Law Firm Intern
Description:
The law firm I worked for had me do numerous things throughout the office. Some days I worked as a receptionist. Other times I filed papers, delivered documents to the state offices by the capital, and organized credentials for depositions.
How I got the idea / found the employment:
I received this job by talking to my father about different business partners of his who might be willing to hire some one for the summer. After he gave me a few ideas, I contacted the different companies and chose the one I was most interested in.
Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:
Sometimes I was not familiar with some of the legal terms used and I didn’t know what to do in some of my assignments. I often asked one of the legal assistants for help when I was confused on what I was supposed to do. She was always very helpful and willing to assist me. I couldn’t risk documenting items wrong or putting things in incorrect files. So, it was important to ask for help if I was ever confused.
What I learned:
I learned what it would be like to work in a law office environment. From this experience, I learned more about some legal processes that may be useful to me in the future. I also learned how to use some computer programs I had never used before.
Patent Clerk
Description:
I am currently employed by an intellectual property law firm as a patent clerk. I draft US utility patent applications for firm clients. Most of the work I do is for HP. What I typically do is take a disclosure, schedule a teleconference with the inventors to discuss the application, and do some basic research of the principles involved. I then draft the application including accompanying drawings and send my finished draft to my boss who is an attorney. He reviews it and makes changes as necessary. The application is then approved by the inventor and filed with the USPTO.
I am graduating this April with a degree in Electrical Engineering and I am currently waiting to hear back from law schools to which I have applied to. This job is simply the best training I could get for my future career. In addition, I am compensated well for my position.
My background in electrical engineering is invaluable as I need to understand the invention in great technical detail as it is disclosed by the inventor.
How I got the idea / found the employment:
Last semester, I took a class entitled fundamentals of intellectual property law. It was a simple one credit lecture course taught by an adjunct faculty member who is the managing partner of an intellectual property law firm. He announced in class that from time to time, his firm hires students with a background in electrical engineering and a plan to go to law school. I emailed him my resume and told him I was interested in a position. I was then asked to undertake a trial project to determine my aptitude for patent drafting. I signed a non-disclosure agreement and drafted an application based on a disclosure they provided me. They were impressed with my work and hired me based on my technical writing capability.
Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:
The main challenge I faced was writing the draft for the trial project. I had never drafted a patent. I read several patents taking note of the style, format, and writing techniques. I then did my best with what I knew to draft the application.
What I learned:
I learned that it is extremely important to develop skills necessary for employment. No matter what your field is, it is important to be able to effectively communicate. Both written and verbal communication skills are very valuable assets.