myGPS : Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

WHAT LAWYERS WHO PRACTICE IN THIS FIELD DO

Intellectual property lawyers practice in law firms, companies, and government agencies. They assist clients with legal issues involving patents, copyrights, trademarks, licensing, and trade secrets. Sports, entertainment, and technology/computer law are all closely related practice areas.

Intellectual property attorneys provide transactional services such as negotiating and drafting licensing agreements or preparing copyright registration documents. Some intellectual property attorneys are also litigators who handle disputes involving trademark or copyright infringement matters.

Patent lawyers assist specifically in the areas of patent prosecution and/or patent litigation. Patent prosecutors prepare and prosecute patent applications for their inventor clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; patent litigators help to enforce and defend the patent rights of their clients.
In order to prosecute patent applications before the USPTO, it is necessary to pass the Patent Bar Examination. A technical background is required in order to take the Patent Bar Exam. However, a technical background is not required for many other areas of intellectual property practice.

COURSES THAT CAN PREPARE YOU

The Chase curriculum requires foundational courses for all students and offers additional courses for specialized expertise.

Required

Property I & II

Advanced

Broadcast/Telecommunications/Internet Law
Copyright Law
Entertainment Law
Intellectual Property Survey
Patent Law
Patent Prosecution
Introduction to Cyber Law
Information Privacy Law

Skills

Law Practice Technology
Intellectual Property and Other Intangible Rights: Drafting and Negotiating Strategies
E-Discovery
Legal App Development

FACULTY MEMBERS WHO TEACH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TECHNOLOGY-RELATED COURSES

Professors

Kenneth Katkin
Jennifer Kreder

Adjunct Faculty Members

Erin Corken
David Dorton
Robert Furnier
David Jeffries
JB Lind
Jacob Mahle
Sean Owens
Eric Richardson
Ann Schoen
Scott Van Nice

CAREER PATH EXPERIENCES THAT CAN SET YOU APART

Here are some of the ways in which to develop necessary practice skills.

Work as a summer associate or law clerk at a law firm handling intellectual property or technology issues.
Serve as a law clerk or extern in a corporation’s legal department.
Participate in the Small Business and Nonprofit Law Clinic, and obtain a limited law license to represent clients in traditional business law matters.
Complete skills courses to develop necessary advanced drafting and negotiation skills.
Take advantage of networking opportunities to meet lawyers practicing in the area of intellectual property or technology law.
Shadow business or transactional law attorneys to learn more about this area of practice.

BAR EXAMINATION FACTOR

Property I & II are tested on the Multistate Bar Examination and essay sections of the bar examination in most states. Intellectual property and patent law topics are not specifically tested on the bar examination in Kentucky, Indiana, or Ohio. Patent law topics are tested on the Patent Bar Exam, which is a separate, optional bar examination for those desiring to prosecute patent applications before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

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