Career Options
Many career options exist for scientists in the law.
Science to Law offers a growing repository of valuable information on these opportunities, including interviews with scientists who have successfully navigated each career path.
We have some great content in the works — follow @sciencetolaw to stay tuned as we add interviews and more!
In the following list, each career opportunity is followed by a list of potential employers. Have a suggestion? Tell us!
Attorney (J.D.) Opportunities:
- Patent Prosecution (F, I, G, U)
- Patent Litigation (F, I, G)
- Technology Transactions / Licensing (F, I, G, N, U)
- Academics (U)
- Judiciary (G, P)
- General Law: Corporate Counsel or Other Specializations (F, I, G, N, U)
Patent Bar, Non-J.D. Opportunities:
- Student Associate (Evening Law School) (F)
- Patent Prosecution (F, I, U)
- Patent Examiner (P)
Other Opportunities:
- Scientific Advisor (F, G, N)
- Consultant (I)
- Science Policy (G, N, U)
- Research Scientist (I, G, N, U)
- Venture Capital (I)
F – Law Firm / Private Practice
I – Industry
N – NGO/Nonprofit
G – Government (excluding USPTO)
U – University
P – U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)