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Topic: Patent Agent Employment (Read 4730 times) |
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ldrothman
Newbie
Posts: 3
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Patent Agent Employment
« on: Jun 4th, 2006, 5:39pm » |
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I am currently considering taking the patent bar and becoming an agent. I have a BS in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley with decent grades. I am trying to ascertain my ability to actually get a job after I pass the test. I am aware of the time and effort required to pass the test and am confideent that I can do so. I am NOT interested in going to law school. it seems like unless you graduate top 10% from a top tier school you wont get hired as an attorney anyways. I would like to hear from people speaking specifically about patent AGENTS. a few questions:
1. It seems as though the highest demand background for patent is EE...so am I at a disadvantage coming from a mechanical background? How easy (or dificult) is it to get a job with either a large firm, company, or USPTO after passing the patent bar?
2. I currently live in California and would like to remain here. How strong is the job market here compared to other parts of the country? (obviously I can't stay in CA if I want to work for the PTO)
3. How competitive is the job market in general for agents? it seems nearly impossible to get a good job as a patent attorney unless you're a superstar. Is this also the case for agents?
thanks so much for your help
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patento
Full Member
Posts: 132
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Re: Patent Agent Employment
« Reply #1 on: Jun 4th, 2006, 6:48pm » |
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Patent professionals with EE and Software background are in good demand. But, there aren't too many jobs out there for agents with no or little experience in technology industry (unless you hold PhD. from a good school). If you have over a decade of experience in EE or software fields (preferably both), the chances of getting a job are better. Also, patent agents are more likely to find an employment with a tiny or small patent firm compared to a medium or big law firm.
With BS mechanical alone.... I would say you will have to be very lucky to find something. My 2 cents.
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| « Last Edit: Jun 4th, 2006, 6:49pm by patento » |
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guest47
Guest
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Re: Patent Agent Employment
« Reply #2 on: Jun 4th, 2006, 6:59pm » |
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on Jun 4th, 2006, 5:39pm, ldrothman wrote:it seems like unless you graduate top 10% from a top tier school you wont get hired as an attorney anyways.
it seems nearly impossible to get a good job as a patent attorney unless you're a superstar.
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I don't know where you're getting this information from, other than the rather pessimistic opinions of a few posters on this forum, but you don't need to be a superstar to get a job. Just get yourself some networking contacts. I do agree with patento's statement that it's easier to find a job at a tiny/small firm, and having an BSME is not going to be as appealing as a BSEE.
You may want to reconsider not going to law school, though. For engineers, the payoff of choosing to do agent work instead of engineering is not really there like it is for science majors, since engineers already get paid a decent amount almost comparable to that of an agent.
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RMissimer
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Re: Patent Agent Employment
« Reply #3 on: Jun 4th, 2006, 7:08pm » |
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Hi Guest0,
PatentO is right. I am just graduating from a good lawschool. There are lots of IP Specialty Law grads that are not getting jobs. There are even more Law grads with other specialties that are not getting jobs.
MOST postings are looking for 2-3-4 years experience. I have seen a few in Texas, or Minn that are straight out of school. In Milwaukee, there are maybe 3-4 positions that were filled by graduating students. It is not a good percentage that you will be earning $100k when you graduate.
May suggestion to people from my undergrad school is 1) either let an employer pay for your education, or 2) get out if after the first year you aren't in the top 10%. It is just too expensive and hard to pay back.
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RS Missimer
Patents Penned, Inc.
PO Box 486
Butler, WI 53007-0486
(262) 565-8200
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p@tent.guy
Newbie
Posts: 17
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Re: Patent Agent Employment
« Reply #4 on: Jun 4th, 2006, 9:46pm » |
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Typically, employers want to know what you can actually do. People are hired right out of the PTO without being agents because they know how to structure claims (fundamental task of an agent).
Passing the bar is a great first step, and definitely shows commitment to the field. But how do you best claim a recipe, when there are 100 ingredients, and the chef has no idea what the critical few were that makes the recipe work, no idea how varying the recipe will change the taste, and has measured the ingredients using his recently deported assistants fists?
All that aside - you are in one of the best places in the US for patent law (although it is primarily for EE/CS). There may be some opportunities for mechanical engineering do some spec drafting - I wouldn't give up looking close to San Jose just yet. Your education should open enough doors to see if you can fill in the gaps without moving back east and cutting your teeth at the PTO.
Good luck.
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