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[xyzzy]

I wonder if any of you experienced Patent Attorneys or Agents would be so kind as to share a little bit about your practice?  I am new to the field and think it'd be interesting & educational to catch a glimpse into multiple snapshots of real-world practice.  We get so many comments here with people asking, "I'm thinking about patent law - should I do it?"  This thread could be a great resource for those folks.

Just a few questions I'd like to ask any of you, if you'd let me take you out for a beer or three:

• What made you decide to enter Patent Law?  Are you happy with your decision?
• What is your technical background?  Do you tend to specialize in just that area, or is your patent practice more general?  Is it easy to get pigeonholed into one tech area, or is there room for movement?
• What sort of firms have you worked for?  (Large, small, solo, IP-only, General Practice, etc.)  Which do you prefer?
• What percentage of your practice is spent on prosecution?  Litigation?  Licensing?
• How much of your time is spent writing/researching, as opposed to meeting with & advising clients?
• Do you practice in other areas of law as well?  (For instance, Trademark, Copyright, Trade Secret, or something else?)
• How much travel is involved with your practice?  Can Patent Law really lead to fame, fortune, and exotic foreign travel?
• Are the widely-available salary charts accurate?  I know this is a little personal, but it's a question that seems to pop up time and time again.  I don't think most people are trying to pry, they're probably just concerned about paying off their law school debt before the year 2250.
• How is your work/family life balance?
• If your son or daughter told you that he/she was thinking of becoming a Patent Attorney, how would you counsel him/her?  (I ask this because in my experience most attorneys tend to tell others not to attend law school.)
• What career adivce would you give someone who is just getting started in the field?

By all means, don't view this as a blueprint or anything.  I'm just curious about the day-to-day workings of people's practices.  I think a lot of newbies will benefit from seeing the field from several perspectives.  Thanks for your time.

[blakesq]

I wonder if any of you experienced Patent Attorneys or Agents would be so kind as to share a little bit about your practice?  I am new to the field and think it'd be interesting & educational to catch a glimpse into multiple snapshots of real-world practice.  We get so many comments here with people asking, "I'm thinking about patent law - should I do it?"  This thread could be a great resource for those folks.

Just a few questions I'd like to ask any of you, if you'd let me take you out for a beer or three:

• What made you decide to enter Patent Law?  Are you happy with your decision?

LA Law was on TV, and I was already an engineer, relatively happy

• What is your technical background?  Do you tend to specialize in just that area, or is your patent practice more general?  Is it easy to get pigeonholed into one tech area, or is there room for movement?

I am an M.E., I do ee, software, and mechanical stuff

• What sort of firms have you worked for?  (Large, small, solo, IP-only, General Practice, etc.)  all of the aboveWhich do you prefer?

solo

• What percentage of your practice is spent on prosecution?  Litigation?  Licensing?

75%, %5, 10%

• How much of your time is spent writing/researching, as opposed to meeting with & advising clients?

90%

• Do you practice in other areas of law as well?  (For instance, Trademark, Copyright, Trade Secret, or something else?)

yes

• How much travel is involved with your practice?  Can Patent Law really lead to fame, fortune, and exotic foreign travel?

almost no travel for me

• Are the widely-available salary charts accurate?  I know this is a little personal, but it's a question that seems to pop up time and time again.  I don't think most people are trying to pry, they're probably just concerned about paying off their law school debt before the year 2250.

relatively accurate

• How is your work/family life balance?

good

• If your son or daughter told you that he/she was thinking of becoming a Patent Attorney, how would you counsel him/her?  (I ask this because in my experience most attorneys tend to tell others not to attend law school.)

if he really wanted to be lawyer, I would say go for it

• What career adivce would you give someone who is just getting started in the field?

get experience as quickly as possible
[/list]

By all means, don't view this as a blueprint or anything.  I'm just curious about the day-to-day workings of people's practices.  I think a lot of newbies will benefit from seeing the field from several perspectives.  Thanks for your time.

