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Topic: Should I take the patent bar before law school? (Read 4118 times) |
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IPW
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Should I take the patent bar before law school?
« on: Aug 9th, 2005, 8:46am » |
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I am a Ph.D. student in molecular genetics. I should be finishing up in Jan '06.
Would it be advantageous for me to study for the patent bar and (hopefully) pass it prior to law school?
I've read that those 1Ls who have passed the patent bar stand a much better chance of landing the more prestigious summer internships. Furthermore, it'd be nice to not have to worry about it along with the state bar at the end of law school.
I should have ~ 7 months from the end of my dissertation to the start of law school. Would it be feasible for me to spend those months studying for the exam and pass it?
Has anybody on this board taken this route before? Did you find it to be a better alternative to taking it after law school?
Thanks for any advice,
IPW
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Eliz
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Re: Should I take the patent bar before law school
« Reply #1 on: Aug 9th, 2005, 9:02am » |
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Hi--I am starting law school in about a week and a half, so it is yet to be seen whether having passed the exam will help me land a job next summer, BUT I am VERY glad that it is out of the way. 7 months is more than enough time to study and pass. If it were me, I would take a week or two after defending to relax and then get started on studying right away, and maybe take then exam after 2-3 months (it sounds like you would pretty much be able to focus on studying exclusively). This may be overkill, and you might feel comfortable taking it sooner. The reason I say to take it sooner within the 7 months rather than later is that if for some reason you didn't pass, you would still have time to take it again before school starts.
Even if the exam wasn't likely going to help you land a good job after 1L (which I think/hope it will), I would still say get it out of the way...the other logical time to take it would be the summer after 1L, but 1L will not really teach you anything that you need for the exam. Also (and anyone actually in law school or finished with it please feel free to disagree if I am wrong here) I felt that even if I was unable to get a firm job after 1L, my summer would be better spent e.g. as a research assistant to a prof than studying fo the exam, because then you are at least developing a relationship with someone who can be a good reference/resource for you in your job search the following summer.
Good luck!
Elizabeth
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IPW
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Re: Should I take the patent bar before law school
« Reply #2 on: Aug 9th, 2005, 9:10am » |
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Congrats on passing the exam!
I would definitely think it should help your chances of landing a 1L internship, provided that your grades are good enough.
Is there any type of recertification necessary for the patent bar? Would I have to take it again down the road at some point?
Thanks,
IPW
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Eliz
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Re: Should I take the patent bar before law school
« Reply #3 on: Aug 9th, 2005, 9:27am » |
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As far as I know, no recertification is required.
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Wiscagent
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Re: Should I take the patent bar before law school
« Reply #4 on: Aug 9th, 2005, 10:26am » |
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Eliz is correct. At this time no recertification is required to maintain US patent agent/attorney status.
Two or three years ago when the current computer-based certification procedure was announced, the same announcement mentioned requiring periodic exams to maintain certification. The exams would focus on changes in patent practice. I haven't seen any time line for their introduction.
Rich
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Richard Tanzer
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