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What are the options with a law degree

  • 21-09-2009 11:33am
    #1
    Strongbow10
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,758 ✭✭✭


    I have a law degree but don't wish to become a barrister or solicitor.

    What are the options available in my case? Thinking outside of the box what areas are there where the law may play a small role and where a law degree may be put to use?

    Also does anyone know anything about the Patent lawyer exams? Are they difficult? Where would a patent lawyer find work usually?

    Cheers guys


Comments

  • #2
    maidhc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,675 ✭✭✭maidhc


    Strongbow10 wrote: »
    Also does anyone know anything about the Patent lawyer exams? Are they difficult? Where would a patent lawyer find work usually?

    Trademark you mean?

    A Patent agent would normally need a technical and engineering background rather than a legal one.

    To be an "IP" lawyer you just need to do the FE1s and somehow get a contract with one of the larger firms.


  • #3
    Strongbow10
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,758 ✭✭✭Strongbow10


    maidhc wrote: »
    Trademark you mean?

    A Patent agent would normally need a technical and engineering background rather than a legal one.

    To be an "IP" lawyer you just need to do the FE1s and somehow get a contract with one of the larger firms.


    Where does the engineering background come into a patent agents work?

    Surely its more legal based no?


  • #4
    maidhc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,675 ✭✭✭maidhc


    Strongbow10 wrote: »
    Where does the engineering background come into a patent agents work?

    Surely its more legal based no?

    http://www.patentsoffice.ie/en/patents_agents_reg_guidelines.aspx


  • #5
    bear17
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35 ✭bear17


    If you want to work in IP law, I understand that it's possible to work for a specialist IP firm as an IP lawyer without qualifying professionally as a solicitor, although there are different IP-focused exams. My own perspective is that while IP seems like an area of law I'd be interested in specialising in, I'd prefer to qualify professionally first. It's dangerous to limit your potential work in this economy unfortunately!
    Maidhc is right though about needing a science/engineering background to work as a patent lawyer. I remember attending a talk last year given by a patent lawyer at one of these specialist IP firms, and she indicated that law graduates instead usually were employed in the trade marks department, as opposed to patents.


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