[still_learnin]

• What is your technical background?

Computer Science major. 10 years of experience as a programmer.

• What made you decide to enter Patent Law?  Are you happy with your decision?

Just couldn't see myself as a programmer at 60. I'm glad I made the switch to patent law.

• What sort of firms have you worked for?  (Large, small, solo, IP-only, General Practice, etc.)  Which do you prefer?

One firm only: IP Boutique. Started out firmly convinced that since IP was all I wanted to do, a boutique was the best choice for me. Nothing I've learned about GPs since then has convinced me otherwise.

I've been practicing 8 years. This is my first year as a partner.

• Do you tend to specialize in just that area, or is your patent practice more general?

Most of my work is on software applications, so I'm "specialized" in that sense.

But I define software broadly: e-commerce, database, operating systems, video services, DSL, and routers all involve software.

• Is it easy to get pigeonholed into one tech area, or is there room for movement?

EE/CS folks don't stray much into Bio/Chem, and vice versa. At my firm, MEs have the most variety, mostly because we don't have a big ME client, and the MEs have to be put on something, so that ends up being anything.

Within the broad disciplines, the variation in work will depend mostly on the clients your firm has. If your firm has one client with a narrow range of technology, doesn't matter that the firm is philosophically inclined to let you try different things.

• What percentage of your practice is spent on prosecution?  Litigation?  Licensing?

100% pros.

My sense is that it's hard to do both lit and pros. Pros work has a regular schedule, with due dates (a "docket"). Then the lawsuit you're staffed on gets busy and you're working 12 hour days on the lawsuit, leaving little time for your pros. So your pros gets reallocated. Then your lawsuit slows down and you have no pros docket.

Theoretically, a firm was committed to having you do both would have a way to smoothly transition you back to pros.

• How much of your time is spent writing/researching, as opposed to meeting with & advising clients?

Over 90% of every day is reading and writing. Most of our clients are out of town, so not a lot of face to face meetings. Typically, I spend a few hours every week on the phone with inventors. Much less time on the phone with inhouse counsel. Communication with inhouse is almost always via email.

I do spend non-billable time going after potential clients. Some of that is face-to-face meetings.

• Do you practice in other areas of law as well? 

I've done some trademark prosecution. Didn't interest me that much.

• How much travel is involved with your practice?

Didn't travel at all as a new associate. About the only travel opportunity for patent prosecution is invention disclosure meetings.

In the past 3 years, I did about 3 trips a year to see firm clients and get disclosures from them.

• Are the widely-available salary charts accurate? 

I think NALP data is accurate.

• How is your work/family life balance?

I'd like to spend less time billing. I feel stress now that I never felt when I was a programmer.

• What career advice would you give someone who is just getting started in the field?

Find a mentor. Fast.

[bartmans]

•What is your technical background?

Biology, specializing in microbiology, genetic engineering and neurphysiology.

•What made you decide to enter Patent Law?  Are you happy with your decision?

Went into patent searching first, then into law school.
Since all my eductaion (also the biology degree) was at night school, I only could say that I had wished to be able to enter the profession earlier.

•What sort of firms have you worked for?  (Large, small, solo, IP-only, General Practice, etc.)  Which do you prefer?

Large pharma, small biotech start-up and currently in privat practice. I found the small biotech start-up the most enjoyable because I had a solo practice there, was heavily involved in the company's strategy and also acted as company counsel. However, at the end this was just too much for one person to handle, so I had a trainee.

•Do you tend to specialize in just that area, or is your patent practice more general?

Specialization is biotech/life sciences with the occasional more mechanical and more chemical applications.

•Is it easy to get pigeonholed into one tech area, or is there room for movement?

Area is sufficiently broad to have as much variation as you like. Further, I have a lot of side-activities (like teaching patent law for searchers and for trainees for the European Exam), being a deputy justice in the Court of Appeal, being a member of the Duitch Disciplinary Board and the EPO Disciplinary Board of Appeal, etc.

