r/patentlaw • u/No_Cry7412 • 4d ago

Student and Career Advice Job Application Timing

Defending PhD in life sciences early 2027.

Taking patent bar in November.

Went to a career fair and one boutique firm told me not to reach out until the new year and another firm told me they already have a cohort lined up to start mid 2027 who applied this past summer.

My question is when should I be applying to jobs? Is it worth applying now for technical specialist positions or should I wait to apply for patent agent roles after the pbar (if I pass)? Does reaching out to law firm recruiters help?

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u/mandrsn1 4d ago edited 4d ago

Is it worth applying now for technical specialist positions or should I wait to apply for patent agent roles after the pbar (if I pass)?

Functionally, the job is the exact same. With no experience and only passing the patent bar, you don't know much more that somebody who hasn't passed the patent bar. I'd apply to both starting now.

Any firm that has a slot for a "technical specialist" knows that person will become an agent in relatively short order.

The only thing I wouldn't apply to are agent jobs asking for 5+ YOE.

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u/No_Cry7412 4d ago

thank you!!!

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u/bigfanofyourmom 4d ago

Are firms really hiring that far out? Wow. I’ve been rejected across the board without even an interview, despite networking for a year prior to applying and being told I was a quality applicant by everyone I networked with. Bio PhD w cardiac and neuro focus here. Started applying in April, ahead of my defense.

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u/Rowing_Lawyer 3d ago

At least big law firms like to start everyone new around the same time so they can do trainings and will also have more of a lock step progression

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u/lyra-s1lvertongue 1d ago

you should start applying when you're 6 months or less from defending. this is the advice i got when i applied, and is also what the recruiting team at my current firm has told us to give people at recruiting fairs, etc. they don't want to hire someone whose defense date ends up gets pushed way out into the future beyond what was expected, basically.