Seminar: From Physicist to Patent Lawyer
From Physicist to Patent Lawyer
Matt Poulsen, Ph.D.
Suiter – Swantz pc llo
Patent law represents an intriguing career choice for many in the science and engineering disciplines. The number of patent applications filed in the U.S. has steadily risen for the past two decades. With the increased focus on intellectual property by developing economies, such as China and India, U.S. and foreign patent related activity will undoubtedly continue to grow. Couple this with changing U.S. patent law and the demand for skilled patent attorneys and agents will likely remain strong in the foreseeable future. Not surprisingly, patent attorneys must possess strong technical, reasoning and writing skills. Physicists are uniquely situated in this regard and will generally find a smooth transition to patent law. Opportunities exist in patent law for patent attorneys, patent agents, technical advisors and patent examiners working in a broad spectrum of technological areas and settings. These settings include large law firms, boutique law firms, large and small companies, university technology transfer offices and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Matt is currently a patent attorney at Suiter Swantz pc llo and counsels clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small startups on a variety of intellectual property matters. In this discussion, he will touch on a variety of patent related topics and provide a general overview of career opportunities in patent law. He will describe his experience in transitioning from a freshly minted Ph.D. physicist to a patent attorney (including life as a law student) and his personal experiences as a patent attorney, providing a snapshot of what one career path in patent law may look like.