tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977297931731346524.post2869854532582018602..comments2024-03-26T13:13:25.033-04:00Comments on Written Description: Why Isn't IP on the Bar Exam?Lisa Larrimore Ouellettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18401005012430355377noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977297931731346524.post-84155682357839372992011-07-08T19:59:41.626-04:002011-07-08T19:59:41.626-04:00Another comment on my martindale.com statistics, i...Another comment on my martindale.com statistics, in response to feedback from another reader: apparently many torts lawyers don't list "torts" as a practice area. But there are still only 1634 "personal injury" lawyers in NY - fewer than IP lawyers. And my point was simply that IP is hardly an obscure field, especially compared with things like future interests.Lisa Larrimore Ouellettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18401005012430355377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977297931731346524.post-5461454717256540912011-07-06T20:13:34.561-04:002011-07-06T20:13:34.561-04:00After a number of email and Facebook conversations...After a number of email and Facebook conversations concerning this post, I wanted to add a few more thoughts:<br /><br />First, my last paragraph was meant as no slight to patent agents, who often have advanced technical degrees and industry experience, and who have to be familiar with the complex rules of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). I don't think patent agents are less qualified than patent litigators who haven't taken the patent bar - they are just differently qualified, and people shouldn't assume that someone graduating from law school with an interest in patent law will be taking the patent bar in lieu of a state bar.<br /><br />Second, even though I don't think lawyers are embarrassing themselves with lack of patent knowledge (rather, I think the quality of patent practitioners tends to be very high), I sympathize with Seth Chandler's concern that students are choosing which classes to take in law school based on what is tested on the bar. I don't think a student who took Wills but not IP is going to be a "better" lawyer than a student who took IP but not Wills, and I think it is sad if the current system is causing some students to make this choice even though they would prefer IP.<br /><br />Finally, I recognize concerns that the bar mainly serves as a cartel facilitation mechanism, although I think the people writing bar exams honestly believe the bar serves a more useful purpose. But the point of my post is not about whether we should have bar exams or not - my question is, if we take the bar as a given, is there any principled reason for not testing IP?Lisa Larrimore Ouellettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18401005012430355377noreply@blogger.com