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[IPeeProfessional]

Hi all,

As a relatively new practitioner, I often wonder how my colleagues stay up to date in the law on a day to day, or even week to week basis.  In trolling the forums, it is clear that some of the members here pay quite a bit of attention to cases coming out of the BPAI, as well as other case law.  How do you find the time to read cases/listen to oral arguments when you are working full time (and have a family at home)?  Do you just allocate some time every day?  Or do you rely on CLE and other sources?

By the above, I am not implying that I personally do not keep up with the law.  I'm just curious to see how others tackle the problem.  I am sure that there is a better/more efficient way than my current method (reading cases at night after my family goes to bed).

Also, on a different but somewhat related topic, has anyone expanded the scope of their practice beyond IP law?  E.g., into business or contract law?  If so, how did you manage that transition?

Thanks in advance

IP

[TheTrademarkCompany]

Identify and subscribe to various industry magazines, email alerts, etc. concerning relevant case law.  Generally the summaries will give you a moderately accurate recap of the developments in your practice.  As such this will keep you abreast of what is going on in a relatively easy format.  However, should you need to rely on the same or advise a client using that which you read in a summary always then take the time to read the case and/or more detailed case analysis articles from a known trusted source to make sure you do not merely rely on a third-party summary that could be inaccurate.

Matt Swyers
The Trademark Company

[khazzah]

some of the members here pay quite a bit of attention to cases coming out of the BPAI, as well as other case law.  How do you find the time to read cases/listen to oral arguments when you are working full time (and have a family at home)? 

I read cases on topics I'm interested in, and rely on summaries in blogs plus monthly CLE to keep me up to date on the other topics. When I need to advise a client on a particular topic, then I do more focused research and reading.

It also helps that I'm a fast reader and am pretty good at skimming over the fluff to get to the good stuff.

[bleedingpen]

Hi all,

As a relatively new practitioner, I often wonder how my colleagues stay up to date in the law on a day to day, or even week to week basis.  In trolling the forums, it is clear that some of the members here pay quite a bit of attention to cases coming out of the BPAI, as well as other case law.  How do you find the time to read cases/listen to oral arguments when you are working full time (and have a family at home)?  Do you just allocate some time every day?  Or do you rely on CLE and other sources?

By the above, I am not implying that I personally do not keep up with the law.  I'm just curious to see how others tackle the problem.  I am sure that there is a better/more efficient way than my current method (reading cases at night after my family goes to bed).

For patent law, there is no better way to keep abreast of the law than to read Patently O on a daily basis IMO. 

Also, on a different but somewhat related topic, has anyone expanded the scope of their practice beyond IP law?  E.g., into business or contract law?  If so, how did you manage that transition?

Thanks in advance

IP

Leave those issues in business and contract law to your referring attorneys.  The work they will end up sending you in response to the business and contract work you send them will outweigh any income that you get from expanding your practice.

On that note, it is good to have a general understanding of business and contract law so that you are well-prepared to discuss with your clients when the issue comes up.

[patentsusa]

That is exactly what I was going to recommend, subscribing to blogs like Patently-O or the 271 patent law blog.  Sometimes even that is too much information.  Industry groups like AIPLA for patent law keep it down to the really important stuff.  I subscribe to the blogs but if the headline is boring, quickly delete.  Not every day is an important news day.