Much of the job of an IP lawyer is to provide legal advice on a range of issues, from commercial viability and commercialization to transfer of ownership and counterfeiting. In everyday life, there is a wide range of activities that can take place, from sending an email to a party who violates a client`s work to searching patent registries in the name of a new innovation. Of course, successful law school is a prerequisite for becoming a lawyer, regardless of the area of expertise. But what about your undergraduate studies? To be a patent attorney working to obtain patents for inventors, students with a bachelor`s degree in science or engineering are well served. However, this is not necessary for other types of intellectual property law (including intellectual property disputes or entertainment, sports, copyright or trademark law). Common bachelor`s majors among non-patented intellectual property law students include history, political science, sports or business administration, English, art history, and economics. How do you acquire or develop these attributes? Practical and hands-on experiences such as part-time or summer jobs, internships and volunteering can provide invaluable opportunities to gain skills. If you are interested in becoming an intellectual property lawyer, look for experiences that expose you to this work. For example, articling at an intellectual property law firm, an NCAA compliance group in your college`s sports department, or an organization that is actively looking for patents or trademarks. If such a direct link to intellectual property law is not available, any role involving writing, research or critical thinking could be useful. An intellectual property (IP) paralegal assists lawyers in patent, trademark, copyright and intellectual property litigation. An IP paralegal can help you in a variety of cases in this area. Whether it`s a scientist who wants to patent their latest invention or assisting in a case where a company is being sued for copyright infringement, this role involves working with different clients who are on different sides of the case for intellectual property.
Just as the types of intellectual property vary, the employers of intellectual property lawyers are equally diverse. These can be law firms, government agencies and corporations, among others, and intellectual property lawyers can be employed in a variety of roles (full-time, mandates, etc.). “One of the great benefits of intellectual property law is its diversity,” said Peter Karol, professor of law and director of the certificate in intellectual property law at the New England Law | Boston. “When I was a full-time IP lawyer, I could spend a morning helping a winery protect its brand in Europe, and then spend the afternoon helping an artist respond to a cease and desist letter from a trademark owner trying to censor that artist`s work.” A lawyer working in the field of intellectual property may also encounter cases of reproduction or infringement or agree on the rights to use an upcoming product or service. Lawyers often need to specialize in one or two specific areas to manage them effectively; Areas such as copyright or trademark law may overlap, while patent law often requires greater specialization. Finally, these experiential learning opportunities are supported by your law courses. For the aspiring IP lawyer, it`s a good idea to take as many IP courses as possible. Several law schools (including New England Law) even allow you to get a certificate in intellectual property law. These typically include courses on topics such as copyright, patent law, trademark law, entertainment law, sports law, and intellectual property litigation. You will need a law degree and must pass the bar in your state. In addition, most IP attorneys have scientific, engineering or technology-related degrees. This specialized scientific or technical training and practical industry experience can help IP lawyers provide their expertise in a variety of industries, including biotechnology, pharmaceutical law, computer engineering, nanotechnology, the Internet, and e-commerce.
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