I am 32 and going to have a family soon. I have a computer science degree and know that IP law is a very rewarding field. At least, in a financial sense. However, I do love to spend time with my family and based on the research I performed in the past few weeks, I am getting mixed answers about the lifestyle of an IP attorney. Some people say they work crazy hours for several years and some claim IP lawyers do just 1,600 billable hours fresh off school since it’s a “niche” area of law. I personally doubt 1,600 hours is realistic but then again, who am I to say anything 🙂
If you are an IP attorney, either in prosecution or litigation, can you share how your lifestyle is like after you obtained your J.D.? If I do go to law school now, I won’t be done until I am 35 or 36 and with an average learning curve of 5 – 7 years, I don’t know if such path is a good choice. If anyone knows of a friend, family member, or spouse who is an IP attorney, any insight is also greatly appreciated. I went to a good school with a strong computer science program and graduated top 2% of my class. I just don’t know if I should further my career with a law degree practicing patent law. Is the lifestyle worth it.