Biotechnology Patent Lawyers

High School

To prepare for this field, take college preparatory classes in high school that include both the sciences, such as biology and chemistry, and government or law. In addition, take mathematics and economics classes, which will give you practice working with numbers and theories. Take history or social studies courses, which will provide you with an understanding of the development of societies. Since much of your professional time will be spent researching documents, writing patent specifications, and presenting arguments, be sure to take English classes. These classes will help you develop your writing, speaking, and research skills. Finally, since many colleges have a foreign language requirement and biotechnology work takes place around the world, consider adding a language to your class schedule.

Postsecondary Education

Because this is a specialized field, you will need several years of postsecondary training that includes undergraduate- and graduate-level work. Like any lawyer, you will need to get a college degree before attending law school. A liberal arts background is the most common to have. In addition to such courses as English, government, and economics, you will also want to load up on science courses and should consider majoring in one of the sciences. In fact, biotechnology patent lawyers in the greatest demand typically have Ph.D.s in a science field, such as genetic engineering, as well as their law degree. After college, a Ph.D. in one of the sciences may take between four and five years to complete. Law school typically lasts three years for full-time students. As part of their entrance requirements, most law schools require potential students to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which measures critical thinking and reasoning abilities. In law school you will take such classes as legal writing and research, contracts, constitutional law, and property. You should also take courses in intellectual property law, which are necessary for any type of patent lawyer. You will graduate from law school with a juris doctor (J.D.) degree or a bachelor of laws (LL.B.) degree.

Other Education or Training

The American Intellectual Property Law Association offers continuing education opportunities. One recent webinar was titled “Overcoming Challenges for Obtaining Effective Antibody Patent Protection.” The National Association of Patent Practitioners offers webinars on topics such as "Patent Bots Prep & Pros." It also provides workshops and seminars at its annual meeting. The American Bar Association, Biotechnology Industry Organization, National Association for Law Placement, and state and local bar associations also offer a variety of continuing education opportunities. Contact these organizations for more information.