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[odon59]

I have B.S./M.S. degrees in optical engineering and 6 years of engineering experience.  I have no direct patent prosecution experience (only the occasional invention disclosure, etc, though these experiences are what drove me to apply to law schools).  I currently live in upstate NY.

So far the best school I've gotten into is Fordham's Part time program, which I'm seriously considering.  So my questions are:

1.  If I pass the patent bar this spring and enroll next fall, how hard will it likely be for me to get a tech spec or patent agent job with a good firm in NYC while going to school at night?

2.  Assuming I don't/can't get a job from #1 and transfer to the full time program, what might my odds be of getting a patent attorney position at a good NYC firm after graduation?

3.  What would you guys do if in my shoes?  I don't hate the engineering I do, but  I think the upside of being a patent attorney is pretty big.  Thoughts?

[DogDayPM 9er9er9er]

I have B.S./M.S. degrees in optical engineering and 6 years of engineering experience.  I have no direct patent prosecution experience (only the occasional invention disclosure, etc, though these experiences are what drove me to apply to law schools).  I currently live in upstate NY.

So far the best school I've gotten into is Fordham's Part time program, which I'm seriously considering.  So my questions are:

1.  If I pass the patent bar this spring and enroll next fall, how hard will it likely be for me to get a tech spec or patent agent job with a good firm in NYC while going to school at night?

2.  Assuming I don't/can't get a job from #1 and transfer to the full time program, what might my odds be of getting a patent attorney position at a good NYC firm after graduation?

3.  What would you guys do if in my shoes?  I don't hate the engineering I do, but  I think the upside of being a patent attorney is pretty big.  Thoughts?

If you skim through this "becoming a patent agent" board and also the career/law schools boards, you'll see in the posts there's a lot of negativity right now about finding an agent slot anywhere.

But assuming you're at B&L (or whoever), what law firms do your employer use for patent work, and are they in NYC?  You've got time, is there any way to possibly network your way into a firm using work contacts?  Or, at a minimum, could you use contacts at work to get a real 1st-person view of the employment landscape from your company's firm lawyers?

[whokebe]

I have B.S./M.S. degrees in optical engineering and 6 years of engineering experience.  I have no direct patent prosecution experience (only the occasional invention disclosure, etc, though these experiences are what drove me to apply to law schools).  I currently live in upstate NY.

So far the best school I've gotten into is Fordham's Part time program, which I'm seriously considering.  So my questions are:

1.  If I pass the patent bar this spring and enroll next fall, how hard will it likely be for me to get a tech spec or patent agent job with a good firm in NYC while going to school at night?

2.  Assuming I don't/can't get a job from #1 and transfer to the full time program, what might my odds be of getting a patent attorney position at a good NYC firm after graduation?

3.  What would you guys do if in my shoes?  I don't hate the engineering I do, but  I think the upside of being a patent attorney is pretty big.  Thoughts?

1. Like hunting snipe.

2. See above.

3. lol

[ParadiseIP]

I agree with DogDay, your current employer is a great place to start networking and you should start ASAP.  Also, I'm a little more optimistic than most of the people on these boards about your chances of finding a job.  The fact that you are already in night school will be attractive to some firms who take the long view and see the upside in developing people.  Also, some places might be willing to negotiate something less than full time just to get you in the door.  This is where the networking is important, nobody advertises this kind of stuff.

Another thought: any chance of moving into the patent group with your current employer?  Baby steps, baby steps...

[MYK]

The economy right now sucks, and IMHO it will get worse very soon.  Nobody knows how it will be in four or five years when you graduate.  If you think you'll enjoy being an attorney, go for it.  Call me dangerously insane, but I happen to enjoy the whole mess.