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[LawStudent2011]

Is applying for a position at the Patent Office as an examiner a good idea if my ultimate goal is to practice as a patent attorney? It seems every patent attorney I have contacted has told me I need at least 1 -2 years of experience prosecuting patents before I will be of any value to a law firm.

This past summer I volunteered for a government agency where I had the opportunity to perform a novelty search as well as draft and file a non-provisional patent application with the PTO for a mechanical device, so I have had some exposure to drafting patent applications. I have offered to volunteer for some solo practitioners who practice in the same city where I'm attending law school; however, none of them have been willing to take the time to teach me the ins and outs of claims drafting.

Anyone else in this same situation? Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[patexamr2]

I saw yes go for it. It's a great way to gain some experience for a few years. A lot of attorneys have done it in the past. You may find that you like working at the PTO and could stay there. You never know.

[horsechute]

"You may find that you like working at the PTO and could stay there"

If you stay around 6 - 8 years, you will probably realize it was the biggest mistake in your life. If you don't believe me, just ask someone who has done it. I knew/know hundreds of examiners, and can count on one finger the number of people who would not agree with me on that one.

[stuffball]

Great place to go for two years or less.  In my opinon, any law firm doing prosecution would do well to hire former examiners.  I know a lot of people who agree.

Many law firms do not look favorably on experience at the PTO lasting longer than 3 years.  However, I would guess that people are more understanding of a prolonged PTO stint in this job market.

[LawStudent2011]

Thanks for the advice!

Do you know of any other ways to gain that initial year of drafting experience?

After reading these boards, the PTO doesn't seem like the greatest place to work but I don't exactly have many options given the state of the economy.

[stuffball]

Hey I didn't read your post too closely.  While I think that working as a PTO examiner is a great way for an engineer to learn patent law, I am not sure it's so great for someone who's actually gotten a law degree.  Others can chime in and call me out if I'm wrong, but I'm under the impression that lawyers with post-law school PTO experience on their resumes... at least experience as an examiner... are not seen in a favorable light by law firms.  I think they might kind of assume either you couldn't make it as a lawyer, or your resume wasn't good enough to get you in the door as a lawyer.  I would not recommend going to the PTO if you're a law school grad or will graduate law school by the time you apply.

[Isaac]

Others can chime in and call me out if I'm wrong, but I'm under the impression that lawyers with post-law school PTO experience on their resumes... at least experience as an examiner... are not seen in a favorable light by law firms.

Tain't really true to any important extent.   I'm sure there are some firm's that feel that way, but if you had a chance to work there right out of law school you wouldn't be asking the question.

I wouldn't turn down a law firm job to work at the PTO, but I wouldn't really worry about it hurting my chances nearly as much as being unemployed for a significant period of time.

Plenty of firms advertise that they find USPTO experience valuable.  I suspect that those firms are not all that picky about when you got that experience.