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[FletchFFletch]

I've been vigorously searching for a job since taking the Bar in July.  Pretty much every position I have found seems to want 1 year of patent prosecution experience, which I don't have.  I passed the patent bar in April, so I haven't had the opportunity to gain any hands-on patent prosecution experience.  I've been looking all over the southeast and I am coming up empty.  I have also looked around big areas like DC, VA, CA, and NY, but still haven't found much.  I am starting to believe that entry level jobs don't actually exist, and I am caught in the catch-22 of needing experience to get hired, but I can't get hired to get experience.

Is there any particular geographical area, industry, or firm type that should be the focus of my search?  I'm getting to the point that I am sharpening my programming skills in the event that I can't find an attorney or agent position.

Bit of background:  BS in CS 2005 (Highest honors), MS in CS 2006, JD in May 2011 (average grades), passed the patent bar already, took the GA bar in July.

[plex]

Basically experiencing the same thing, except I actually have one year of experience and am an EE.  The market seems incredibly dead right now unless you have stellar grades and/or 2+ years of experience.  It is nothing like when I was testing the waters considering whether to go into patent prosecution.

[bleedingpen]

Ignore that the job posting says 1 year of experience and apply anyways. 

[lostandconfused]

Ignore that the job posting says 1 year of experience and apply anyways. 

Not to threadjack but Bleedingpen I sent you a message.

Also, the above-poster said 2+yrs work exp.

[bleedingpen]

Ignore that the job posting says 1 year of experience and apply anyways. 

Not to threadjack but Bleedingpen I sent you a message.

Also, the above-poster said 2+yrs work exp.

I don't have a message from you.

[openfire06]

Basically experiencing the same thing, except I actually have one year of experience and am an EE.  The market seems incredibly dead right now unless you have stellar grades and/or 2+ years of experience.  It is nothing like when I was testing the waters considering whether to go into patent prosecution.

I dunno - I've had some reasonable success in the job search.  Have you tried mass mailing firms?  I've picked up a couple interviews just by sending cover letters and a resume to firms, and asking for consideration.

[plex]

I consider success actually getting a job, so the four interviews I have had do not count.  I think there is still a pool of experienced patent attorneys out there as a result of the layoffs in 09-10, so those looking for entry level positions have some tough competition.

[2ndcareer]

Prosecution market is becoming unprofitable, so very little growth.

I have even seen the newer job postings raising the requirement to 3+ years minimum in some cases.

[bleedingpen]

Prosecution market is becoming unprofitable, so very little growth.

I have even seen the newer job postings raising the requirement to 3+ years minimum in some cases.

Maybe in some sectors.  Fortunately, not mine

 

[khazzah]

Prosecution market is becoming unprofitable, so very little growth.

I have even seen the newer job postings raising the requirement to 3+ years minimum in some cases.

IMHO, the fact that employers are being more selective in their hiring speaks to the glut of supply (ie, several years worth of law school graduates with no jobs) rather than to any problem with demand (your "growth").

[superman10]

Plex I thought you were a practicing attorney doing well at a boutique. What happened?

[plex]

I was a practicing law clerk/agent at a boutique, then the main client went bankrupt.  All the clerks/summer associates got cut.  I hope things are going better for you since we started along the same path at the same time.

[superman10]

That's terrible, but I would bet that with your EE and your pros experience you'll get snapped up very soon.  

I'm fortunately still at the same big firm doing a mix of pros and lit.  

[klaviernista]

Prosecution market is becoming unprofitable, so very little growth.

I have even seen the newer job postings raising the requirement to 3+ years minimum in some cases.

I think this is true with respect to larger firms.  Smaller firms usually have significantly lower overhead, and so can survive  (or even thrive) on the lower profit margins that prosecution affords.  The firm I currently work for has 13 attorneys, and we are BURIED under an ever growing mountain of prosecution work.  As a result, we are looking to hire at least one experienced EE right now. 

FWIW, the reason we are seeking an experienced EE and not a someone fresh out of law school is not directly tied to profits.  Rather, we need someone who can literally walk in the door, pick up a large chunk of our caseload, and start cranking away without much (or any) supervision.  The goal is to reduce attorney workload to a reasonable level.  Hiring someone with no (or little) experience does not accomplish that for at least a year or two.  In fact, it would increase workload by requiring the existing attorneys to spend significant time reviewing the inexperienced attorney's work product.

[john122]

If money is not an issue for you right now, I suggest looking for a part-time job or even a non-paid internship to get experience.
I believe getting work experience is more important than getting paid in this current market.
Once you have the experience, I'm sure you can land another job somewhere else.