•What percentage of your practice is spent on prosecution?  Litigation?  Licensing?

95% prosecution, 5% litigation (but then I still have to account for all the side-activities)

•How much of your time is spent writing/researching, as opposed to meeting with & advising clients?

Over 90% of every day is reading and writing. 


•Do you practice in other areas of law as well? 

Not possible in the netherlands.


•How much travel is involved with your practice?

A few times a year to Munich (for oral proceedings at the EPO site), an occasional trip to the USA for doing interviews at the USPTO (may happen once every 5 years), some travel to attend meetings/conferences and some travel for my side activities (just spent 10 days in India giving trainings).


•Are the widely-available salary charts accurate? 

I dont have a clue.


•How is your work/family life balance?

For me it is OK, but my wife complains now and then.


•What career advice would you give someone who is just getting started in the field?

Also spend some time in learning (and practicing) searching and formalities (filing, overseas filing, etc.). A good mentor/tutor and love for linguistic details are a necessity

[MfgME]

Thank you to those that have posted so far.
 

[thebourbaki]

Hi, I am bumping this thread because I found the answers so far very helpful and would love to see some more, esp. if your experiences are somewhat different than those already posted.

Cheers,

[klaviernista]

• What made you decide to enter Patent Law?  Are you happy with your decision?

Was working as a patent examiner in DC.  Wife wanted to move to New England to be closer to family.  At the time, the PTO did not have a work from home program.  So I bit the bullet and went to law school.  Within 5 years we moved to the greater Boston area.

• What is your technical background?  Do you tend to specialize in just that area, or is your patent practice more general?  Is it easy to get pigeonholed into one tech area, or is there room for movement?

I have a BS in chemistry.  All of my work experience is in material science.  Prior to working as a patent examiner, I was developing stealth technology for the Navy.  My patent practice has always been very general.  The only technology I refuse to handle is hardcore EE and Biotech.  Lately I have been drafting a LOT of cases drawn to hardware implementations of software.  A far cry of my materials science interests. 

• What sort of firms have you worked for?  (Large, small, solo, IP-only, General Practice, etc.)  Which do you prefer?

I have worked for a large IP boutique, as in-house counsel, and I am currently a senior associate in a small IP boutique.  Each position had its ups and downs.  The large firm had great clients and nearly unlimited resources, but the work was extremely demanding and work/life balance was non-existant.  The in-house gig was great for work-life balance, but I did more general counsel stuff than IP.  The small firm is a fairly nice balance between the two extremes, but it forces me to work a fair bit outside my technological comfort zone.  I'm not sure I would say that I "prefer" any of them.  My passion is teaching, and I would much rather be a full time law professor (working on that now).

• What percentage of your practice is spent on prosecution?  Litigation?  Licensing?

80%/10%/10%

• How much of your time is spent writing/researching, as opposed to meeting with & advising clients?

80% writing; 20% talking with clients.

• Do you practice in other areas of law as well?  (For instance, Trademark, Copyright, Trade Secret, or something else?)

I am reasonably competent in contracts and  trade secrets law.

• How much travel is involved with your practice?  Can Patent Law really lead to fame, fortune, and exotic foreign travel?

Apart from local on-site client meetings, very little.  I do know patent attorneys that spend a lot of time in foreign countries (China and Japan, for instance).  I also know patent attorneys that are VERY rich (as in huge yacht rich).  On the other hand, I also know patent attorneys that never leave the office and are not doing well financially.

• Are the widely-available salary charts accurate?  I know this is a little personal, but it's a question that seems to pop up time and time again.  I don't think most people are trying to pry, they're probably just concerned about paying off their law school debt before the year 2250.

Depends on which charts you are considering.  The market is not what it used to be.  for a time, big law firms were hiring first years at $145-155k/year.  With limited exceptions, I think that those days are probably over.

• How is your work/family life balance?

