Re: Re: Best undergraduate major for patent law?

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Best undergraduate major for patent law?

Comments:
: See <a href="http://www.intelproplaw.com/Patent/Forum/msg/6017.shtml" target="_blank">this thread</a>. : See what I mean about PhDs in biotech? : Good luck! : : : First, I'll have to disclaim that predicting hot patent practice areas in 7-10 years is quite difficult. : : I'm a C.S. major and didn't even consider patent law until I was already at law school. CS allows a bit of flexibility in which way you go. I picked all mathematics courses over management science and ended up with a math minor (useless from the perspective of the patent bar, but can be quite useful when trying to understand a particular invention). If you focus more on computer engineering and a bit on digital logic, you'll be able to live comfortably in more hardware and software realms. : : A qucik note on the bear market for CS patent attorneys. Based on growth patterns in a number of new technologies in the last 100 years or so, a "rebirth" of sorts of e-commerce and Internet companies is expected in the next year or so. The projection is a period is exceptional growth for about 8 years starting in the next year or so. Remember, CS was in desperate demand just a few years ago. So, the 7-10-year window you're talking about is far too distant to base your decision on a relatively short period of unusually low demand. : : Lastly, regarding biochem/biotech, most inventions require a PhD in biology/biochem/etc. to be able to write the patent. Friends of mine with MS degrees express a feeling of being overwhelmed by the complexity of the technology. If you want practice in the area of biochem/biotech, you should be planning on a PhD and be asking about the market 10-13 years from now. : : The "hot topics" for the next few years is supposed to include wireless (CS and digital logic) and nanotechnology (heavy physics). : : If you want a "jack of all trades" undergrad degree, I'd go for physics. : : I hope that helps. : : Regards. : : : Hello, : : : I'm a freshman in college and am considering becoming a patent attorney. I am aware of the fact that in order to become one, you have to major in a scientific/technical field (as dictated by the USPTO General Requirements bulletin). : : : I'm curious as to what background is most in demand and what background is most likely to be in demand in 7-10 years (when I would be entering the work force, fresh from law school). : : : I talked to a patent attorney about this very issue. He said the best field to choose would be electrical engineering. I looked at openings for patent attorneys at Monster.com, and while there were indeed significant numbers of openings for those with EE degrees, I noticed that the majority seemed to be for chemical engineering, chemistry, or biochemistry backgrounds. (I realize that a quick search on a website isn't representative of the job market for patent attorneys.) I mentioned this to him and he went so far as to say that a chemistry background would not be in demand. This struck me as odd. : : : It also appears to be the case that computer science backgrounds are not in demand. I would imagine this is because it does not endow one with the necessary scientific/engineering knowledge to handle patents outside of one's area of expertise. Is this correct? I mention this because for quite some time as a teenager, before I thought of becoming a patent attorney, I wished to become a computer programmer. : : : Could someone clarify or give advice? I could be happy majoring in just about anything that allows one to sit for the patent bar, but I would prefer to go into chemistry/biochemistry. : : : Cheers, : : : Warren

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