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[indy611]

Where are these firms? I live in a fairly limited area for patent prosecution and would like to stay here for non-professional reasons. Any input as to where to find these virtual firms would be greatly appreciated. I haven't been able to find any as of yet.

[patentsusa]

If you need money and you don't have another job offer, then take the job!  If it doesn't work out, you can quit.

Don't waste time worrying about a "career plan".  Ask just about anyone over age 50 these questions:
 - Did you have a career plan?  -  Most will answer no.
 - If you had a career plan, did it work out the way you planned?  -  Most will answer no.

There is nothing stopping you from continuing to look for another job while you're doing this virtual thing.

Yeah, I get what you're saying.  The thing is that I recently received an offer from a "conventional" IP boutique that only does patent litigation.  I have no interest in being a litigator.  My goal is to ultimately end up at a nice IP boutique where I can do good, interesting prosecution work. 

The question is which of the two options will help me reach that goal faster:  the conventional/litigation firm or the virtual/prosecution firm? 

I recommend that you reconsider this desire to avoid being a litigator.  The best money is in litigation.  When times are tough, there is always litigation work.  In litigation, you can comfortably bill all your time whereas in prosecution, you are limited by low fixed-fee requirements.

I suggest you try to find some attorneys who have left each of these firms and ask them how they liked it, how many hours they worked versus how many hours they billed, and why they left.  Just do a search for the firm names and see if you pull up some online bios.

[blakesq]

I have done both general litigation and patent prep/pros.  I agree there is probably more money in Lit.  HOwever, there is also way more stress in litigation, and you are often required to put in extreme hours just prior and during trials. 

I recommend that you reconsider this desire to avoid being a litigator.  The best money is in litigation.  When times are tough, there is always litigation work.  In litigation, you can comfortably bill all your time whereas in prosecution, you are limited by low fixed-fee requirements.

I suggest you try to find some attorneys who have left each of these firms and ask them how they liked it, how many hours they worked versus how many hours they billed, and why they left.  Just do a search for the firm names and see if you pull up some online bios.

[patentsusa]

I have done both general litigation and patent prep/pros.  I agree there is probably more money in Lit.  HOwever, there is also way more stress in litigation, and you are often required to put in extreme hours just prior and during trials. 

All the more reason for the original poster to do it while young and energetic.  It will be valuable experience.  It is possible to later switch to prosecution.

[OMG IP]

If you need money and you don't have another job offer, then take the job!  If it doesn't work out, you can quit.

Don't waste time worrying about a "career plan".  Ask just about anyone over age 50 these questions:
 - Did you have a career plan?  -  Most will answer no.
 - If you had a career plan, did it work out the way you planned?  -  Most will answer no.

There is nothing stopping you from continuing to look for another job while you're doing this virtual thing.

Yeah, I get what you're saying.  The thing is that I recently received an offer from a "conventional" IP boutique that only does patent litigation.  I have no interest in being a litigator.  My goal is to ultimately end up at a nice IP boutique where I can do good, interesting prosecution work. 

The question is which of the two options will help me reach that goal faster:  the conventional/litigation firm or the virtual/prosecution firm? 

You do not have to be a trial attorney to be involved in patent litigation.  Often times, prosectution and litigation involve the same skill set - example: claim analysis (patentability as compared to validity/infringement [generalizing])