Not as good as I would like.

• If your son or daughter told you that he/she was thinking of becoming a Patent Attorney, how would you counsel him/her?  (I ask this because in my experience most attorneys tend to tell others not to attend law school.)

I would tell him that it can be a great career,  but that he or she should go into it for the right reasons, and not simply because of the potential for a large salary.  There are far easier ways to make money.

• What career adivce would you give someone who is just getting started in the field?

Be a sponge.  LEarn as much as you can from everyone you can.  There are a million ways to do things in this field, and your first priority should be to build out your tool box, so to speak.  If you are focusing on litigation, make yourself the "go to" guy for key items related to the case.  Know the facts cold.  know the evidence (from doc review cold).  And do your best to make sure everyone else in the litigation understands that you know that stuff cold.  This is particularly true in a large law firm, where much of an associates future is determined based on how the perception of the partners and senior associates.

[petethebody]

I am currently a senior associate in a small IP boutique. 

Good to hear the update.  I hadn't realized you had moved. 

[klaviernista]

I am currently a senior associate in a small IP boutique. 

Good to hear the update.  I hadn't realized you had moved. 

Yeah, the startup I was working for imploded ~6 months ago.  Found the new gig via networking through the local bar association.  I really like the folks I work with now.  Its a bit like working with my old college buddies, except that my coworkers are extremely talented, have large firm experience, and can turn on the "professional attorney" guise seemingly at will.  It is quite a thing to see, actually.

[petethebody]

• What made you decide to enter Patent Law?  Are you happy with your decision?

Wanted to live in a big city and not in a factory (M.E.), seemed like a good way to deal with new technology on a daily basis, very engaging, very financially rewarding.  Not sure if I am happy, but am a relatively recent grad (2009). 

• What is your technical background?  Do you tend to specialize in just that area, or is your patent practice more general?  Is it easy to get pigeonholed into one tech area, or is there room for movement?

Mechanical.  I haven't worked with a mechanical patent yet - all chemical.

• What sort of firms have you worked for?  (Large, small, solo, IP-only, General Practice, etc.)  Which do you prefer?

Large firm only.  No frame of reference, but the large firm is not meant for everyone.

• What percentage of your practice is spent on prosecution?  Litigation?  Licensing?

0% pros; 100% lit; 0% licensing

• How much of your time is spent writing/researching, as opposed to meeting with & advising clients?

As a 3rd year associate - 99.9% working; .1% meeting clients, 0.0% advising clients.

• Do you practice in other areas of law as well?  (For instance, Trademark, Copyright, Trade Secret, or something else?)

State law, copyright, the other garden variety unfair competition, commercial tort, breach of contract.

• How much travel is involved with your practice?  Can Patent Law really lead to fame, fortune, and exotic foreign travel?

Commute is the only time I travel

• Are the widely-available salary charts accurate?  I know this is a little personal, but it's a question that seems to pop up time and time again.  I don't think most people are trying to pry, they're probably just concerned about paying off their law school debt before the year 2250.

Big firm money is well known and documented.  Big cities is 160k base; 5-10k bonus for meeting your hours and a 10k raise each year.  Billable expectations vary wildly.  No less than 2000

• How is your work/family life balance?

I get to see my wife every night, before we go to bed, if only for 5 minutes.  Aside from that, not great. 

• If your son or daughter told you that he/she was thinking of becoming a Patent Attorney, how would you counsel him/her?  (I ask this because in my experience most attorneys tend to tell others not to attend law school.)

You are not my child.

• What career adivce would you give someone who is just getting started in the field?

Minimize debt and be prepared to work for free for a few years * emphasis on years* upon graduation. Also, should you ind yourself in a big firm making big money, consider yourself like an NFL star - grossly overpaid, no transferrable skill set, and likely only earning large amounts of money for three seasons.
[/list]

Patent law is great and fun.  The problem is not finding an intellectually engaging challenge in the field.  The problem is making ends meat in an increasingly commoditized market with clients who are less and less willing to pay you adequately for the training.  Also, it is a real pain trying to find that first job.  Once you are able to overcome those problems, it is pretty awesome.

