Any advice for lateraling in-house?

I am an IP attorney (prosecution) I am totally burned out from patent drafting (never enjoyed it) and I have been trying to get a job in-house for years with mixed results. Anywhere from a long list of generic thanks but not thanks emails to final round interviews. Pretty desperate to get out of firm life but seems like I can't get any traction. Any tips/encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

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I’m in your same position. 9th year pros associate and have been looking since second year. Eventually, we will find something.

Going into my 11th year, fingers crossed for the both of us!

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What industries are you looking at?
Also. Just generally empathize. It took me a long time too. Eventually I got two offers at once, both were through remote connections I reached out to on LinkedIn for a referral. Remember most companies pay out well for referrals.

Not really picky about industry, but I have 10yrs experience in patent law so obvious limited to IP positions . Also limited to remote or local bc don't want to move the family

What’s your technical background?

Biotech and electrical folks seem to have the most opportunities for in-house gigs.

Have you considered product counsel roles? There is some IP involved but not drafting and prosecution per se. That might be a good avenue to escape drafting.

Most of the “patent” jobs I see are drafting and prosecution or at least overseeing outside counsel. The problem is that many of these jobs are located on site in, for example, Northern California or DC suburbs. If you are outside of these areas with a hot market, it becomes significantly harder.

I’ve seen some people go from firm life to big company product counsel to small company head of IP. Seems like a reasonable path to me.

Have you considered trying to pivot a bit to software licensing; product attorney supporting engineering; privacy and info sec support; commercial counsel for a tech company? I have colleagues in roles like that who had a patent background originally and pivoted.

Yeah, not the easiest to do when this senior, seems they prefer to use the junior associates or associates who have experience in that field already

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Patent drafting is terrible. Don’t blame you.
I’m a current junior and trying to convince myself every day that I like my job enough not to leave yet

Yeah some people enjoy it, I wish I could fathom or figure out how that's possible haha

Keep trying. I got my dream in house position (no patent drafting whatsoever) after 9 years at law firms. I had spent at least the last 4 years applying for in house positions with varying levels of success before landing this job. I even turned down an offer which would have required me to draft apps occasionally. Patience is a virtue and it’s worth holding out for what you want

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