Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[drod]

Hey everybody, I'm a newbie who decided to make a career change.  I've been studying for the Patent Bar and was updating my resume last weekend to eventually find a Patent Agent job.  I currently work with software as an engineer in a process control organization.

I simply had a quick question that didn't seem to get answered elsewhere:  I have a number of skills in software engineering and programming that are related to my current job.  Though it seems impressive, I get the feeling that a firm wouldn't really care about those particular details.  Is this something that I should actually include in my resume?

[MYK]

Probably not, unless the details show something relevant (like experience with writing multithreaded apps, or knowledge of heuristic search techniques, or something else that a client might want to patent).  I assume you're talking about things like "used C++, FrameMaker API, and STL".  That sort of stuff isn't going to be of any use when someone is hiring you for an IP-related position (unless perhaps Adobe is one of their clients), any more than if you were applying for a secretarial job.  "Knowledge of Microsoft Word" is probably more important.

[drod]

Right, I was talking about all the various programming languages and software packages I have experience in.

I assumed that wouldn't be necessary although since you mentioned it, I'll keep my eye out for certain clients.  Maybe I can tailor a resume for a specific firm.  Thanks for the reply. 

[khazzah]

My path to patent law was similar to yours: software developer to patent attorney.

Past work experience is definitely valued by some law firms. The trick is to capture those aspects of your work experience that are meaningful to the the law firm.

Which means dropping the list of programming languages and development environments. What I recommend instead is capturing the broad areas of technology that you worked in: e.g., semiconductor, telecommunications, e-commerce, software for financial services, medical devices, etc. If you want to see what I mean, browse around attorney bios at patent law firms -- the vast majority of them have a list of "technologies I've worked in". 

[drod]

Ok, I may have to update a few things to capture "areas".

I have a Physics undergrad degree and I've worked in a number of areas of software and EE in the nuclear industry for 3 years (geospatial, wireless devices, radiological protection, business metrics software, blah blah).  Do you guys/girls think this kind of background would land me a patent agent job without too much difficulty after I pass the bar?

I'm just trying to manage my expectations appropriately...

[bald & chained]

It depends.  Firms are generally more interested in credentials than skills.  So that means that someone without much experience but with EE degree from a prestigious undergrad  looks better to a firm than someone from a lesser school and with a less desirable degree, but with more industry experience.  Firms will pitch your services to clients and it is easier to sell a Harvard/MIT grad than a Brandeis grad.  There are no fixed rules for getting a patent agent job, it's not like the standard summer associate path that firms adhere to pretty rigidly.  In this economy, it usually comes down to knowing someone or finding a firm that needs someone with your general technical background or both.

[khazzah]

>Firms will pitch your services to clients and it is easier to sell a Harvard/MIT grad than a Brandeis grad.

Depends on the firm. Some firms sell technical background to clients, and it's easier to sell 5 years of work experience at well-known tech companies than 0 years of work experience.

Generally speaking, General Practice BigLaw is interested in school and grades. IP Boutiques are more likely to give weight to work experience. Take a look at attorney bios on IP Boutique websites.