Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[moonshine]

Hi, All -

I'm graduating May 2012 with a BA in Biology (yes, I will meet requirements for the Patent Bar).

Most presumably, I would work within pharmaceuticals.  However, I continually read on this forum that the Bio Patent core is flooded, with stiff competition and most jobs given to Bio PhD-holding individuals.  Is this competition among Patent Agents or Attorneys?

Is it pointless to go from undergraduate school straight to law school with just a Bio BA?

I'm trying to make sense of my options within the IP field.  I write well, (and unlike proclaimed Patent Attorney schema, also happen to be very personable).  I think Law suits me and would like to make use of my undergraduate background.

I know there's many aspects within IP; perhaps someone can steer me in the right direction?

I appreciate the help!!

[bleedingpen]

Is this competition among Patent Agents or Attorneys?

Both.  But an agent without a PhD is really going to have a hard time landing employment. 

[moonshine]

What about having technical depth in spite of an MS or PhD in a Bio-related field.  That is, working within a biotech company.

How unfavorable is this?

[bleedingpen]

What about having technical depth in spite of an MS or PhD in a Bio-related field.  That is, working within a biotech company.

How unfavorable is this?

Doesn't replace the MS of PhD and is something you probably need to explain away at an interview- an interview that you probably won't ever get.

[UVAgal4]

I think even that it is a BA and not a BS is detrimental.

Heck, even here in Europe biology patent attorneys have a harder time than Mechanical/Electrical/Chemical.

[virus_guy]

The law firm that I worked at was a medium-sized firm in the northeast and everyone who worked on bio-related work had PhD's in some flavor of biology. This applied to both attorney and agents. I don't want to burst your bubble, but competition is quite fierce in the bio field. Right around the time the economy tanked, the firm started interviewing people for summer associate positions who had PhD's from top 10 institutions AND were in top 10 law schools. You figured these people would be interviewing at biglaw firms, but the jobs were just not there. I don't know what it's like out there now, but from what people are saying on this board, prospects are not very good.

[horsechute]

Prospects were never good. Bio is the blacksheep of the IP family. In a red hot market, like we had in the late nineties, a bio major might be able to find a firm that would let them write mechanical applications. An extra degree in EE is worth it for the long haul. Or go med, even if it means going overseas (ie, europe). Even with health care reform, there are going to be good job prospects for pill rollers. At least I think.