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[Pagent04]

I transitioned into patent law in early 2008 when the economy was really starting to slow down and by the end of 2008 and most of 2009 was pretty slow.  Now things seem to be picking back up somewhat. 

My question is, how many opportunities were out there for experiences agents prior this recession?  I ask this because when I first got into patent law, people commmented that they would get calls from headhunters weekly if not daily.  Some also commented that they could not get all of their work done.  However, things do not seem to be close to this level.  Does anyone think that we will get back to that level of work demand with repsect to supply of agents/attorneys?  I hope so as I could use a decent raise.

Edit to say that I don't expect anybody to see in the future, just trying to get a sense of what others think may be ahead of us in this field.

[Robert K S]

I get calls from headhunters roughly annually, and usually only when my name and occupation pop up in the media somewhere.  But I don't think headhunter calls are necessarily the best way to gauge the market--they're just one way.  I suspect that much of the job market for intellectual property people doesn't make it as far as a job posting, much less a headhunter bounty.  If you need a headhunter to fill a job position in a field where there is more talent than work, there are probably overt disadvantages to working for your company (bad location, obnoxious culture, stressful environment, poor benefits/perquisites, etc.).  I suspect that, instead, most IP positions are filled by networking--companies and firms hire those they already know.

To answer your question, though, yes, I think conditions will improve generally as the economy improves generally, unless patent reform passes somehow, which would essentially devastate the patent market.