Intellectual Property Law

Decide to become lawyer?

I'm a 20 yo guy in college, majoring in political science. I like it. I also am interested in intellectual property (copyrights, trademarks, patents) although I dont have a math/science background/interest/aptitude so I dont think patents would be good for me. I'm interested in other things like privacy law too. Basically I'm interested in the areas were technology (like the internet) and the law intersect. A lot of people have told me I should go to law school, and I'm seriously considering it, but at the same time a lot of people tell me its a stressful/demanding and unhappy profession. How can I decide if the legal world is right for me before I go into huge debt to try to go to law school? 2nd, How does one specialize in one area of the law over another?

Public Comments

1. Well, you can't really decide if it's right for you without talking to other people and giving it a try. You specialize in one area (or perhaps more than one area to increase your options in the future) by the choices of classes you take. There are basic courses that everyone takes, then you choose between certain other law courses (copyright, family, etc..) The thing about having a law degree is that you can do so many different jobs related to law. You don't have to practice as a litigator. My daughter graduated from law school 2 years ago and is now working as an attorney for the Department of Defense. She does a variety of jobs in her position, including dispute resolution and special projects for the government. You should investigate different law schools and find out their strengths. See if anything peaks your interest. Make appointments to speak with the deans, and ask your present counselor what he/she can offer. Keep your grades up because you need a great GPA to get in. You should also live a clean life to maximize your options (if you go into government and want Top Secret clearance, your background will be checked and you will be drug tested often). Good luck in sorting out your options and deciding your future.
2. I think the previous poster answered your question about specialization, so I'll just add that you also specialize by where you work after you graduate. You learn the basics in law school, but experience is going to be your best teacher. Ask yourself who is telling you that it's a stressful/demanding and unhappy profession? Are attorneys telling you that, or are you hearing it from people who perhaps have a stereo-typed image of the profession? My son is an attorney, and he loves it. Most people don't stay in a career if they are unhappy, and yet there are very few people who abandon a law career. They may switch jobs, but not careers. If you're really concerned about whether you'll like it or not, you can always get a job in a law office as a secretary (and yes, guys can be secretaries) or invest the money to get your paralegal certification and try that first. You can get your paralegal certification in less than a year and for less than $1000. It might be worth checking in to. Intellectual property rights is a growing area of the law. There will definitely be an increasing need for attorneys in this field. Good luck with whatever you decide.
3. If you are close to a major city, it is likely that there will be an intellectual property agent close to you. You might try getting a job in their administrative department which would probably include trademark searching & watching, filing and many other tasks that are part of the business. These are more analytical tasks, but they will get you in touch with the trademark world. With some luck, you could reach a status of paralegal. You wouldn't command the highest salaries that attorneys make, but you would still have some status and acceptable pay. Of course, you could always decide to continue your education anywhere along this course and, if you are any good, you might even get the firm you are a part of to support it. Good luck !