[patentatt]

• What made you decide to enter Patent Law?  Are you happy with your decision?

I was an engineering grad but:

1. had difficulty finding an engineering job (bc of lack of experience, the economy, and naivety about how to find jobs)
2. did not really want to enter the work force yet
3. was not impressed with the projected trajectory for engineering work and salary
4. was much better at arguing and writing than most of my engineering peers
5. believed the employment and salary statistics published by law schools (now known to be ridden with under-reporting, selection bias, and other frauds/manipulations)
6. decided that becoming a doctor was too much of a pain in the ass, with too much uncertainty regarding government interference and changes in employment rate/salary

• What is your technical background?  Do you tend to specialize in just that area, or is your patent practice more general?  Is it easy to get pigeonholed into one tech area, or is there room for movement?

EE.  I have worked on all sorts of electrical/software/mechanical cases.  The only real wall seems to be chemical and biochem versus the rest.  If an EE or physics case is sufficiently hardcore, and if I struggle I ask for help.  That almost never happens.

• What sort of firms have you worked for?  (Large, small, solo, IP-only, General Practice, etc.)  Which do you prefer?

I worked for a midsize IP boutique and now work for a small prosecution boutique.  I much prefer the smaller firm (the difference between hell and something quite pleasant).

People underappreciate the importance of:

1. high decision latitude
2. being a big fish in a small pond
3. avoiding a culture/bureacracy of fear and conservatism
4. being able to take the time and care to do high quality work

• What percentage of your practice is spent on prosecution?  Litigation?  Licensing?

Entirely prosecution, although I feel quite competent to apply substantive patent law in litigation and licensing matters (I don't just read Fed. Cir. decisions on examination/PTO cases - although I know at least one APJ who does that and professes to know nothing about inequitable conduct).

• How much of your time is spent writing/researching, as opposed to meeting with & advising clients?

I never meet with clients and have little desire to do so.

• Do you practice in other areas of law as well?  (For instance, Trademark, Copyright, Trade Secret, or something else?)

No.  No litigation.  No licensing.  No trademark.  No copyright.  No trade secret.  I strictly do patent prosecution, albeit pretty well.

• How much travel is involved with your practice?  Can Patent Law really lead to fame, fortune, and exotic foreign travel?

I never travel for work.  I travel several times a year, on my own, to attend conferences.

Travel, fame, and fortune are generally for: big shot litigators and founders of firms (including prosecution firms) who must schmooze clients.  I don't do either (at least not yet?).

• Are the widely-available salary charts accurate?  I know this is a little personal, but it's a question that seems to pop up time and time again.  I don't think most people are trying to pry, they're probably just concerned about paying off their law school debt before the year 2250.

I know a couple of attorneys who make "market" salary and have been consistently marching along that path (with promotions) for years.  I think one of the them will become a partner at a top patent firm.  The other one seems to have no real interest in patent law, but is simply very smart and good at being a lawyer.  I also know many (probably 10+) patent attorneys who are unhappy with their position, doing contract work, doing part time work, doing work requiring them to bring in their own clients, and/or being paid significantly below the market rate.  I find them everywhere (maybe I hang out with the wrong people).

• How is your work/family life balance?

I work at a very unconventional firm.  My work/family life balance is fantastic.

• If your son or daughter told you that he/she was thinking of becoming a Patent Attorney, how would you counsel him/her?  (I ask this because in my experience most attorneys tend to tell others not to attend law school.)

I would tell them to try working as an apprentice, tech specialist, and/or patent agent and see if they like it.  I would tell them that if they enjoy the work, they can make a lot of money in it.

Of course, if the U.S. economy eventually implodes, as seems likely in the next 2-5 years (considering that we cannot pay our debts), who knows what will happen.

