Where there is creativity or innovation, there is a need for intellectual property lawyers. Their services are in demand across the U.S. and around the world. Regions with a high concentration of technically advanced companies, such as Silicon Valley in California, also tend to have a high demand for intellectual property lawyers. As noted in previous sections of this brochure, intellectual property lawyers work in a variety of settings, including corporations, law firms, universities, and government agencies. Although the law is the same regardless of the setting, there are some notable differences in the type of work an intellectual property lawyer encounters in each setting.
Many corporations hire intellectual property lawyers as in-house counsel.
These lawyers develop an expertise in the technology of their corporations, and are often intimately involved in business decisions relating to the protection of intellectual property and other related matters. Corporate intellectual property lawyers often work with attorneys in law firms on litigation and other matters that are referred out for purposes of obtaining additional help or expertise. The type and variety of corporate work is dictated by the business of the corporation. Larger high-tech corporations will often have a staff of intellectual property lawyers drafting prosecuting patent applications. A company heavily involved in marketing consumer products will often have in-house lawyers handling its trademark matters.