Wow, you've become so well informed and authoritative. Just a week and a half ago, you wrote that you "would like to pursue construction / engineering / contract law," but were unable to find "any information on typical salaries for construction law."
"Contract law"?! Unable to find information on salaries? And now you're an authority on the (hard) IP market? Jee whiz, what a waste it would be if you opted for "construction law"!
I must confess, I think my firm only has around 100 IP lawyers, including both hard and soft. So perhaps I'm a bit ignorant. Could you please enlighten us as to what it is that makes electrical engineering-related work the "majority" of the IP market? Some examples of clients, or at least client types, along with some products, might help to clear up the extremely widespread (and, according to you, incorrect) belief that bio-tech, chemical, and software work account for the vast majority of the (hard) IP market.
oh boy. here we go. lets get into a fight now.
first i would like to preface the following by noting a distinction that you have failed to grasp. what law firm do you work at? this distinction is so obvious, it makes me shudder for those you represent. the distinction is that patent law is not construction law. i asked for help on construction law, i already know about patent law. but thanks for trying to make me look dumb.
first i purused our beloved uspto website. employment opportunities show they want a multitude of expertise for various positions.
http://usptocareers.gov/Pages/PEPositions/Jobs.aspxjust so happens, ee/cme is in the most demand. how do i know? look at the job descriptions. 5000 for a biomed engineer and 9900 for a ee or comp e. further, there are many upper level positions for ee/cme and none listed for biomeds. fun.
but this is not conclusive at this point so let us continue our search.
here is a clip of interest:
"Sixth, it is also important to note that attorneys with technical expertise in certain fields are far more likely to obtain employment as patent attorneys than other types of patent attorneys. This fact, in turn, makes the pool of potential candidates for patent positions even smaller. While there are certainly differences that could be pointed out, for the most part, the expertise of patent attorneys falls into the following categories: (1) the life sciences, (2) chemistry and pharmaceutical, (3) material science, (4) electrical engineering, (5) physics, (6) mechanical engineering, (7) medical devices, and (

computer science. In terms of demand, the greatest demand is for attorneys with backgrounds in electrical engineering or computer science. There is also a strong demand for attorneys with biotechnology, biochemistry, or organic chemistry backgrounds. The lesser demand is for those with mechanical or chemical backgrounds."
http://www.bcgsearch.com/crc/ip.htmlwho cares about bcg? BCG Attorney Search is the largest legal recruiting firm in the United States dedicated exclusively to placing top associates and partners in premier law firms.
how about hard data on what is being patented? lets look at the most recent year, the top, say 17 categories. tell me how you think biochem is vastly leading the way ok? if you add it up, electrical/compE vastly out numbers biochem patents. its not even close.
Class Class Title Year-2006
365 Static Information Storage and Retrieval 2172
340 Communications: Electrical 2218
250 Radiant Energy 2282
439 Electrical Connectors 2286
382 Image Analysis 2301
359 Optics: Systems and Elements 2366
375 Pulse or Digital Communications 2382
709 Multicomputer Data Transferring (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 2414
520 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers (includes Classes 520-528) 2451
532 Organic Compounds (includes Classes 532-570) 2874
345 Computer Graphics Processing and Selective Visual Display Systems 2934
435 Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 3104
370 Multiplex Communications 3805
455 Telecommunications 4062
257 Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) 4484
438 Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process 4793
424 Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (includes Class 514) 5498
ALL ALL CLASSES 173772
this found here:
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/clsstca/all_stc.htmso there you have it, there is more demand for EE/COMPE in job placement as told by the USPTO, more demand in private industry by a well known job hunting company, and finally there are simply far more patents as shown by the hard data.
I think i have defended my position sufficiently. please rethink your communication when acting like a jerk. its unbecoming of you.
now back to the ACTUAL topic of discussion. CONSTRUCTION law....