Hmm, I am not so experienced, a bit less than 4 years.
•What made you decide to enter Patent Law? Are you happy with your decision?
I hated my job (project manager) and saw something on the Chamber of Commerce about innovation and patents. I knew about patents, but didn't really know how involved the process was.
I am happy with my decision, for the most part.
•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 in EE, MS in EE specialization in Microelectronics. I do tend to focus on EE, but not so much micro. stuff. Never done chemistry/Biology/or mechanical.
I think whether or not you are pigeonholed depends a lot on the size of the firm, and the clients of course. We are a small office, so the topics are fairly wide ranging.
•What sort of firms have you worked for? (Large, small, solo, IP-only, General Practice, etc.) Which do you prefer?
Small, IP only.
I don't think I would like a large firm, nor general practice.
•What percentage of your practice is spent on prosecution? Litigation? Licensing?
Prosecution- 90%
Litigations- 5%
Licensing- 5%
In France there is a divide between Conseils en Propriété Intellectuelle and Attorneys, a bit like Agents and Attorneys in the US.
Conseils cannot do litigation, but often help the attorneys.
•How much of your time is spent writing/researching, as opposed to meeting with & advising clients?
Writing/researching - 70%
Meeting/advising - 30%
But does the reporting of a response to an office action for ex. count as advising or writing?
•Do you practice in other areas of law as well? (For instance, Trademark, Copyright, Trade Secret, or something else?)
No.
•How much travel is involved with your practice? Can Patent Law really lead to fame, fortune, and exotic foreign travel?
Just local travel to meet with clients.
Fame? No
Fortune? Yes, after a long time
Exotic foreign travel? Depends on how much travel for meeting foreign agents, participation in oppositions, etc. is done.
•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 think so.
•How is your work/family life balance?
A bit tough when following courses or preparing for exams.
•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 be for it, but I would make them work summers in an office, such as mine, learning all that is entailed- starting with the administration, then work their way up to prior art searches, working on drawings for applications, etc.
Then, if by the end of high school/ college they decided that they did not like it, they could go do something else.
•What career adivce would you give someone who is just getting started in the field?
Ugh. Take it slow, don't try to progress too quickly.
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Topic: A Day in the Life of a Patent Attorney - Share your story? (Read 3052 times)
