Registering the Career: The Pursuit of Life, Liberty, and Intellectual Property

In this article, Managing Intellectual Property interviewed women in patent litigation and prosecution to learn about their “experiences breaking into the field, how it has changed, and the advice they have for aspiring patent attorneys.” Finnegan partner Erika Arner, who practices both contentious and non-contentious patent work, told MIP she realized in law school that “patent law was a great option for people with a scientific background because it allows them to stay in touch with the technology.” She recommends that up-and-coming patent lawyers explore many facets of the field. “There are so many different aspects of patent law, and really understanding how a patent application is written and what the negotiation is like at the patent office on the front end will make you a better patent litigator,” Arner said.