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[JD]

"The BPAI job, in my opinion, is probably much better than an examining job. It would be interesting to see what the job entails."

As I mentioned in a previous post, a friend of mine got one of these "patent attorney at the BPAI" jobs and was eventually made an APJ.  My friend was never an examiner, but had 10+ years of private practice experience in prosecution and interference work.

My friend explained that the job was much like a clerkship to a judge.  The attorney essentially briefs the case for the APJ that is the head of the panel on any particular appeal, maybe even going so far as to prepare a draft decision.

If that is what the PTO is looking for in the position, it is unlikely that former litigation experience in a non-patent field will be helpful. 

But you never know, so I would encourage you to apply. 

[eslifer]

I actually have an email into the contact with the same question, so it will be interesting to see the response.  If I don't get one closer to the closing date, I'll apply anyway.  And the litigation experience, while not in patent law, does call for a lot of legal writing, applying facts and arguing law as it applies to those facts.  Sounds like the position calls for a little less advocacy and more common sense and reason, which is what I actually used to win my litigation cases anyway.

[chroniclychrissy]

Wow, I'm surprised there is so much negativity about this method of getting experience.  My law school professor recommended that we go to the USPTO for experience because she said that her friends did that and all got offers from big firms within a year or so.

[JD]

"Wow, I'm surprised there is so much negativity about this method of getting experience.  My law school professor recommended that we go to the USPTO for experience because she said that her friends did that and all got offers from big firms within a year or so."

Not to be negative, but if you have a law degree, and get an offer to work at a firm, skip the PTO.  It's unnecessary.  And as soon as you begin private practice the better.

If you don't have any offers from firms, by all means work at the PTO as it will improve your chances of getting an offer from a firm after you've been at the PTO for a while.

[horsechute]

"My law school professor recommended that we go to the USPTO for experience..."

I don't suppose your law school professor had ever thought of going to work there for a year or two at some point in her career herself...

[eslifer]

Unfortunately, I'm now viewing the PTO as my last chance of getting into patent law.  I'm realizing the a mechanical engineering background (a long, long time ago) isn't in high demand, and my passing the patent bar doesn't seem to help much either.  So apparently, it will be get in at the patent office or back to civil litigation.

[chroniclychrissy]

"My law school professor recommended that we go to the USPTO for experience..."

I don't suppose your law school professor thought of going to work there for a year or two herself...

Not this one, but one of the adjuncts did...

[horsechute]

Not this one, but one of the adjuncts did...

I think I would rather be the tenured (or tenure track) Professor.

[patentdude]

eslifer, have you applied online to the USPTO? Have you gotten an interview at least with them? I highly suggest if not, then you do. Otherwise, try to find someone you know at the PTO to get your resume through.

[eslifer]

I'm sending in an app to a patent attorney job with BPAI.  Tried getting some info from the job contact, but apparently the response time isn't quick in that scenario either. lol.  Not sure if those positions require patent experience or not, because if they do I won't have a chance.  If it's just helpful, but not an actual requirement, then maybe I do have a shot.

[Isaac]

If it's just helpful, but not an actual requirement, then maybe I do have a shot.

You can peak at some of the BPAI's work by looking at their opinions posted on the patent office web page.

[eslifer]

I've done that, and don't see anything that I would consider out of my league.  Of course, if the people making the decisions think it is out of my league, then my opinion is irrelevant.