 GMT

Steve Barber (sbarber@panix.com) wrote:
: 1. Always go to the law school with the most prestige.  I am not
:    kidding.

I agree with this, IF the schools you are applying to are well
know/popular, such as Harvard or Yale.
But I think, and have been advised by lawyers (various Int. Property, and
Patent), and Law school admissions offices and career placement offices,
that if you are sure of what you want to focus on , then it may be
worthwhile to enter a school that has considerably more to offer in your area of
interest, even if that school is not rated 'quite' as high as another
school.  It must be noted however, that most of these people said that
your engineering work experience (4+ years) is going to get you your
first job as a lawyer, more than the name of the school where you went
(again, excluding the exclusive schools).  Thus, students entering
school directly from undergraduate school, must be VERY concerned with
where they go (school name, reputation. etc), since they have nothing
else to 'back them up', whereas an engineer may want to focus on other
criteria (courses offered, etc).  An important thing to look at is the
placement statistics of students who entered directly out of undergrad,
and thoose that have worked for a while.  It should also be noted that
the majority of students seeking jobs have to do the work themselves,
campus recruiters account for a very small % of placement.
 
: 2. The Patent and Trademark Office still doesn't really recognize
:    software engineering/computer science as a valid degree for a
:    patent attorney to have; it has to be computer engineering or
:    some combo of software and ee coursework.  Contact the PTO in
:    D.C. & get their technical requirements.  Try to satisfy them
:    while an undergrad; it is easier that way.

Not being a law student or lawyer, I am a little foggy on this subject.
It seems as though you are stating that to become a PATENT lawyer,
versus any other type of lawyer, you have to satisfy requirements with
the PTO?  Do they have a special certification exam or some method as
designating you as being a patent lawyer?  I have heard of something
like this in the past.  Though I  personally am interested in
Intelectual Property, Is it possible to become a patent lawyer with
Computer Science degree?  Does software fall under patent law, I would
think a program that is unique could be patented, thus creating a need
for people with knowledge of how programs work, and why they are
unique. 

(I could write a new editor instead of vi,
patent it, and would not have to spend 20 minutes writing a 5 minute
response to this.)

: 
: 3. Think hard about why you want to be a lawyer.  If you want to do
:    it for the money, forget about it.  Only the very top students
:    or very well connected ones make more than a pittance out of law
:    school.  Engineering is not at all a bad way to make a living.

Agreed.  One must put much thought into this.  Though, there is nothing
to prevent one from returning to engineering, time out of the field, and
debt occurred, can be costly.  Law is not a one way
ticket to fortune anymore.  Do it becuase you would find it equally
enjoyable, if not more.

-BC.  Remarks, comments welcome...
chapin%scsd@gte.com
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.lawsch-l