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(Message started by: Scott on Mar 4^th, 2006, 6:35pm)

Title: interning at the USPTO
Post by Scott on Mar 4^th, 2006, 6:35pm

I'm a 2L and have had no luck getting a summer internship at a firm in the Chicago area, even though I've passed the patent bar already and have a computer engineering degree, which is supposedly "hot". I am now looking at interning at the USPTO in order to have something to put on my resume for this summer. Unfortunately, it looks like the internship at the USPTO is unpaid and really offers no experience in dealing with patents. It also does not look like a possibility to work as an examiner for only the summer. Does anyone know if the internship offered by the USPTO has any value? If not, is there a middle ground between applying to firms who only seem to be interested in people with outstanding academics, and the USPTO internship which is unpaid and seems to offer no real opportunity to gain experience?

Title: Re: interning at the USPTO
Post by kajrare on Mar 17^th, 2006, 8:39pm

Scott, which LS are you in? I'd be curious to know, I'm thinking of starting at Kent in the fall and I'm concerned about job prospects coming out of Kent. Any comments?? I have decent grades from UG in EE. Would appreciate your feedback.

Title: Re: interning at the USPTO
Post by guest on Mar 18^th, 2006, 12:20pm

Scott, I was also wondering the same thing. It seems like after graduating from most law schools it'll be harder to find a job than just taking your EE/ECE and finding a job. What law school are you attending in Chicago and do you have any advice for which law schools are good in Chicago?

Title: Re: interning at the USPTO
Post by Scott on Mar 22^nd, 2006, 11:25am

I'm actually at NIU, an hour west of Chicago, so that may be one reason I am having trouble getting in.

I think Kent has a good reputation.

Just for comparison between the EE/ECE and patent law markets, I had no difficulty getting a computer engineering job from Chicago that I can do remotely while in law school.

Title: Re: interning at the USPTO
Post by JDF on Feb 12^th, 2007, 6:31am

Scott,
I was wondering how everything worked out for you last summer. I am going through the same thing for my 2L summer this summer as well. Please let me know if you found any other opportunities for patent experience when the firms didn't seem to be working out. Thanks.

Title: Re: interning at the USPTO
Post by Step on the Stone on Feb 12^th, 2007, 11:13am

Are you sure you wouldn't consider staying at the USPTO as an Examiner?

Why not apply for a job as an Examiner? You might be thinking of leaving law school behind forever, it wasn't really for you ... or ... you might one day transfer to a law school in the DC area ... after you examine for a few years of course ... you think ... maybe .... but maybe not. After a few summer months at the USPTO, you might come to your senses and go back to law school ... it's so hard to make long term plans ... these things happen, it wasn't really for you ... law school seems the right choice now, hind-sight you know, you don't want to miss a semester.

The USPTO has a revolving door ... why not just revolve in for a few months and then revolve right back out?

Maybe they're sensitive to applicants using the office as a summer job ... maybe they're not ... I don't know.

In any event, the story will be yours to tell later. You believe the experience you got was incalculably valuable ... don't you?

Title: Re: interning at the USPTO
Post by scottp on Feb 12^th, 2007, 3:51pm

JDF,

I found a job with a non-IP firm for the summer. Once I had some legal experience on my resume, getting work with an IP firm became easier. I am working remotely for a firm in Philadelphia and will be moving out there after I graduate.

Scott