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[WDL]

Is there a book titled "Becoming a Lawyer for Dummies"?

Let's start from the top...I'll try to be concise, but all encompassing.

Graduated with Mech. Eng. in 2001, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, GPA 3.0-3.5

Currently employed and quite dissatisfied with my current position and career path.  Work in the power generation business -- primarily involved in installation of gas turbines and generators for power plants.

Applied and was accepted to professional master's program at the University of Pennsylvania to return to an intelligent and technological environment.

Considering law school, and in particular IP law beyond M.B.

Currently 26yrs. old.  White male.

I'm just trying to get a good understanding of what type of field I'm really considering here with IP law.  Also trying to figure out if it's even something I want to do, or if it fits me as a person and what I want to achieve?  I've also been reading some posts here, that have to the "don't even try it, buddy, unless you got a PhD" idea in my head.  Is this necessarily true?

I'm also trying to figure out law school jargon (1L, 2L, 3L) and the like, and where I am supposed to get the info to figure this stuff out?  Also, trying to decipher if the top 20, top 25, or top 50 represent Tier1 schools or where that line in the sand is.

What are the schools noted for IP law?

Any advice on how I could get face to face time with an IP lawyer to just discuss the job and field when I don't know any lawyers to begin with?  And we're talking about not paying for lawyer time...

Lastly, I guess for now, anyway, I've been reading conflicting guidances.  I've seen, "go to the best school you're admitted to."  Then there's the, "Go to the best fit and best school for the field you want to specialize in."  Which of these is more valid?

Appreciate the responses...

[Eliz]

Can't answer everything, but here are a few answers:

1L, 2L, 3L=1st year law student, 2nd year law student, 3rd year law student respectively.  

As for finding someone to talk to...see if anyone you know knows anyone, or if anyone you know knows someone who might know someone.  If you are interested in law school, you might also try to get in touch with a professor or two at a local law school (i.e. someone who teaches patent law or patent drafting or the head of the IP program).  I did this and found that the professors were very open to speaking with me.  One of them also gave me a list of local practitioners who were alums, so at least at that point I wasn't cold-calling people (i.e. I could say prof so-and-so gave me your name, would you be willing to speak with me about patent law?  And most of them were thrilled that professor so and so had thought of them).  You might also ask if you could sit in on a class once school starts in the fall.  

I would also try to do some reading on the basics of patent law...I forget the name of the book I read when I was at that stage, but I'm sure someone else on here will have a recommendation

As for the PhD...that seems to be true for biotech types, but (and someone else on here probably knows better than me on this) not so much for engineering types.  

Good luck!

[PiP]

Eliz is right: Talk to the law school professors at UPenn and Temple.  You are lucky to be near two top law schools!!!  They both have great programs and a lot of alumni in Philadelphia.  I took a couple attorneys out to lunch and volunteered in my schools IP office to learn more.  You can cold call, but this won't likely get you meetings with top private attorneys whose time is worth $100/hr plus.  But if you can get introduced somehow as Eliz points out, that is all you need.  Besides, I think Penn and Temple both have IP programs and you can link up with the students in those programs and profs in charge.  

I think that George Washington is widely considered the best for IP law, particularly for biotech sector.  But some other schools such as U. of Houston are highly ranked by US News.  I think ignore all that stuff.  You aren't going to learn much more fooling around with IP programs in law school anyway, IMO.  Also, firms just don't care.  They want someone who is going to be a good attorney, and Harvard or NYU stands out a lot more than does GW in their minds.  It's better to have a top name/tier law school (and UPenn is about as top as it gets, as you know) and a top 25% or better graduation rank in your class.  I've talked about this with profs at several top tier schools as well as attorneys at several law firms and they all have said the same thing--go to the best school.

I also agree with Eliz about the PhD.  The only IP attorneys who have PhDs in general are the people in biotech.  Biotech is special in that you just can't get a very good understanding without a major concerted effort and that is what the PhD says on someone's resume.  But engineering is far more versatile in the IP world and you don't need to worry about getting more schooling in that regard.  

[guest]

I would also try to do some reading on the basics of patent law...I forget the name of the book I read when I was at that stage, but I'm sure someone else on here will have a recommendation

This is the book i read to learn about IP, a book by Nolo Press, and i would highly recomment it:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0873378504/qid=1120232968/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_ur_2/002-8585748-3328018?v=glance&s=books&n=507846