Biglaw PLIP interviewer taking Qs Forum

[LifeSciencesAtty]

Not sure there'll be any demand, and I have spotty availability, but I thought I'd offer.

Best,
LSA

[Anonymous User]

I guess this is dumb but just to confirm, by PLIP do you mean patent law interview program? And if so, what are chances like for someone who has done a summer internship in BL in a city and wants to switch locale for post-3L hiring?

I'm currently top third at a T14 with a patent bar-eligible degree. I won't have done too much work with patents by this August but would like to work on patent litigation in Chicago. What kind of a chance would I have at PLIP? Does it hurt me that the only tie that I have to Chicago is my law school?

[LifeSciencesAtty]

Yes, I meant Loyola's Patent Law Interview Program. To give a ballpark answer to your question, I'll need at least a little more info. In no particular order:

1. Did your SA result in an offer?
2. Do you have ties to your new target locale?
3. Is your new target locale a major market?

I guess this is dumb but just to confirm, by PLIP do you mean patent law interview program? And if so, what are chances like for someone who has done a summer internship in BL in a city and wants to switch locale for post-3L hiring?

I'm currently top third at a T14 with a patent bar-eligible degree. I won't have done too much work with patents by this August but would like to work on patent litigation in Chicago. What kind of a chance would I have at PLIP? Does it hurt me that the only tie that I have to Chicago is my law school?

[Anonymous User]

Yes, I meant Loyola's Patent Law Interview Program. To give a ballpark answer to your question, I'll need at least a little more info. In no particular order:

1. Did your SA result in an offer?
2. Do you have ties to your new target locale?
3. Is your new target locale a major market?

I guess this is dumb but just to confirm, by PLIP do you mean patent law interview program? And if so, what are chances like for someone who has done a summer internship in BL in a city and wants to switch locale for post-3L hiring?

I'm currently top third at a T14 with a patent bar-eligible degree. I won't have done too much work with patents by this August but would like to work on patent litigation in Chicago. What kind of a chance would I have at PLIP? Does it hurt me that the only tie that I have to Chicago is my law school?

1. My SA will start this May but my firm almost always 100%s in offers so I guess unless I make a serious mistake I would have an offer. I'm not sure when I would know, though.

2. The only tie I have to my new target market (Chicago) is that I go to school there.

3. Since it's Chicago, I think yes.

[LifeSciencesAtty]

Whoops, missed that second paragraph in my rush to crank out a response and get back to work. It sounds like you're in good shape. Do what you can to land an offer, and be sure to do things that demonstrate an interest in sticking around Chicago. For example, get involved with IPLAC. (Please note that that means more than just signing up and calling in for a few teleconferences.)

Yes, I meant Loyola's Patent Law Interview Program. To give a ballpark answer to your question, I'll need at least a little more info. In no particular order:

1. Did your SA result in an offer?
2. Do you have ties to your new target locale?
3. Is your new target locale a major market?

I guess this is dumb but just to confirm, by PLIP do you mean patent law interview program? And if so, what are chances like for someone who has done a summer internship in BL in a city and wants to switch locale for post-3L hiring?

I'm currently top third at a T14 with a patent bar-eligible degree. I won't have done too much work with patents by this August but would like to work on patent litigation in Chicago. What kind of a chance would I have at PLIP? Does it hurt me that the only tie that I have to Chicago is my law school?

1. My SA will start this May but my firm almost always 100%s in offers so I guess unless I make a serious mistake I would have an offer. I'm not sure when I would know, though.

2. The only tie I have to my new target market (Chicago) is that I go to school there.

3. Since it's Chicago, I think yes.

[LifeSciencesAtty]

Also, what's your tech background?

[Anonymous User]

Also, what's your tech background?

Thank you for the advice, I'll be sure to get involved with IPLAC. I have a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, but that's it. Should I be concerned?

[LifeSciencesAtty]

Happy to help. If you already have a foot in the biglaw door with that B.S., I think you're fine. And for the record, I have a Ph.D.

Also, what's your tech background?