• What career adivce would you give someone who is just getting started in the field?

1. if going to law school, focus on minimizing debt instead of going to a fancy pedigree school
2. try to apprentice/intern to see if you like patent law
3. nurture and cultivate a network of business contacts
4. learn to love your career - if you can't find a different one - because you only live once

[chewbaccadefense]

• What made you decide to enter Patent Law?  Are you happy with your decision?

Switched into law from science because science frustrated me.  I needed something with more dynamic interaction, deadlines, etc.  Patent law was a natural fit.  Couldn't be happier.

• What is your technical background?  Do you tend to specialize in just that area, or is your patent practice more general?  Is it easy to get pigeonholed into one tech area, or is there room for movement?

BS, Biomed Engineering.  I'm at my first firm, and it's small, so I just take what comes through the door.  Mostly mechanical and electric, but I've done some BE work.  I like the variety.

• What sort of firms have you worked for?  (Large, small, solo, IP-only, General Practice, etc.)  Which do you prefer?

Small.  I like the one-on-one instruction, and I'm not sure if I could find that at a larger place.

• What percentage of your practice is spent on prosecution?  Litigation?  Licensing?

95%, 5%, 0%

• How much of your time is spent writing/researching, as opposed to meeting with & advising clients?

80% and 20%.  Depends on the complexity of the invention.

• Do you practice in other areas of law as well?  (For instance, Trademark, Copyright, Trade Secret, or something else?)

A little bit of trademarks, but nothing super complex.

• How much travel is involved with your practice?  Can Patent Law really lead to fame, fortune, and exotic foreign travel?

N/A as of now.  But hey, I'll dream big haha

• Are the widely-available salary charts accurate?  I know this is a little personal, but it's a question that seems to pop up time and time again.  I don't think most people are trying to pry, they're probably just concerned about paying off their law school debt before the year 2250.

Well, imo, if you're getting one-on-one instruction, for a few hours each day, that's hundreds of hours of instruction per year.  What's the price of that?  I guess at other places, people probably get twice what I do, but don't get the experience.  With repayment options these days I can afford to take the hit to learn.

• How is your work/family life balance?

Good.  10-630 M-F, unless a non-prov is due that week.

• If your son or daughter told you that he/she was thinking of becoming a Patent Attorney, how would you counsel him/her?  (I ask this because in my experience most attorneys tend to tell others not to attend law school.)

Read every nasty forum post about law school.  If you still want to go, then by all means haha

• What career adivce would you give someone who is just getting started in the field?

Look at listings of jobs that you would want in 2, 3, 5 years etc.  Try to get the skills those people have.  And pass the patbar while you're in law school.

[/list]

[NJ Patent1]

Well, well, well. This thread is VERY interesting.  Not because of the open and (apparently?) honest OP (this is cyberspace ya know).  But bcs several “handles” I recognize have responded, giving me a glimpse into their “real”, not "cyber", personas.  You showed me yours?  “Fair play”, dictates “I show you mine.”
•   What made you decide to enter Patent Law?  Are you happy with your decision? I did not choose patent law.  Patent law “chose” me.  I had hoped to do product liability / toxic torts.  But with a PhD in chemistry, everybody assumed “you want to be a patent attorney, right?”  Wrong.  It was the only lawyer job I could get.  And it paid 40% more than what I was doing at the time.  Easy call.  On balance I don’t regret hanging-up my lab coat and entering patent law.  I meet more creative people - in different disciplines - than I probably otherwise would have.  And certainly have to keep exercising da brain.
 
•   What is your technical background?  Do you tend to specialize in just that area, or is your patent practice more general?  Is it easy to get pigeonholed into one tech area, or is there room for movement?
My technical background (BS  + PhD) is chemistry.  Specifically macromolecular chemistry.  But in my first year (actually first 3 months) I was writing biotech and mechanical cases.  Yes, it is easy to get pigeonholed, it is a matter of efficiency (in the economist’s sense).  At the present time, “chemistry”, broadly viewed, is the center of my practice.  I’m cool with that.  I break-out in hives when I see an e-commerce disclosure.

