re: thoughts on a PE attending Law School..

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But entirely relevant if you want to practice patent law. You are required to have a BS and an engineering degree is a big plus.

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you're absolutely correct.

i was responding to someone who was speaking in generalities saying that having an english or engineering degree would be best.

i currently practice, but not in an area of law where a PE would contribute.

like i said earlier, i'm giving strong consideration do doing the opposite of what you're doing; leaving the practice of law to go get an engineering degree.

yeah, petroleum. i'm actually in new orleans now.

the whole idea is really in its infancy, so i'm open to all sorts of ideas. i'll admit though, that i'm probably being a bit of a prestige whore by wanting an engineering degree over a geology degree.

i'm at a small firm that focuses on consumer work (bankruptcy, collection defense, etc.), but we will take pretty much anything that comes though the door as long as its not family law or criminal defense.

agree with everything you said, even more so if OP wants to do IP work.

My undergraduate degree was in Mechanical Engineering and I graduated from law school in May '11.

A few things to consider are that its very difficult to get into Patent/IP in Louisiana. There's not a big market for it and the only firms that do it are the big firms (with the exception of a few boutique firms) where you have to be top of your class to get in. So you really have to be willing to move or dedicate yourself to being top 10-25% of the class and probably both. On top of that you have to take the Patent Bar which is very difficult. With that in mind I'd say its not a very good idea to run consulting work at the same time. If you did I would definitely schedule yourself at least a month before finals to dedicate to the exams. The first semester is the most important because the big firms start hiring clerks from those grades.

As far as other areas of law, your background will be helpful but not incredibly necessary unless you get in a very nuanced field. I work at a personal injury firm and the biggest benefit it provides is in the few products liability cases that we get. Other than that, everything is kind of a tangential advantage, like the critical thinking and analyzing skills that you've learned.

All in all I'd say that if its what you want to do, go for it and everything will fall into place. I had the same feelings about not wanting to be an engineer my entire life and I couldn't be happier with my career decision. I'm probably making less than I would be (for now) but its completely worth it.

Let me rephrase the way it was said.

I don't think places like LSU, Ole Miss, FSU and the other large state schools are TT or TTT. I am referring almost exclusively to small regional private schools that cost a mountain of cash and have very dim career prospects (sadly most law schools have dim prospects, but those especially).

Free is free. Some regional schools have great reputations.

Bottom line is that if you bust your arse (minus all the other variables), finish in the top 30%, and network, you'll more than likely find a job.

Now, if he's interesting in big law, then it's T1 or bust.

T-14 top 15% or bust*

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lapistola

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solid advice.