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[cheesepep]

I have an upcoming interview for a big law firm.  I was told that the interview would be technical and substantive in nature.  I have 3 years experience as an agent in prosecution.

What kind of questions can I expect?

[khazzah]

I have an upcoming interview for a big law firm.  I was told that the interview would be technical and substantive in nature.  I have 3 years experience as an agent in prosecution.

What kind of questions can I expect?

I have no special insight into what BigLaw will ask.  I would ask

• how many responses you drafted
• how many apps you drafted
• what technology areas have you worked in
• what sort of training you received
• how much oversight you received
• how much/what sort of client and/or inventor contact you had
• how many hours you worked as an agent

Note that although said you have experience as an agent, didn't specify whether you are now interviewing as an agent or as an associate.

[petethebody]

I have an upcoming interview for a big law firm.  I was told that the interview would be technical and substantive in nature.  I have 3 years experience as an agent in prosecution.

What kind of questions can I expect?

Be ready to explain your reasoning or provide explanation on whatever writing sample you submitted (without violating privilege, of course).

[billyandted]

I've had the following questions from interviews with IP law firms:

• What attracted you to patent law?
• Do you like to work alone, or in teams?
• How many applications have you drafted?  (Surprisingly, they rarely ask how many Office Action responses I've drafted.)
• Tell me about your engineering experience at Companies X and Y.
• How much experience do your supervisors have?
• What was your GPA in undergrad?  (This often happens even though I finished my ME degree almost 3 years ago.)
• Do you have plans to attend law school?
• What are the three requirements to obtain a patent on an invention?
• I've also had a firm and an IP consulting company give me analytical questions, such as math brainteasers or logical reasoning questions from the LSAT or GMAT.[li/]
  
  

Most of these interviews haven't been with what I would consider "big" law firms, but I would guess they might ask a lot of the same questions.

[klaviernista]

I have an upcoming interview for a big law firm.  I was told that the interview would be technical and substantive in nature.  I have 3 years experience as an agent in prosecution.

Technical in nature?  I would expect questions relating specifically to your purported technical expertise. 

[khazzah]

I have an upcoming interview for a big law firm.  I was told that the interview would be technical and substantive in nature.  I have 3 years experience as an agent in prosecution.

Technical in nature?  I would expect questions relating specifically to your purported technical expertise. 

I also read this "technical in nature" as meaning something like "we want to satisfy ourselves that you have the technical expertise indicated by your resume".

Along the same lines, I read "substantive in nature" as perhaps meaning "we want to satisfy ourselves that you know as much about patent law as 3 years of experience suggests."

[MLM]

I've had the following questions from interviews with IP law firms:

• What was your GPA in undergrad?  (This often happens even though I finished my ME degree almost 3 years ago.)

Most of these interviews haven't been with what I would consider "big" law firms, but I would guess they might ask a lot of the same questions.

When I was interviewing several years ago, some firms asked about my undergrad GPA even though I graduated 20 years ago. There is no one reason for them asking this, but I can't think of any good reasons.

I never had any "brainteasers" interviewing for a law job like I had interviewing for engineering jobs in the past.

I will say this about job interviews in general: they are a necessary evil. Most interviewers are not good at interviewing, and most would rather be at the dentist than interviewing yet another prospect. Go into the interview knowing that, and try to make it as easy for the interviewer as possible, i.e., do what you can to help them get to know you without controlling the interview (let them still be in charge of it). FWIW

[cheesepep]

I have an upcoming interview for a big law firm.  I was told that the interview would be technical and substantive in nature.  I have 3 years experience as an agent in prosecution.

Technical in nature?  I would expect questions relating specifically to your purported technical expertise. 

I also read this "technical in nature" as meaning something like "we want to satisfy ourselves that you have the technical expertise indicated by your resume".

Along the same lines, I read "substantive in nature" as perhaps meaning "we want to satisfy ourselves that you know as much about patent law as 3 years of experience suggests."

Yes, interviewing for agent position in big law.  And you are right about "we want to satisfy ourselves that you know as much patent law as 3 years of experience suggests."

With that said, what can they ask me regarding this?  3-year patent experience questions would generally be like....?  Thanks!

[petethebody]

Bump to see what questions were asked at the interview.