Thank you for the advice, I'll be sure to get involved with IPLAC. I have a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, but that's it. Should I be concerned?

[Anonymous User]

Happy to help. If you already have a foot in the biglaw door with that B.S., I think you're fine. And for the record, I have a Ph.D.

Also, what's your tech background?

Thank you for the advice, I'll be sure to get involved with IPLAC. I have a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, but that's it. Should I be concerned?

That's what I figured from your name, since I'm often told most attorneys need a Masters or PhD in Bio-related degrees. Apparently a B.S. alone doesn't cut it anymore.

[LifeSciencesAtty]

Seriously, don't sweat it—even IP boutiques seem to be having a hard time landing PhDs these days. You have a foot in the door and that's enough for now. I'll just recommend that you not aim for a career in prosecution, though you should still knock out the patent bar ASAP since it'll enhance your ability to land PTAB work.

Happy to help. If you already have a foot in the biglaw door with that B.S., I think you're fine. And for the record, I have a Ph.D.

Also, what's your tech background?

Thank you for the advice, I'll be sure to get involved with IPLAC. I have a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, but that's it. Should I be concerned?

That's what I figured from your name, since I'm often told most attorneys need a Masters or PhD in Bio-related degrees. Apparently a B.S. alone doesn't cut it anymore.

[Anonymous User]

For patent litigators, how well do you have to have retained your science background? I'm going to be summering at a patent litigation firm and only have a bachelor's in a life science field. It was a while ago, and I can't recall much at all.

[LifeSciencesAtty]

That seems to be the case for many of the BS candidates, which is one reason why PhDs have a leg up. Since you have a foot in the door, you're fine. Even at boutiques, most life sciences litigators without PhDs seem have at best a general understanding of basic science. If a patent litigation firm hired you as a BS candidate, they're not looking for you to handle heavy lifting on the technical side of things.

For patent litigators, how well do you have to have retained your science background? I'm going to be summering at a patent litigation firm and only have a bachelor's in a life science field. It was a while ago, and I can't recall much at all.

[Anonymous User]

That seems to be the case for many of the BS candidates, which is one reason why PhDs have a leg up. Since you have a foot in the door, you're fine. Even at boutiques, most life sciences litigators without PhDs seem have at best a general understanding of basic science. If a patent litigation firm hired you as a BS candidate, they're not looking for you to handle heavy lifting on the technical side of things.

For patent litigators, how well do you have to have retained your science background? I'm going to be summering at a patent litigation firm and only have a bachelor's in a life science field. It was a while ago, and I can't recall much at all.

Would it be worth my while to audit ochem again at my current university during 3L, or even audit some engineering classes (the firm does pharma and hard-IP, so no real software work)? I don't foresee a need to brush up on physiology, for example, but obviously I have no experience.

[LifeSciencesAtty]

I think it's extremely unlikely that the merits of auditing ochem during 3L would outweigh its opportunity cost. Better to focus on the patent bar, making a name for yourself in bar associations, bolstering law school friendships, etc. I wouldn't waste much time studying, except maybe for IP elective courses. But YMMV.

Would it be worth my while to audit ochem again at my current university during 3L, or even audit some engineering classes (the firm does pharma and hard-IP, so no real software work)? I don't foresee a need to brush up on physiology, for example, but obviously I have no experience.

[LifeSciencesAtty]

Also, if I were interviewing you and you mentioned that you've been auditing ochem, I wouldn't be impressed. I'd probably view it as a sign that you're motivated (which is good) but lacking good business sense and mentorship (which is bad). To the extent that work demands understanding of ochem, most firms will have a shallow bench of chem PhDs or technical specialists to handle it.

[elendinel]

Happy to help. If you already have a foot in the biglaw door with that B.S., I think you're fine. And for the record, I have a Ph.D.

Also, what's your tech background?

Thank you for the advice, I'll be sure to get involved with IPLAC. I have a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, but that's it. Should I be concerned?

