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[pols]

Hello, I'm looking to get a realistic picture of what I can expect as I enter the 2L summer job market.

I'm a soon-to-be 2L at a mid-tier 1 school, looking to practice patent prosecution either in CA or in the large local city where my school is located. I'm worried about my 1L grades: I got a 2.95, and the 1L mean is a 3.2. I have a BS in Computer Science, 3.2 GPA at a decent but average tech school. I hold a couple positions in law school organizations (including the IP organization), and this summer I have two legal jobs for a total of 65 hours of work (some of which is IP-related).

Basically I'm concerned that my GPA is going to significantly hurt my chances at finding a patent job. Getting an offer at a "large firm" isn't too important (I wouldn't necessarily decline such an offer, though I'm just as happy with a smaller firm) but I don't know the extent to which small and mid-size firms have IP departments or are hiring students.

Can anyone give me a view of what the job search for 2L summer and beyond will be like for me?

[guest]

I was in a similar situation a couple of years ago...bad news is that most large firms wont consider you (dont let it get you down)...your efforts are better spent calling up local smaller IP boutiques to help out for the summer(volunteer even)...that is what I did and I felt I received good exposure to IP work...The next year I actually got interviews with larger firms, unfortunately when it came down to it they couldnt look past the grades...I also had an offer to stay with the smaller firm I worked with but I didnt feel I would receive adequate training so I opted to work as a patent examiner...so far so good...we'll see if it will help me get a firm job in the next couple of years...btw I was also at a mid tier 1 hovering the 3.0 range...good luck...oh one other thing...I have an ME degree from a highly ranked tech school...it might be more competitive for CS...so just keep that in mind

[guest]

I might also mention that I might help if you decide to take the patent bar by interview season this fall...I didnt take the patent bar until I graduated...firms may think you are more serious about patent law if you have already the patent bar...just something else to consider especially if you want to be considered by large/medium firms...and this of course is just one person's experience...I am sure others out there have had different experiences so wait for some replys to the message board before signing up to take the patent bar (its hefty financial commitment if you decide to take a review class)...good luck