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[alkaseltzer]

Hey guys,

I'm an international student with a BS EE and currently in a MS/PhD EE program (GPA for both is ~3.9). My undergrad/grad is a top top school for EE. I think I want to finish my master's but am doubtful of continuing my PhD... I want to go into patent law, and I feel like I have good technical writing skills, and the right specs. But I'm worried that my alien status will be an obstacle. I don't even have a green card right now. What route do you guys recommend for me?

Should I

1. Finish Master's, get a job at a patent firm as a technical specialist, get a green card, go to law school
2. Finish PhD (if it is that valuable), and do the same as number 1
3. ?

Will firms even sponsor my green card?

Also, I see that a lot of patent lawyers go to night school for law school. Is the name value of the law school not important?

Thanks!

[bleedingpen]

Hey guys,

I'm an international student with a BS EE and currently in a MS/PhD EE program (GPA for both is ~3.9). My undergrad/grad is a top top school for EE. I think I want to finish my master's but am doubtful of continuing my PhD... I want to go into patent law, and I feel like I have good technical writing skills, and the right specs. But I'm worried that my alien status will be an obstacle. I don't even have a green card right now. What route do you guys recommend for me?

Should I

1. Finish Master's, get a job at a patent firm as a technical specialist, get a green card, go to law school
2. Finish PhD (if it is that valuable), and do the same as number 1
3. ?

Will firms even sponsor my green card?

Also, I see that a lot of patent lawyers go to night school for law school. Is the name value of the law school not important?

Thanks!

I have nothing to add about the green card issue- not my expertise.

Name value of the law school is important, but the patent attorney profession understands that those in night schools are usually engineers working while attending law school at the same time and not indicative of the student's academic skills. 

A PhD is EE is overkill for patent law, IMO. 

[2ndcareer]

PhD in EE is a bit of an overkill, I agree.

Instead, industry experiences for EE with an MS degree would be more valuable.  MS degree would be more valuable than a BS degree.

As for your immigration status:  I think most law firms would be reluctant to sponsor for H1B type visa, (which could take up to 4-5 years of waiting to obtain a green card, I think).

But it's not unheard of.  I have 1 friend who got hired by a big law firm doing patent law, and they sponsored his H1B visa.  But I would consider him to be the exceptional case, because the guy had MS in EE, 5 years of experience at engineering company rising to management, TOP of his class in law school, Law Review Journal, AND did a REAL trademark litigation case as a clerk with an attorney during law school.  (Bottomline, I would not expect that same law firm doing the same for another candidate).

Are you F1 or J1?  I think F1 are more common now for international students.

F1's are allowed 1 year practical training period after graduation, (that includes from law school).  I have seen 1 case of an international student graduating from law school, and then obtaining 1 year practical training period at a patent law firm.  This may be the easiest way for you, because it doesn't require much from the law firm to sign on for your 1 year practical training period.  And if you are worth it, they may decide to sponsor you for H1B after 1 year.  (provided that your performance is stellar).

[alkaseltzer]

Thanks for the help both of you! Could I ask you another question? Provided that I get a green card somehow... should I finish my Master's and go into industry or go straight to law school? Is industry experience that important for a EE? I feel like I would put more time into doing actual work related to patent law then working in industry. Also, if I get an LSAT around early 170's, and provided that my ugpa is relatively high, is there a good chance I get into a good law school? Thanks.

[bleedingpen]

Thanks for the help both of you! Could I ask you another question? Provided that I get a green card somehow... should I finish my Master's and go into industry or go straight to law school? Is industry experience that important for a EE? I feel like I would put more time into doing actual work related to patent law then working in industry. Also, if I get an LSAT around early 170's, and provided that my ugpa is relatively high, is there a good chance I get into a good law school? Thanks.

I don't think the industry experience is all that valuable other than possibly making a few contacts. 

A 170 LSAT score is going to get you into a lot of good law schools.

[khazzah]

I don't think the industry experience is all that valuable other than possibly making a few contacts. 

Disagree: some law firms value industry experience a lot. "Value" as in "considered a positive factor in making a hiring decision", rather than "will pay more for candidates with industry experience.

I'm *not* saying that it's valuable enough to defer law school. I know lots of patent attorneys with industry experience, but can't think of any that chose to work as engineer before going to law school because they thought it would make them a more valuable patent attorney. Instead, the folks I know chose patent law after doing engineering for a while.

[alkaseltzer]

I think khazzah's post is a very reasonable judgement of the situation... I guess a lot of patent lawyers go into law after working in the engineering industry. Could I ask you guys a question? How did you all pay for your law schools?

[bleedingpen]

I think khazzah's post is a very reasonable judgement of the situation... I guess a lot of patent lawyers go into law after working in the engineering industry. Could I ask you guys a question? How did you all pay for your law schools?

Student loans.