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[turbotong]

Does anyone have any insight on the differences between big, general firms with an IP dept and a big IP-only firm?
Specifically, I am interested in:
Type/depth/variety of work
Amount of work
Hours
Compensation/bonuses for associates and partners
Profitability of the firm

[NJ Patent1]

turbo:  Based on my personal experience, such broad generalized questions are impossible to answer. Answers to many of ur questions depend on too many factors. What is it you really want to know?  FWIW, the following is my personal anecdote.

I started my career in IP law with a big internationally-known “corporate” firm that did IP.  After a couple of years, I was recruited to join a large respected IP boutique.  Thinking I would get exposed to and learn more stuff (and to cut my communte), I jumped ship.

Shortly after my arrival at the boutique, I had lunch w/ a senior associate w/ whom I’d had dealings ad firm #1.  I learned that, as a 1st year at the first “corporate” firm, I was doing “stuff” that even 3rd years at the boutique didn’t get to do (e.g. being sent out, alone, to clients, drafting opinion letters).  Over the course of time, I came to appreciate what a great teacher / coach / mentor I had at that 1st “corporate” firm.  I had had the “right partner” at a firm with the “right culture” to let him run his “group” his way (as long as the financial results were there).  Ten years later, I still thank him every time I see him.  He may be sick of it, I'm not. 

Pay?  I got ‘year rate’ at both places. Adjusted for location, pay scale was comparable.  But the “corporate” firm immediately bumped me up a year on the pay ladder as soon as I passed the patent bar, and gave me an additional “adjustment” bcs I hold a PhD. 

Billable requirements at the boutique were only 50 hrs lower - and only if you were considered 100% prosecution - same #s if you were considered “litigation”. 

Read the blogs.  Firms who give-out megabonuses don’t tend to do much prosecution.  If ur strictly a litigator, IMO it’s still a tough - maybe impossible - question. 

[khazzah]

turbo:  Based on my personal experience, such broad generalized questions are impossible to answer.

Agreed. There are as many differences *between* two particular IP boutiques as there are between a particular IP boutique and a particular IP dept in a GP firm.

Profitability of the firm

This question strikes me as very unusual. I dunno how many years OP has been practicing, but "firm profitability" is the last thing I would worry about as an associate. Makes sense to think about as a lateraling partner or as a lateraling very senior associate. But otherwise ... focus on growing your skills and finding a place that fits with your personality and lifestyle.

[petethebody]

Profitability of the firm

This question strikes me as very unusual. I dunno how many years OP has been practicing, but "firm profitability" is the last thing I would worry about as an associate. Makes sense to think about as a lateraling partner or as a lateraling very senior associate. But otherwise ... focus on growing your skills and finding a place that fits with your personality and lifestyle.

Agreed.  Partners will make their profits regardless.  If they are in trouble, there is no way you could know anyway, except maybe through ATL if it is a large firm.  Generally, if they were in trouble, they would not hire you anyway.  This is not always the case with big firms, though, so still be cautious.

If it's stability of job that you are looking for, ask how much work your level of associates have and what responsibilities they have.  If they are not practicing commensurate with their year, it could indicate a lack of work.  For example, if you have senior associates in a large GP litigation firm who are not taking deps, it likely means that work is being horded by the income partners.  This will proceed down the food chain.  Important to this, get to know how a class is performing, not an individual.  Obviously for a small firm this will not apply and it will be a crap-shoot.