Qualifications for becoming a patent lawyer?

Question

Qualifications for becoming a patent lawyer?
I am a freshman at UC Berkeley and I am on the pre-med track. I am currently majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology with an emphasis in Biochemistry. However, I have always considered becoming a patent lawyer. What are the qualifications? I know that one of them is to have a backround/undergraduate degree in science or engineering. Would a Molecular and Cell Biology major (with emphasis in Biochemistry) qualify for this? And what steps do I need to take? How many years of grad school and/or graduate school does it require? Thanks!!!

Answer 1

You need a Bachelor's degree in a science-based field. You must also pass the Patent Bar Exam. YOu do NOT need to go to law school. However, the lack of legal education is why the 1st time pass rate is about 35%.

Answer 2

Nothing in your undergraduate studies will prepare you any better or worse for law school. However, the key to the successful study of law, and to passing the bar, is keen reading comprehension and excellent language and writing skills. Law school will get you through the required basic dozen or so subjects for the bar exam, but will provide precious little opportunity to study electives that are geared toward your particular field of interest. Your interest in the area of sciences I presume is what makes you want to enter the legal end of that field, where the researchers and their employers seek patents for their various discoveries and processes. Patent law is a very complicated field that you will learn only when you actually are employed with a firm that specializes in such matters, and only if that firm has that type of clientele are you ever likely to handle something like that. As for schooling, law school is typically a 3 year full time program right after you get your Bachelor's degree. Good luck, but make your choices with your eyes wide open. Find a major law firm with a patent law division and speak to the most senior person you can in it AND the most junior associate...that can give you a better idea of what life in the real world is like in the field of law...you may be very surprised.

Answer 3

Get a degree in whatever you want (preferably science-related), then take the LSAT and apply to any law school with a patent law program. This takes 3 years of law school.