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[UVAgal4]

I think that the transition from engineering to patent stuff requires a few years of re-formatting the hard-drive (give or take some months depending on the person) but that in the end, the majority of intelligent people who were able to make it through university studies of science and engineering can catch on to what it is all about.

[Ghoti]

In the last few years I’ve moved from engineering to in-house counsel and love my job but there are some things that I miss from engineering that may be relevant to someone thinking of the switch from engineering to patents.

- Patents are far less collaborative than engineering. There is much more work on your own. I know a lot of engineers who don’t like to spend all day at their desk. Being able to sit at your desk doing paperwork for long periods is a requirement of patents.

- Related to the above, you have to like reading and writing as that is most of the job. Engineering is much more hands on and real world. (Some days I miss the Lab environment).

- Someone asked me the other day if I had designed anything recently. I noticed that it was hard to acknowledge to myself that the answer was no and further that it was unlikely that I was going to design a product ever again. Now I write about other peoples designs….a significant shift...my work now is far less tangible.

- Problem solving in engineering (for me at least) was a lot of back of mind processing. By that I mean, I’d put all the data in my mind and then let it subconsciously do most of the work until the solution spark came. Patent work is quite different and (again, for me at least) is more front of mind. There are very few ‘sparks’ now, just pure consciously hard work. This makes the days feel more effort driven and less creative.

- Outside of work I’ve noticed that saying you’re an engineer is very socially acceptable but, saying you’re a patent lawyer is not. I now change my job title depending on the social evet I’m at. (Maybe this would not be the case in the US? I’m interested in others opinions on this.)

Hope that helps.

[stuffball]

Wow, great post and I agree with everything 100% especially:

"Problem solving in engineering (for me at least) was a lot of back of mind processing. By that I mean, I’d put all the data in my mind and then let it subconsciously do most of the work until the solution spark came. Patent work is quite different and (again, for me at least) is more front of mind. There are very few ‘sparks’ now, just pure consciously hard work. This makes the days feel more effort driven and less creative."

I hadn't thought of it that way before, but dead-on.  As a scientist, I would have a lot of pots boiling at once... and sort of wait around for the spark.  Very rarely does patent prosecution work that way.  It involves much more labored thinking.  Litigation work, however, can sometimes involve a process that's kind of similar.

In the US lawyers are definitely more highly regarded than in other parts of the world.  It's my impression that they're more highly regarded than scientists and engineers.  That said, the cocktail party set always seemed impressed when I told them I was a "research scientist."  That said, I think it was more because research scientists are harder to find at cocktail parties than lawyers. 

[Ghoti]

Thanks for your comments Stuffball.

Its good to know that the US is different. I think the issue here is 'tall poppy syndrome' which I understand is not that common in the US.

I have had no real exposure to Litigation yet. Because of your comment, I'll think about taking up the opportunity if it comes around. I do miss those sparks moments that make you feel like you are really bringing something unique to the table.