Is anyone here a Patent Attorney?

[Tab]

I'm considering a career change. I'm 45, am a computer scientist, and I'm tired. I've been writing software since I was 13 (early then, not so much now). I've written books, worked on world-class software, done stuff with a lot of interesting people, but I'm tired. I want something different, but I want to leverage what I have. I am increasingly drawn to law. I love intellectual arguments, parsing, all that fun stuff. I debated a general law degree specializing in technology (software) but have sort of migrated over to considering patent law. I live near a high-end law school for this kind of stuff, so it will be feasible if I want to chase it.

Anybody have any familiarity with this (the position, not the ennui)?

[elehhhhna]

1. It's the highest paying practice area. You know softwars? They need you.

[YOY]

2. I was JUST talking to one last Saturday...I'll see if I speak to him again to get a number.

n.t.

[NNadir]

3. It's a damn good job. Go for it. I'm not one but it seems, especially in private practice

fun interesting, challenging and creative.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

4. Apparently , you don't have to do to law school to be a patent

attorney. You learn something new every day ! (I worked for a law firm for 28 years that had an IP practice and I did not know this until I just now googled it)

http://inventors.about.com/od/patentattorneys/ht/Patent_Attorney.htm


http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/olia/oed/grb.pdf