Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[virus_guy]

Dear friends,

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine about going to part-time law school while working at a law firm as a patent agent, but where the tuition isn't paid for by the firm. I'm not a big fan of law school in general and my friend went through the patent agent -> attorney route with tuition paid for by the firm, but this scenario made for an interesting discussion.

I'm sure it's not a mystery that some firms will pay for a patent agent to go to law school part-time (assuming law firm is happy with LSATs and patent agent's work) with the idea that after 4 years this patent agent may become an associate (assuming grades are good and state bar is passed).

One scenario we talked about is what happens if one decides to go to part-time law school on his/her dime. I've heard that some firms will only pick up the tab if LSATs reach a certain level. That's what I've heard, I don't know if this is true. So for someone who didn't do quite well on LSATs but still got into a part-time program and decides to pay his/her way, what's the prognosis for someone like this? Will that person be able to become an associate at his/her current firm? Can this person jump to another firm and become an associate there while he/she was a patent agent by title at the previous firm?

I'm wondering if anyone has been through this path or know of anyone who has done it this way.

[UVAgal4]

I think that gaining experience is what counts, which will be marketable to the firm in question or to other firms who want someone mostly done with law school.