A bit of context about patent law and me: There are big law firms that hire STEM graduates as "patent agents". They basicaly sit on their butts for 50 hr/week, reading huge swaths of documents to file patents on new inventions. It's a boring job that needs zero coding. The pay is around $100k. The law firms may sponsor you to go to law school part time and become an attorney after 4 years. Then your TC will be $200k. You will end up working 60hr/week and you will have no life while attending law school. Occupied +80hr/week. I am going to graduate this year with a non-CS PhD. I am no stellar individual, but I can imagine myself in a generic Data Science role in tech where I can easily max out at $100-150k TC with only 40 hr/week of work. I don't care to earn more. The tech route seems easier and more lucrative on the paper, but it's not a career that I can maintain into my 40s. Ageism is rampant in tech and I am not passionate enough in order to keep myself constantly updated and compete with the fresh college grads. I could see myself coasting at a chill, dinosaur insurance company or a government job down the line with low six figures if I choose to pursue the tech route. On the other hand, I can sustain my career in the patent law route until my death. The credentials of having a STEM Phd and a JD gives me huge barrier that no noob can easily surmount. Unlike tech, seniority and age are valued in law because it generates more clients for the firm. The big problem is the boring nature of the IP work and its long hours. My ultimate goal is to optimize the TC/Work ratio on a long-term perspective. I am not passionate about either of these two paths. I am content with making $100-150k. Given this information, please share your thoughts. Argue against or in favor of tech and IP law.
Too long, I didn't read,, but patent law is great, particularly if it touches on privacy. Get a law degree and complement this work experience and you'll be very desirable and will be making good money
@fb what's your work, is it SWE or law? do you have a JD?
A law degree isn't really that difficult. I'm a software engineer and I got one while working full-time. It just means using your holiday leave to sit exams, and cramming weekends to finish essays.
Donyou work in IP law now? Do yiu thibk tech is better than it? Cramming on the weekends and attending evening classes means no life.
I was married when I started, and my wife's had our first baby during this time. People really think it takes more effort than it does to get a law degree. But to answer your question: no, I never started working in law. I came close, but then took a job that precluded it.
No, that job does not have long for this world. Menial legal work has been going the way of the cashier for a dozen years. If you pick up the skill and industry knowledge quickly and you are a competent coder there is good potential to be part of the disruption, however.
It sounds like you think you’ll get pushed out of tech at a certain age. While I don’t disagree that ageism is real, the industry does also value experience and PhDs, even more so in a down market, so I don’t think you have to worry about being shut out of the industry as you get older. Furthermore, there is a notorious and long-lasting oversupply of lawyers overall. I’ve never heard anyone say “there is just too much tech talent available.”
Have you factored in law school debt? It could easily reach over $200k. On the other hand, the lockstep salary at biglaw firms is pretty cushy if you can grind it out. For example, the TC/work ratio for a 7th year associate is currently $415k (not including all the special bonuses) for probably a somewhat steady 55-65 hours a week.
Doesn't sound like OP will want to last in big law and not many patent programs in good big law to boot.
Lots of IP firms have programs where they pay for you to go to school part time if you work for them full time. I would look into that
But why get a law degree at all? If you’ve a tech background why not just join the Patent Bar, get the same functionality without the need (and ethical responsibility) of being a lawyer. Check that alternative out and see if that meets your needs.
The salary of a patent agent caps at 100k. Getting a JD raaises it
TL;DR response: If you don’t want to practice law, I wouldn’t recommend going to law school—To me, it probably isn’t worth the time or resources expenses that you could be using otherwise.
Patent attorney here, don't do. Most of my colleagues regret the choice.
Ciuld you elaborate why? Long Working hours? Boring work?
Lots of IP firms have programs where they pay for you to go to school part time if you work for them full time. I would look into that
Look for city gov they pay very well compared to feds.
I'd stay in tech. I'm not convinced patent law is a good fit for the long haul as it's ripe for some change. If you want to make that as a lawyer and focus on WLB, aim for a job in the federal govt.
I work in a role that handles a lot of IP for AWS and I can tell you now that most companies are moving toward open source licensing so IP bottles are going to be less of a thing in the future