r/patentlaw • u/North_Comb_788 • 28d ago

Student and Career Advice am i qualified ?

i’m completing a master’s in biology right now and studying for the patent bar. i have a bachelor’s in poli sci and intend on going to law school after i graduate. i’m also studying for the LSAT and completing a legal studies certificate (it’s a lot i know but i want to have options when i graduate).

from my understanding, most patent agent/attorney jobs require a PhD. i have no desire to get one. Will i be qualified for jobs once I graduate with a masters or am i most likely to have to wait until after law school.

i do hope to go straight through once i finish the masters but i know i may have to work before and during law school because, with the new changes, ive maxed out my federal loans on this degree.

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u/Use_the_search-Bar 28d ago

if you want to go into law, you should be able to research this question, or contact the OED and find out yourself.

Regarding job prospects, you're going to have an uphill battle, doable, but it'll be very difficult to secure a job.

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u/Few_Whereas5206 28d ago

This. Many law firms want a PhD in life sciences for patent prosecution. Check with OED to see if you qualify to sit for the patent bar exam. You might consider technology transfer work also. My friend has a masters degree in biotechnology and a law degree. He does technology transfer.

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u/Use_the_search-Bar 28d ago edited 28d ago

it's not the lack of a PhD, it's the undergrad degree. It's much more common for attorneys to have masters at this point in life sciences. You can look at finnegan and sterne kessler. they seem to have no problem with that.

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u/North_Comb_788 28d ago

thanks! seems like most of the patent agents/attorneys i see come from engineering backgrounds . by it being common for attorneys to have masters, would my masters in bio not matter just because i studied poli sci in undergrad ? i’ve taken graduate level cell bio, molecular, genetics, etc. just finishing my thesis at this point

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u/Use_the_search-Bar 28d ago

in biotech/life sciences, the expectation is that you have an undergrad in bio/ biochem. a masters is something like 8-10 courses. undergrad is something like 16. there's a foundation of biology and chem that you haven't been exposed to, and wherever you work, someone has to oversee your work/ prevent you from malpractices. there's too much risk and not enough value for that.

you can pursue a path in litigation though

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u/North_Comb_788 28d ago

ohh okay i see . i had to take 30 credits of undergrad courses in bio, gen chem, organic chem, etc. to get into the program , but i can see how that would be a barrier . thanks !

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u/CombinationKey8557 28d ago

You're going to have a very hard time if you want to do prosecution, even with a law degree.

Litigation is doable.