My decision to leave engineering for law school was not a simple one, and making sure that I went to the right law school for me was just as important as my decision to make the transition. Having worked as a patent examiner for the U.S. Patent Office and as an intellectual property (IP) law clerk at Cardinal Health, I was familiar with the schools that offered great IP programs, but I knew that I wanted to attend a school where I could distinguish myself in the IP field. When I applied to schools, it was important for me to find schools that not only had a good location and a good IP program, but also a strong alumni network and supportive community that could give me the best chance of finding employment upon graduation. Having just finished my first semester at Loyola, I can confidently say that Loyola was the right choice for me and that the school is a great place for students hoping to become patent attorneys.

Alumni and Community

When I was deciding between schools, it was very important to me to go to a program where I could get personal attention from the professors and alumni. Having just completed my first semester here, this has been the most valuable part of my experience so far. I first met Professor Cynthia Ho, the Director of IP program, when she invited me to an IP reception at Loyola to meet IP students and alumni as a prospective student. Everybody I met was eager to tell me about their experiences at Loyola and several even offered to grab lunch with me to tell me more. It was immediately clear to me that the Loyola community was very supportive and that it was a place where I could see myself fitting in.

Professor Ho’s dedication and support to her students have been tremendously invaluable. She readily makes the time to get to know her students over lunches, and forwards opportunities that interest each student. Beyond the classroom, she has also been willing to give me advice with my resume and with networking, and has helped to open doors to events that I otherwise would not have known about. Because of this, I have been able to network with many IP attorneys this past semester and even secure several interviews that resulted in offers for summer associate positions at IP firms. Professor Ho’s dedication embodies that of the Loyola professors and alumni and is something that I believe can help students excel through law school and truly stand out in the IP market.

Intellectual Property Program

In addition to the strong community at Loyola, I chose Loyola for its specialized IP legal writing class and curriculum. As an IP Fellow, I had a seat in the IP legal writing class of ten students. The class is similar to the required legal writing course that the other law students take, except that issues assigned relate to patents, trademarks, and copyrights. This class has given us the opportunity to get early exposure to IP while giving us the chance to prepare writing samples that can be used in applications and interviews for summer internships. This is especially helpful for the upcoming Patent Interview Program which is uniquely hosted by Loyola every summer. In addition to the IP legal writing class, Loyola offers a wide variety of classes that complement the IP curriculum to make its students well-rounded patent attorneys. Furthermore, Loyola offers various resources for its students through career services as well as through IP lunch and learns hosted by the IP Law Society.

For those looking to pursue a career in IP, Loyola has many avenues and resources to help its students succeed. I am grateful for my mentors at school and for all of the guidance I have received to get me to where I am now. Given my experiences so far, I am confident that attending Loyola was the right choice for me and that here, I will have the support and resources necessary to prepare me to become a successful patent attorney.

If you have any questions, please email me at eliu1@luc.edu

-Eric Liu, 1L IP Fellow

Interested in applying to be an Intellectual Property Fellow for Fall 2017? The application deadline is March 1.

Originally posted on 2/16/17 on the Law School Admissions blog.