That's what I figured from your name, since I'm often told most attorneys need a Masters or PhD in Bio-related degrees. Apparently a B.S. alone doesn't cut it anymore.

This is true for prosecution, but less true for lit/transactions. In the latter the lawyering skills generally are more important than the scientific knowledge. If deep technical knowledge is required for a pitch or trial, people'll generally want rely on the patent agents/tech advisors, or an expert, anyway, because they will cost less than you.

[Anonymous User]

I have a BS in biochemistry and (somehow) was fortunate enough to swing a summer associate position at a boutique for the summer where I'll be doing patent pros on a lot of EE based technology. I'm excited about this because it will enable me to expand my knowledge into other technology areas, and because I went to a small undergrad that didn't offer an engineering program (if they had, I would have done that). How will this be viewed at PLIP, and is there any way I can tailor my resume to show that I'm purposefully expanding my skill set?

[LifeSciencesAtty]

Bump. Additional questions welcome.

[Anonymous User]

Bump. Additional questions welcome.

Is there a sense that patent litigation work is dying down? A common thread among patent professors is a very cynical view of the whole system and an overarching urge to gut the whole system. I'm not sure if this is just a crack academic perspective or if it trickles up the system.

If you review the AIPLA survey for 2017 it seems pretty doom-and-gloom:

The median overall cost for a patent infringement case with $1 million to $10 million at stake declined 47 percent from 2015 to $1.7 million in 2017, according to the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s “2017 Report of the Economic Survey” obtained by Bloomberg BNA.

https://www.bna.com/cost-patent-infring ... 014463011/

Do you have any concerns of an oversupply of patent litigators to lower demand for patent litigation services? Should students considering a patent career be wary of this stuff?

Anon because I might reply later with more personal info.

[LifeSciencesAtty]

Respectfully, this is not something I'm at all concerned about or interested in discussing here. If you want to pick my brain on this topic, please shoot me a PM and maybe we'll set up a call. I recommend focusing on other topics during your interviews.

Bump. Additional questions welcome.

Is there a sense that patent litigation work is dying down? A common thread among patent professors is a very cynical view of the whole system and an overarching urge to gut the whole system. I'm not sure if this is just a crack academic perspective or if it trickles up the system.

If you review the AIPLA survey for 2017 it seems pretty doom-and-gloom:

The median overall cost for a patent infringement case with $1 million to $10 million at stake declined 47 percent from 2015 to $1.7 million in 2017, according to the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s “2017 Report of the Economic Survey” obtained by Bloomberg BNA.

https://www.bna.com/cost-patent-infring ... 014463011/

Do you have any concerns of an oversupply of patent litigators to lower demand for patent litigation services? Should students considering a patent career be wary of this stuff?

Anon because I might reply later with more personal info.

[Anonymous User]

Respectfully, this is not something I'm at all concerned about or interested in discussing here. If you want to pick my brain on this topic, please shoot me a PM and maybe we'll set up a call. I recommend focusing on other topics during your interviews.

Understandable, sorry for the topic shift. It was less of a "is this a good topic to discuss in interviews" and more of a "does this have implications for bidding strategy and the type of firms students should consider." The past few years has had a couple big and old boutiques getting swallowed by even bigger firms. Admittedly unclear and probably not what you were looking for with this thread.

I'll consider PMing, thank you for the offer.

[LifeSciencesAtty]

Gotcha. I don’t think this concern should meaningfully affect your bidding strategy at PLIP. Maybe for OCIs. Don’t be shy about reaching out via PM if you want to discuss.

Respectfully, this is not something I'm at all concerned about or interested in discussing here. If you want to pick my brain on this topic, please shoot me a PM and maybe we'll set up a call. I recommend focusing on other topics during your interviews.

Understandable, sorry for the topic shift. It was less of a "is this a good topic to discuss in interviews" and more of a "does this have implications for bidding strategy and the type of firms students should consider." The past few years has had a couple big and old boutiques getting swallowed by even bigger firms. Admittedly unclear and probably not what you were looking for with this thread.

I'll consider PMing, thank you for the offer.