After surviving 1L and getting a grasp on how to “do” law school, I thought I knew what kind of career advice lawyers typically give to 1Ls. Get good grades and network. Instead, at Loyola University Chicago School of Law Intellectual Property Law Society’s “Breadth of IP” panel, I learned that communication, resilience, curiosity, and reliability can matter just as much as grades when it comes to building a career in Intellectual Property (IP).

During the panel, four attorneys from different practice areas answered questions about their time at Loyola and their career trajectories. The panelists were James Theo (trademarks and copyright, Dinsmore), Daniel Henry (patent prosecution, Marshall Gerstein), Paul Molino (patent litigation, RMMS), and Nan Norton (trademarks and IP legal research, Loyola adjunct professor). While their practices vary significantly, all four attorneys emphasized soft skills as the driver behind a successful career in IP. The best part is, soft skills can be practiced whether or not you’ve landed a stellar summer associate position. You can start right now.

Before diving into what makes these soft skills effective, it is helpful to understand the landscape these attorneys are working in — starting with what IP actually covers.

What is IP?

Intellectual Property (IP) is the legal term for creations of the mind. The main types are patents, which protect inventions; trademarks, which protect brand names and logos; copyrights, which protect creative works like writing, music, and art; and trade secrets, which protect confidential business information. Each type comes with legal rights allowing creators to protect and benefit from what they’ve made.

IP is often seen as a highly technical field, and that is partly true. For example, working in patent prosecution, which is the process of obtaining a patent, requires a STEM background and passing the patent bar. This leads to the assumption that only those with STEM degrees can pursue IP, which Loyola’s IP program addresses on its Myths from Reality page. There are also plenty of opportunities in trademark and copyright work, which are open to people of all backgrounds. Many IP attorneys come from non-STEM backgrounds and specialize in a particular area or industry, finding their niche in a variety of ways.

Detours that Led to IP

As the panelists demonstrated, the road to IP is a winding one for many. Daniel and James moved into IP relatively early. Daniel discovered IP at Loyola after meeting Professor Ho, having originally planned on personal injury or civil rights work. James came to law school after a journalism career felt like a dead end, drawn to IP by an interest in working with artists and musicians. Paul, by contrast, spent a decade in insurance defense before switching to patent work in the 1990s and eventually starting his own boutique firm. Professor Norton began in general practice hoping to do environmental law and pivoted to trademark and copyright work after seeing a colleague’s IP practice up close.

I identified with the panelists backgrounds, since I graduated with a journalism degree just months before going to law school. I arrived at Loyola, I intended to go into trademarks and copyright, having graduated with a journalism degree just months prior. Then, I took a summer position in investment services and committed to a 2L summer associate position in real estate. I often feel out of the running for IP opportunities. Attending this panel reminded me that my future practice probably won’t be a mirror image of my summer positions. The panelists helped me recognize that to keep as many doors open as possible, I need to practice soft skills that will transcend practice groups. These skills will make me an asset wherever I go.

So What are Soft Skills?

Beyond legal knowledge, these four soft skills stood out to me:

• Communication: Being honest, responsive, and easy to work with is what makes a junior attorney trusted early on. Professor Norton specifically noted that something as simple as replying to emails promptly signals to clients and partners that you are engaged in your work and reliable. Reliability is especially important, as the legal field is built on referrals and long-term client relationships.
• Resilience: Paul emphasized that litigation, in particular, is learned by doing. Young attorneys are bound to make mistakes. But Paul explained that demonstrating willingness to learn instead of getting discouraged goes a long way. Of course, real learning means not making the same mistake twice. Further, taking the time to learn and grow helps show a sense of pride in your work, which makes associates more trustworthy, Paul said. Partners can tell who does and who doesn’t care about the quality of their work. He noted that associates who are resilient and take pride in their work become popular with partners, since they can be trusted to try their best and never give up.
• Curiosity: IP work exists because of new inventions and creations. To excel, lawyers need to be open to new ideas and eager to explore them. Daniel described curiosity as central to the job, since his work patent prosecution requires engaging with ideas that haven’t been tested in the world yet. Trademark and Copyright work also inherently rely on new ideas. Keeping an open mind and practicing curiosity can help young lawyers stand out in today’s competitive market.
• Reliability: Professor Norton noted seemingly small acts, like showing up on time and doing what you said you’d do, are crucial. Because IP clients often return to the same attorney for years of prosecution, licensing, or counseling work, trust built through consistency is what keeps that relationship alive.

I am practicing curiosity this semester. As a 2L, I have the latitude to enroll in classes more attuned to my current interest in real estate, like tax and negotiation courses. But I still need to take courses like evidence and professional responsibility to graduate. It’s easy to close myself off to courses that seem unrelated to my future work. But my learning is better served if I find a way to be curious about new topics. I have done this in my evidence class by drawing connections between class and trials happening in the news. Outside of class, I am a legal extern at a large trade association related to real estate. Despite working mainly on corporate issues, I seek out internal trademark enforcement projects, honing my writing and research skills while keeping the door to IP open. With my remaining time at Loyola, I plan to bring this curiosity to every class and job, so I am prepared to tackle any twist or turn in my legal career.

Beyond the Transcript

I came into this panel expecting the same advice every 1L hears — get good grades, land the right summer position, and the rest will follow. Instead, I was reminded of a different lesson. Four attorneys in four very different areas of IP emphasized communication, reliability, resilience, and curiosity. These are the soft skills that begin and keep a career in IP moving. I will certainly keep these characteristics in mind as I prepare for my 2L summer and beyond. Luckily, these skills can be exercised every day in the classroom. Whether it’s raising your hand, meeting every deadline, or simply approaching new topics with an open mind, we can all hone these skills regardless of whether we secure summer positions.

Sophia Scolman
Assistant Blogger
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D. 2028