Lawyer

What is the outlook for patent attorney jobs for the next few years?

Do you feel that there is an unhealthy increase in the number of people practicing patent law? I am a senior mechanical engineer highly considering law school for the purpose of becoming a patent attorney. However, I do not want to spend three years and 100K+ if there is not a need for patent attorneys.

Public Comments

1. Outlook for patent attorneys:
   
   --really boring job
   
   --mind-numbing work
   
   --early alcoholism rate
2. I just read a story from MIT about how there is a 3 year back log on patents. The government is planning on hiring 400 new patent attorneys to help, and probalby more later. So I would say that patent attorney is a great career to be going into at the moment.
3. there is a need for patent attorneys
   
   
   
   I also thought about it, and am now almost finished law school
   
   
   
   Patent law is interesting, but the real demand for lawyers is in patent prosecution - getting patents approved by the PTO. AND IT IS THE MOST BORING THING TO DO IN THE WORLD. that is why there is such a need.
4. My father is a Patent Attorney and does very well. He even gets to work out of home. I say - It pays off.
5. Yes, they are needed. They salary is good (or great depending on where you live) and hopefully you already have a Bachelors (Masters preferred) degree in engineering, physics, or bio-med. One of those degrees are usually needed along with the law degree to to find a good job.
6. As a patent attorney myself, I do not see this unhealthy increase in the number of patent practitioners. On the other hand, I live in Memphis, not New York or DC or one of the main patent areas. There are very few patent attorneys here, and as a result of that, I have plenty of work. I also know of quite a few universities and companies in this area that are looking for patent practitioners and just can't find them. It all depends on where you want to be geographically in my opinion. If you are willing to live in a non-traditional patent area, you should have no problem finding a job as a patent attorney.