•   What sort of firms have you worked for?  (Large, small, solo, IP-only, General Practice, etc.)  Which do you prefer?
I started with a really big GP or “corporate” firm.  But they were well-known in IP too.  If I told you the positions in the Department of Commerce and Library of Congress that partners of the firm moved-on to (or detoured through), I’d easily spill the beans.  Ain’t supposed to do that here.  I got that first job bcs I was in the right place at the right time and doggedly pursued every possible lead.  I moved to a big IP boutique in NYC, and got laid-off after 8 yrs.  Now I do whatever I can find.  Preference?  Both had + and -.  But, in hindsight, I was given more responsibility ab initio in the GP firm.  Go out there and show us you were worth that signing bonus kid! 

• What percentage of your practice is spent on prosecution?  Litigation?  Licensing?
       At the moment, 90% prep and prosecution AND opinion (u left opinions out), 10% all else.

•   How much of your time is spent writing/researching, as opposed to meeting with & advising clients?[/[/i]b][/i]
In the past, 80/20.  Presently 95/5

•   Do you practice in other areas of law as well?  (For instance, Trademark, Copyright, Trade Secret, or something else?)
Have, but little at this time.  IMO, in IP law you can’t dodge contract and unfair competition.
 
•   How much travel is involved with your practice?  Can Patent Law really lead to fame, fortune, and exotic foreign travel?
Have to LOL.  Sorry, pls don’t take umbrage.  As a scientist I spent more time in Asia and Europe (incl. 3 round-trips on the Concord before it was retired), and on private jets (ok. only a Citation II, not a 16 passanger Gulfstream - but baggage always picked-up and delivered to my hotel - no sh&$), than I have as a patent atty.  Go figure. One for Rippley’s ?.  But I have had a few good gigs doing due diligence in Germany (like a month in FfM at a 5-star).  In this regard, my “career” has gone backwards after joining the patent bar. 

•   Are the widely-available salary charts accurate?  I know this is a little personal, but it's a question that seems to pop up time and time
 again.  I don't think most people are trying to pry, they're probably just concerned about paying off their law school debt before the year 2250.

I can’t speak for all firms.  But the published salary info for the two “big law” firms that I worked for was 100% accurate.  What you saw on the ‘net was what I saw in my wallet.  No bonus was less than 25K.  Dem were da good ‘ole days 

•   How is your work/family life balance?
I don’t have a wife or children at home and love working as much as I can.  Love the law and love advocacy.  I think it was Mr. Justice Sutherland who said “the law is a demanding mistress.”  (Or was it Holmes?  Sounds like him)  Anyway, I can’t afford two mistresses!

•   If your son or daughter told you that he/she was thinking of becoming a Patent Attorney, how would you counsel him/her?  (I ask this because in my experience most attorneys tend to tell others not to attend law school.)
Do what floats your boat.  Follow your heart.  Just be sure it is not leading you over a cliff like a lemming.
•   What career advice would you give someone who is just getting started in the field?Silicon non carborundum! 

[patentatt]

I don’t have a wife or children at home and love working as much as I can.  Love the law and love advocacy.  I think it was Mr. Justice Sutherland who said “the law is a demanding mistress.”  (Or was it Holmes?  Sounds like him)  Anyway, I can’t afford two mistresses!

"[The law] is a jealous mistress, and requires a long and constant courtship. It is not to be won by trifling favors, but by lavish homage."
The Value and Importance of Legal Studies
- Joseph Story, (1779-1845)

"The law is a jealous mistress.  It needs one's whole allegiance."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genevieve_R._Cline

I'm not sure who really said (either or both).

[NJ Patent1]

patentatt;  Yea, that sound more like it.  Thanks.  Where the hell did I get Sutherland from   I didn't take very good notes in con law