I'm a lawyer with 3+ PQE and I'm currently working with an NBFC. I'm not really happy with my current job profile or with finance in general. I was previously with another NBFC and with a law firm (litigation team) before that. I'm looking for a change. My areas of interest are mostly intellectual property, technology and media. I've been feeling lost and confused. Sometimes I wonder if I should even be a lawyer anymore!
I'm also planning to apply for an LLM abroad this year and specialize in IP or Tech. As far as work is concerned, while I wouldn't mind temporarily working in a law firm, I would definitely prefer working in-house (except with banks or NBFCs). I don't have any prior IP experience. I've applied to law firms in the past but with no success at all. Sometimes I feel depressed and demotivated. Even now, I don't know what to do with my life.
I need advice with the following things:
1) How do I make a switch to IP and Tech law? 2) Should I apply to a Tier 1 firm or a boutique IP firm? 3) What are the possible post-study work opportunities after doing an LLM in the UK or Europe? 4) If, hypothetically, I decide to quit law altogether in the future, what are the alternative career options I can explore where I can use my skills?
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
One way is to do a LLM and use that to shift. Another option is a diploma course in India. To move to IP you may need to take a hit in seniority but that’s really okay because in the long run no one will care. Nothing to be worried about. Just make the jump and build slowly.
It's not marketing for law sikho and I have nothing to do with them.
I clarified earlier that I am not getting paid for making any such endorsement and that view comes from a genuine admirer, but that comment was moderated by LI.
It's shocking as to why would that get moderated unless LI wants to produce the impression that lawsikho marketers are using this platform.
Better to go to a boutique firm - tier 1 firms don’t do deep IP work - they only handle IP work of big clients. Boutique firms will train you much better I feel
Thank you for the advice! Can you suggest any good boutique firms where I can a start a career in IP law from scratch? Like I said in my post, I have no prior IP experience.
Dear OP, Let me preface my answer my saying that I am a fresh grad, so I don't have any real life experience. But I was locked in on IP from my third year and I almost specialised in IP, or as specialised one can be after a BA.LLB. So let me just offer a slightly different opinion.
From what I can tell, it's the boutique IP firms that you need to be wary of. In most places, esp at the fresher level, the work is mostly administrative/clerical, the most exciting thing would probably be policing a set of trademarks allotted to you or filing applications, which aren't even legal roles. For me, the best learning experience was working in a litigation office of not a senior but an arguing counsel, as they did core IP work and that's what I've decided to join, even though the pay is very low (not much lower than what boutique firms pay to freshers, but at that level every penny counts). Some boutique firms do train their associates very well right from the start, but they are hard to find and honestly reviews are always conflicting. I'm assuming quitting your job and joining a litigation chamber with no idea what the future might hold is not an option for you, but that's the best place to learn imo.
Also, imo, if you can get into an IP team at a T1, that's great. Again, I don't have any personal experience, but I've spoken in detail to people at two different T1s and the quality of work seems great. There is never any grunt work and they only take on big clients. And the pay is obviously much better. If you are putting in that much work, might as well get paid for it, right? The only problem with IP teams is that they don't higher without prior experience. You may try applying to a T1/T2 as you have some legal experience, even if not IP and they may take you on as an A0.
I'm a lawyer with 3+ PQE and I'm currently working with an NBFC. I'm not really happy with my current job profile or with finance in general. I was previously with another NBFC and with a law firm (litigation team) before that. I'm looking for a change. My areas of interest are mostly intellectual property, technology and media. I've been feeling lost and confused. Sometimes I wonder if I should even be a lawyer anymore!
I'm also planning to apply for an LLM abroad this year and specialize in IP or Tech. As far as work is concerned, while I wouldn't mind temporarily working in a law firm, I would definitely prefer working in-house (except with banks or NBFCs). I don't have any prior IP experience. I've applied to law firms in the past but with no success at all. Sometimes I feel depressed and demotivated. Even now, I don't know what to do with my life.
I need advice with the following things:
1) How do I make a switch to IP and Tech law?
2) Should I apply to a Tier 1 firm or a boutique IP firm?
3) What are the possible post-study work opportunities after doing an LLM in the UK or Europe?
4) If, hypothetically, I decide to quit law altogether in the future, what are the alternative career options I can explore where I can use my skills?
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I clarified earlier that I am not getting paid for making any such endorsement and that view comes from a genuine admirer, but that comment was moderated by LI.
It's shocking as to why would that get moderated unless LI wants to produce the impression that lawsikho marketers are using this platform.
Let me preface my answer my saying that I am a fresh grad, so I don't have any real life experience. But I was locked in on IP from my third year and I almost specialised in IP, or as specialised one can be after a BA.LLB. So let me just offer a slightly different opinion.
From what I can tell, it's the boutique IP firms that you need to be wary of. In most places, esp at the fresher level, the work is mostly administrative/clerical, the most exciting thing would probably be policing a set of trademarks allotted to you or filing applications, which aren't even legal roles. For me, the best learning experience was working in a litigation office of not a senior but an arguing counsel, as they did core IP work and that's what I've decided to join, even though the pay is very low (not much lower than what boutique firms pay to freshers, but at that level every penny counts). Some boutique firms do train their associates very well right from the start, but they are hard to find and honestly reviews are always conflicting. I'm assuming quitting your job and joining a litigation chamber with no idea what the future might hold is not an option for you, but that's the best place to learn imo.
Also, imo, if you can get into an IP team at a T1, that's great. Again, I don't have any personal experience, but I've spoken in detail to people at two different T1s and the quality of work seems great. There is never any grunt work and they only take on big clients. And the pay is obviously much better. If you are putting in that much work, might as well get paid for it, right? The only problem with IP teams is that they don't higher without prior experience. You may try applying to a T1/T2 as you have some legal experience, even if not IP and they may take you on as an A0.