Holadem
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2000
- Messages
- 8,967
The goal: Become a Patent Attorney.
Plan A: Continue working for my current corporate giant as electrical engineer and go to law school part time using our educational assistance program (free...). However, that's not going to work for the following reason: Contentious relationship with my supervisor, who will never approve classes outside of engineering despite company policy stating I could do whatever I want as long as it's accredited. Or he may bow to the policy and make my life even more of a living hell. No thanks. Also, that will require staying in CT for at least 5 more years. The truth is, I want out of this position and state.
Bottom line, plan A is out.
Plan B: Start studying now and pass the notoriously difficult Patent Bar Exam within the next six months, thus qualifying me for Patent Agent jobs. Target locations are Chicago & NYC, with a preference for Chicago (I want something new). That will still leave me with zero experience in the legal field, and I would start as an entry level Patent Agent in some firm or corporation, and go to law school part time, even if I have to fund it myself (loans...). Do law firms or tech companies hire engineers with no legal experience as Patent Agents?
The exam is supposed to be "extremely difficult". A cursory search for prep course shows that I can enroll for a 5 days class in NYC for $2000, or get test prep package (videos, CD-ROms etc...) for patbar.com for $800. Or I could just get the books and study myself, which I don't doubt, requires an obscene amount of discipline. Are the classes worth it?
Working for the USPTO is not an option at the moment, despite the extremely attractive funding for Law School that they offer, because I am not yet a US citizen (should be sometime next year, but I can't wait that long).
I know there are a couple of practicing IP attorneys on this forum (don't make me call you out by name ), and I shall very much appreciate their inputs. My goals clear, but the path is not.
TIA.
--
H
Plan A: Continue working for my current corporate giant as electrical engineer and go to law school part time using our educational assistance program (free...). However, that's not going to work for the following reason: Contentious relationship with my supervisor, who will never approve classes outside of engineering despite company policy stating I could do whatever I want as long as it's accredited. Or he may bow to the policy and make my life even more of a living hell. No thanks. Also, that will require staying in CT for at least 5 more years. The truth is, I want out of this position and state.
Bottom line, plan A is out.
Plan B: Start studying now and pass the notoriously difficult Patent Bar Exam within the next six months, thus qualifying me for Patent Agent jobs. Target locations are Chicago & NYC, with a preference for Chicago (I want something new). That will still leave me with zero experience in the legal field, and I would start as an entry level Patent Agent in some firm or corporation, and go to law school part time, even if I have to fund it myself (loans...). Do law firms or tech companies hire engineers with no legal experience as Patent Agents?
The exam is supposed to be "extremely difficult". A cursory search for prep course shows that I can enroll for a 5 days class in NYC for $2000, or get test prep package (videos, CD-ROms etc...) for patbar.com for $800. Or I could just get the books and study myself, which I don't doubt, requires an obscene amount of discipline. Are the classes worth it?
Working for the USPTO is not an option at the moment, despite the extremely attractive funding for Law School that they offer, because I am not yet a US citizen (should be sometime next year, but I can't wait that long).
I know there are a couple of practicing IP attorneys on this forum (don't make me call you out by name ), and I shall very much appreciate their inputs. My goals clear, but the path is not.
TIA.
--
H