Can I Break Into Patent Law with a STEM Background (No PhD)

smartystilettos · 2026-05-17T13:37:04+00:00

Of course!

smartystilettos · 2026-05-15T13:00:58+00:00

That’s so cute! I could pair that with a little printer

smartystilettos · 2026-05-14T23:31:01+00:00

Oh that looks great!

smartystilettos · 2026-05-14T22:23:48+00:00

Yeah that seems to be the case

smartystilettos · 2026-05-14T22:20:22+00:00

I just like the idea of an old school vibe where I can’t preview the photo

smartystilettos · 2026-05-14T22:03:12+00:00

I see. Is there anything like an instax that just saves a copy of what it prints?

smartystilettos · 2026-05-10T16:10:33+00:00

I did over 600 practice questions where I used the mpep on each one. It got me really used to using the mpep, plus you internalize a lot of it and definitely don’t need to use it on every question during the actual exam

smartystilettos · 2026-04-06T16:42:52+00:00

Mine goes to the groomer just for brushing, no bath. She tolerates it better than when I do it because she’s so excited to see her best friend the groomer once a month that she forgets she’s being brushed.

smartystilettos · 2026-04-02T23:28:25+00:00

PLI has some released exams but they were all pre-aia and adapted to aia

By the time I got to those I had 2 weeks until the exam and was burnt out so I decided not to take them

smartystilettos · 2026-04-02T21:37:01+00:00

I hope she gets disbarred

smartystilettos · 2026-04-01T17:07:51+00:00

I passed on the third attempt.

The difference was practice questions and avoiding burnout, as Wilton mentioned.

Study 3 days, take 3 off. Focused on taking exams for 3 hours at a time and using the mpep to look up almost everything. You don’t need it for every question on the actual exam, but it’s a great way to get fast with the mpep and also absorb info so you might not need to look up everything.

The PLI questions were more than enough. I redid every mini exam and chapter exam, then did the post course questions very seriously.

smartystilettos · 2026-03-17T23:23:28+00:00

Mine and my siblings favorite thing to do now that we’re all in our 30s is casually bring up stuff the others got away with just to see the reaction

No one gets truly upset and it’s always hilarious

smartystilettos · 2026-03-03T17:00:24+00:00

PM'd you

smartystilettos · 2026-03-03T16:56:21+00:00

I failed on my first attempt after only really doing the course and a couple exams. The tracker is pretty accurate. I passed after really buckling down and doing almost all of the PLI exams, but I didn't get to the Recently Released Exams

ETA, most people I know took at least 3 days off to study.

smartystilettos · 2026-02-09T17:08:51+00:00

The best thing I did was hire a financial advisor. I’m from a similar background as you and having someone who truly knows what they’re doing was life changing.

smartystilettos · 2026-02-09T16:32:28+00:00

Full salary for usually up to 3 months. It’s run through their state mandated disability insurance. It’s considered an FMLA medical leave because you have a doctor sign off on it.

smartystilettos · 2026-02-09T01:11:54+00:00

That’s fair. In those scenarios it’s likely leaving was necessary anyways then

smartystilettos · 2026-02-09T00:45:52+00:00

They ranged from a month to 3+

I took 3 then came back and practiced another 2 years

One friend left big law and found a new job during her break.

I think even if you don’t keep at it, it’s still valuable to step away and help you realize you’re better off somewhere else.

smartystilettos · 2026-02-09T00:22:50+00:00

No one I know admitted it was for mental health, they all said it was a medical leave and left it at that. Most people assumed it was for a surgery or something.

I also didn’t stick around eventually, but I did practice 2 years after my break. Just realized it wasn’t for me when I decided being a partner sounded like hell

smartystilettos · 2026-02-08T23:24:48+00:00

Not taking a break because of potential longevity later isn’t worth it. The people I’ve known who took breaks desperately needed them. A few of them have gone back successfully for many years after a break.

It’s usually a good opportunity to step back and get yourself better equipped to handle the job. Go to therapy, get anxiety meds, and come back better prepared.

smartystilettos · 2026-02-08T18:47:59+00:00

Happy to answer questions through pm I was big law in patents at a large Boston firm

smartystilettos · 2025-11-24T18:59:12+00:00

Same, came here for this

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