NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #20/NN_1992_20.iso/spool/comp/patents/1015

Text File | 1992-09-08 | 1.5 KB | 34 lines

Newsgroups: comp.patents
Path: sparky!uunet!munnari.oz.au!metro!basser.cs.su.oz.au!news
From: Carl Oppedahl <[e-mail]>
Subject: [INFO] degree in patent law?
Organization: Basser Dept of Computer Science, University of Sydney, Australia
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 04:34:00 GMT
Approved: [e-mail]
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail] (News)
Lines: 22

A writer asks how to go about getting a degree in patent law.
The problem is there is no such thing.  All you can get is a non-denominated
"law degree", at least in the US.  Worse, most law schools do not have
much in the way of courses in patent law.  Even those that do have only
a few courses, not enough to provide comprehensive background.

But you need not have a law degree to take the patent bar exam.  Perhaps
that is what the writer was really asking about.  You can take a
course to prepare for it.  Courses are offered in Washington (by the Patent
Resources group) and in New York (from the nonprofit Practicing Law
Institute).  The PLI course starts September 14 in New York, and I am on
the faculty, composed of volunteers.

If the goal is to become an intellectual property lawyer one must have a law
degree, a strong technical background, pass the patent bar exam, pass the
state bar exam, and then get lots and lots of experience in the profession.
It helps a little, but less than one might think, to have taken coursework
in the area in law school.

Perhaps b1313 would find it helpful to stop by the Arizona law school for
more information.