It has, alas, been far too long since I wrote anything on my previous blog (which I just took off line as I refreshed my website). So, taking the opportunity afforded by several "clean slate" events (see below), I am starting the Patents++™ Blog anew, and with a new title. I will bring a few of my older posts that are not too time-sensitive over here during the next few weeks, but mostly I will start fresh.
So what has changed? After a long transition that was interesting and occasionally exciting, I have completely transitioned to practicing law. Currently I am a Patent Agent, which means I am licensed to practice patent law in the US Patent and Trademark Office (where I have been licensed for almost ten years), but I am not a member of any state bar.
However, yesterday I started a four-year program of legal studies with Roy Rainey as part of the Washington Law Clerk program. This program is one of the few left in the country that still allows one to become an attorney without going to Law School (which there is no way I want to do at this stage!).
In some ways it feels like a "do over", starting from the beginning in something new. But in fact, while I cannot practice independently outside the Patent Office, and I can't rush the process (it takes four years no matter what), I can build on my years of practice in patent law and my long-time interest in the law generally to go deeper and broader than required. After all, all education is worth what you put into it—and self-study with a mentor has always been my preferred route anyway. So I am actually quite delighted to be underway in this new adventure.
Here at Patents++™ Reading, I will be posting on various topics having to do with the area where I do practice independently—patent law. I will be also be editing and writing for a new general legal blog associated with Roy's firm (Law with an Olympic Twist). I will also be posting items that I believe will be of interest to the people who have generally found my posts interesting, even if they aren't directly related to patent law (although most of my other law-related posts will be at Law with an Olympic Twist).
Now that I have completed my transition, and now that I have enough clients that I feel a bit more settled, I hope to be able to maintain a more consistent output level. I have always enjoyed writing (although in essay form; I have accepted that books are not in my peripatetic future!), and others have told me they enjoy reading what I write, so let's go!
