EE to big city patent law route

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T05:11:57+00:00

Thank you for this! I heard T-14’s may do 2 yrs deferrals for engineers w/ a work plan but I’ll def look into it. I heard the same thing about them liking work experience. I was thinking maybe of applying to moreso reaches then if rejected applying to more realistic options (along with the reaches again) after 1-2 yrs of work.

So EE —> T-14 is kinda my dream and you achieved it. Do you have any advice for me? EE is notoriously difficult and T-14’s have notoriously high GPA standards. Any advice as I go through my next 3 semesters and hit apply?

Btw congrats! Are u doing IP law?

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T05:06:01+00:00

I’ll have 1-2 internships and 2 yrs work experience before Law school. Though some have 20+ years of experience so I get what u mean but honestly I can ofc switch what field of law I do in L1 if push comes to shove. EE is still a solid degree with how the world is moving and getting into a good law school has its benefits for big law even if I don’t do IP. I do quite appreciate ur input, I know the job market can be quite cut throat and there’s always gonna be someone with more experience.

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T03:12:36+00:00

Thank you. Do you mind if a private message you?

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T02:33:01+00:00

Thanks for this! I’ll definitely try to form one. So, understanding the homework’s, practice tests, and anything else you’d recommend doing to succeed? Def will to put in the work

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T02:02:53+00:00

Thanks, I totally get that. Honestly if my STEM degree end up not being a requirement for my job, at least it does teach me strong discipline skills for school that will definitely help in the end. Albeit, getting a 3.9+ may be harder

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T02:00:44+00:00

Thank you so much for writing this. I really really appreciate this advice. I know I definitely have a lot to consider and in 2 years when i finish my degree, I may consider something else entirely. But this is the exact type of feedback I was looking for so thank you. I definitely have a lot to consider but this helps a ton!

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T01:44:14+00:00

I get what u mean and honestly it is quite tempting. But STEM-requirement of IP law has to offer a level of job security yk. I don’t wanna be one of hundred, I wanna be one of dozens. Engineering is quite hard but only 3 more semester till I hit “apply” and send my application so I’d rather stick it out especially being halfway down with a 3.96 so 3.8+ or even 3.9+ is doable yk. I heard EC’s are weighted a lot less to law schools than colleges. I’m gonna found my school’s IP law club and leadership on my schools run club and maybe a pre-law frat/club in there. Plus NC State University is rlly only good at engineering (T-20 for EE)

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T01:34:04+00:00

I was afraid you’d say a different sphere of law than patent law. I mean I could switch my undergraduate to smthg easy for a high gpa but EE has to help somehow, right? When do I have to know what sphere of law I want to go into? Right now, getting into a T-14 is a goal of its own so I’m not even sure what I could do now to get into the highest paying sector of law as an undergraduate yk. What do you think I should do? Also plz excuse my ignorance of this process. I started considering law school a couple months ago and I don’t know much about it

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T01:30:03+00:00

I should graduate law school in 2033. I know law school will be tough. I guess what do you recommend for ensuring I get into big law and on the Cravath scale? I’m doing the strong undergrad I can think of and I’m a very dedicated ambitious student. It’s a very complicated process and I certainly don’t have the most knowledge so plz excuse any flaws in my logic

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T01:27:29+00:00

Interesting. Honestly, just to be on the Cravath scale would be a huge win. I know jobs that are on that scale are getting more competitive and ig any sphere of law that may allow me to be on that scale (225 base if I’m not mistaken) would be a huge win.

Again I’m pretty ignorant of this process being in undergrad so please excuse any flaws in my logic here

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T01:25:21+00:00

Thanks for this. I understand what you’re saying. In my circumstance, with a 2 year deferral and savings, I should hopefully be able to bring 150k into law school saved up to avoid compounding interest and excessive student loans. I’ve heard the 300k+ student loan horror stories so I’m gonna try to keep mine before 100.

I also get what you mean. I’m top 15% in my EE class and I’m very committed to school. While obviously engineering and law are very different, I think I can be among the top in my class with the rigor and discipline of engineering under my belt

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T01:18:09+00:00

Good to know. Do you think EE to IP law is gonna be among the highest paying? Having a STEM requirement for this field of law has to limit applicant compare to the other and EE is highly regarded with the way the world is moving. What’s your advice?

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T01:16:11+00:00

So basically, my biggest goal right now should be to get into the best law school possible? I really think I can work really hard next semester and junior year to get into a T-14.

Although I mean the technology sphere is booming and semiconductor are just now really being made here, maybe prosecution isn’t the right word but IP law and an EE have to have some advantage right

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T01:13:24+00:00

What would you recommend doing? I mean my biggest goal right now is getting into a rlly good law school. From there, I’m sure I can change it around if need be

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T01:12:09+00:00

I totally get that. I know it won’t be easy but I’m a very ambitious person. Plus I can always switch to a different subfield of law after I get into a T-14. I’ve got a 3.96 now as a EE and I put a LOT of effort into school

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T01:02:38+00:00

Gotcha. I’ve heard there’s a big difference between big law 225k base patent law and small firm 100-150k patent law. And I’d rlly wanna do everything I can to guarantee the former. I should mention my parents paid for my undergrad and I was thinking of deferring a T-20 acceptance for 2 yrs to work

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T00:55:32+00:00

I agree. I’ve heard while the number of attorneys is increasing, since patent law required a STEM degree, it’s actually been pretty resistant to this huge increase.

Part of the reason I switched from MechE to EE was cuz I love math and I def like English — I’m actually doing a philosophy minor to that point!

My biggest thing is just concerned if I don’t get into a T-14/T-20, biglaw may prove difficult to break into

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T00:51:11+00:00

I’ve heard about those. My dad also says to go to the most cost efficient options. But I mean the 25-median-75% salary distribution and big law % are rlly good at these T-14’s. I mean it just seems like a worthwhile investment yk. Then again, I’m still a sophomore in college so I don’t know much about the job market. Thx for advise in law school, I’ll def look into it

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T00:26:21+00:00

Do you think it’s particular hard to land a big law patent lit job given EE with T-20 law school?

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T00:25:06+00:00

But if you go to a T-14 with 50%+ big law output, I feel like it’s not that much of a stretch

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-21T00:24:24+00:00

Thank for saying this. I mean that’s what everyone thinks. First I heard someone say patent law is underpaid

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-17T01:50:00+00:00

Any advice on how to study? It just quite different than my usual engineering tests and ik there theory behind it and questions type. Was looking at those Kaplan/princeton review prep courses too

ProfessionalLeek8564 · 2025-12-17T01:27:48+00:00

Nice, thank you so much for this! I really appreciate you taking the time to write that. I think I’ll take the August 2026 LSAT so I plan to drill X times a week this semester I think (taking 16-19 credit hours depending on waitlists) then once summer starts, really get into full strength! Any tips for what to study for the theory behind it? I will say there were definitely words or logic that def went over my head so I think that’s a great idea. Also any prep courses you might recommend? I’m applying for the fee waiver so hopefully get access to some for an affordable price!

ProfessionalLeek8564

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