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[chemec]

How easy is it to switch legal markets your first few years of practice?

Is it possible to do 'long-distance' and before taking the bar in the new jurisdiction? 

What's the market like in Chicago and St. Louise for chemistry/biotech/life sciences patent associates?


I'm a first year attorney with some patent prosecution experience in chemistry/life sciences, JD, PhD and BS all from good schools.  I've got a great position now, but thinking about moving to the midwest for family/personal  reasons.  However, I'm worried that I'll tank my career if I do so.  The common wisdom I picked up in law school is that it's hard to move out of a geographical region once you've taken the bar/started working.

Any advice would be appreciated!

[DogDayPM 9er9er9er]

The economy/finding that job is probably your biggest hurdle.  My impression (and this is only a generalized guess) is that law firms typically will not require you to have passed a new state's bar prior to making an offer.  The thinking being, if you can pass one bar, you should be able to pass another.  They certainly might make your continued employment contingent on passing the new bar within a specified time period.

Going in-house is another option that avoids the bar question.  Except possibly for very small companies, in-house lawyers are usually not expected (nor desired) to make court appearances or filings, so where you are barred is largely irrelevant.  But you'd most likely need a few more years experience before you'd be considered for in-house slots.

My 2 cents/wait for other opinions, too.

[klaviernista]

Going in-house is another option that avoids the bar question.  Except possibly for very small companies, in-house lawyers are usually not expected (nor desired) to make court appearances or filings, so where you are barred is largely irrelevant.  But you'd most likely need a few more years experience before you'd be considered for in-house slots.

I generally agree with this.  Just make sure that the state ethics rules allow attorneys barred in another state to practice law within the state, provided that their only client is their employer.  To my knowledge, most (perhaps all) states have a "corporate counsel" exception.  But I could be wrong.  Note that in some states, even if there is a corporate counsel exception, the ethics rules bar an in-house attorney not barred in the state from appearing on behalf of the corporation in state court, unless they associate with an attorney licensed in the state and are pro hac vice admitted for that particular matter.

Of course, if you are a registered to practice before the USPTO, you can perform all the functions of a patent agent regardless of where you are admitted to practice.

 

[jinosbrovens]

Chicago is a big city with small neighbourhoods that function more like small towns.As an alternative, I have received a job offer back in my small (25K), blue collar midwestern home town.My recommendation is to get Illinois certification and just apply to as many districts as possible (even the ones you don't particularly like).