Just so you know: Ins and outs of potentially, maybe, possibly, thinking about applying to law school
By Lexus Tatge, Director of IP Education
Let's call a spade a spade—why on earth would anyone want to sign up for three more years of school after slogging through a four-year undergraduate degree and a 4-to-8-year doctoral program? Why delay entering the workforce and making money? Why trade in the benchwork of your PhD for the grind of an even more study-intensive curriculum? And let's be real: if you still have lingering undergraduate loans and just got through a "free" PhD, why would you willingly take on $200,000 in debt before even paying off that biochemistry degree from 2019? I'll bet that's exactly what runs through most people's minds when you tell them you're thinking about law school after finishing your PhD (or at least, it's what I hear). But fear not! I'm here to help you craft some solid responses for those inevitable questions from family over the holidays. And if law school has never crossed your mind—or seems impossibly daunting—maybe I can demystify the idea a bit. These are the real-life notes I've jotted down over the past two years, and I'm excited to share them with you.
Law school? The LSAT? I do not want to take another standardized test.
I hear you. I really do. I'm a horrible standardized test taker. In high school, I took the ACT four times and got the exact same score—a 26. Every. Single. Time. So long and farewell to 17-year-old Lexus's dreams of Harvard, Boston University, or UCLA. But if you read my last post about networking, you'll know I made it out okay—thriving, in fact—and even got to play sports in college. Fast forward to 21, when I decided I wanted to pursue an MD/PhD. And guess what? That meant taking the MCAT. So, I took out a family loan, paid for an MCAT prep course (spoiler alert: not cheap, not cheap at all), paid for the exam, and… scored so poorly that I immediately knew this was not the path for me. A post-doc (shoutout to them—more on that in my last post) nudged me toward science instead, and I started looking into graduate schools. Lo and behold, UT Southwestern didn't require GRE scores—or even an application fee. No tests? No problem. This was my chance. And here I am now, proudly repping the UTSW biotech club because I didn't have to take the GRE (okay, maybe there was a little more to it, but let's keep it simple).
So, what happened after I decided to pursue law school? Enter the dreaded standardized test: the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test). I've taken it twice—once in January 2024 and again this past October. And, as luck would have it, between those two attempts, the LSAT writers decided to change the exam format.
What's on the LSAT?
Before August 2024, the LSAT had four sections: three scored sections (Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, and Analytical Reasoning) and one unscored experimental section that mirrored one of the other three. Now, the test has been revamped to focus solely on Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension, spread over four sections.
Here are some things to know about the LSAT before you take out your wallet (or your sanity) to start studying for it:
If you're a graduate student, an undergrad, or even out of school, and you make less than 235% of the poverty guidelines (which is $37,650, so $150 more than our stipend) there are resources to help cover the costs of the LSAT, studying, and applications. Unfortunately, I didn't know this before I registered for my first LSAT, only learning about it a week later—and yes, I teared up a bit when I found out. For context, each LSAT exam costs $238. On top of that, you can pay extra for a "score review," which lets you cancel your score within a few days if you're unhappy with it—ensuring it won't show up on your record, which runs anywhere from $45 to $80. If you're like me, living on a graduate student stipend, you can absolutely apply for the LSAC Fee Waiver Program (https://www.lsac.org/lsat/register-lsat/lsat-cas-fees/fee-waiver). This waiver is a game changer, and even if you make more than that, there are tiers, so it doesn't hurt to apply for it. It covers:
Two full LSAT exams, including the score review option.
The full cost of a high-quality study program (which can easily cost thousands of dollars).
Up to six law school application fees.
And the cherry on top? Once you have this waiver, many major study platforms, 7Sage (https://7sage.com/fee-waiver/) (the one I used), honor it. With 7Sage, for example, you'll only pay $1 for their entire course. Yes, you read that right—one dollar. It's an incredible deal and takes a huge weight off the financial stress of this process.
I hope this helps demystify the process of affording the LSAT and study courses. Now, as for how long you should study—that's entirely up to you. For my first LSAT, I just wanted to get a feel for the exam. I spent roughly three weeks preparing, focusing mostly on the hardest section (in my opinion): analytical reasoning. Of course, they decided to remove that section for the October exam, so there's that. After getting my score back at the end of January, I took a break and waited until June to start studying again. I wanted to make sure I had time to focus during the summer. For my second exam, I studied from June to October, clocking in about 10 hours a week.
So you took the LSAT (or maybe not)—what schools are top for intellectual property?
Before diving headfirst into law school, let's lay it all out. According to every patent attorney I've ever chatted with, the usual path to becoming a patent attorney goes something like this: step one, get a job at a law firm as a patent agent; step two, enroll in law school. Why this route, you ask? Two very solid reasons:
You get to see what the patent world is actually like before committing your life (and your wallet) to three or four more years of school.
Many firms will cover your law school tuition if you work full-time during the day and attend law school at night. Yep, free(ish) law school!
Evening programs are a bit different than your standard law school path. Instead of cramming it all into three years, evening programs typically take four. Classes usually run Monday through Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the rest of your day spent working as a patent agent. Some schools are also introducing hybrid options that combine online learning with occasional in-person classes.
If you're eyeing a school with a stellar intellectual property program and an evening option, here's a totally-not-biased list of my top picks:
Santa Clara (California)
Santa Clara Law is the spot for tech lovers. Sitting right in the heart of Silicon Valley, it's perfect for networking with industry bigwigs, landing internships, or casually bumping into a venture capitalist while grabbing coffee. Their Tech Edge Certificate is a tech-law golden ticket (though, FYI, it's only available to full-time students). Even without it, Santa Clara has amazing IP faculty who make this program a standout.
Georgetown (D.C.)
Want prestige and proximity to power? Georgetown is your place. Their top-ranked part-time program is a win for working professionals, especially if you're looking to intern at the USPTO, Capitol Hill, or any of the other powerhouses nearby. Plus, their IP courses are on-point, and they regularly host some of the biggest names in the field, so you're learning from the best.
https://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/jd-program/evening-program/
George Washington (D.C.)
George Washington is practically synonymous with intellectual property law. They've been leading the IP game for decades, offering tons of specialized classes in patents, copyrights, trademarks—you name it. And being right in D.C., you're within walking distance of the USPTO, NIH, and countless other government and private institutions. Oh, and their alumni network? It's as impressive as it sounds. They also have a portion of the application where if you have NOT taken the LSAT within the last 5 years, but you do have either a Ph.D., and/or passed the Patent Bar, you can apply to GW without your LSAT.
https://www.law.gwu.edu/full-and-part-time-programs
George Mason (VA)
George Mason is a bit of a hidden gem in the IP world. Located in Arlington, it's just a hop, skip, and a jump from D.C., making it super convenient for anyone working in or around the USPTO. Their Law and Economics focus gives you a unique angle on IP issues, and their evening program is perfect for those of us trying to balance work, school, and maybe a social life.
https://www.law.gmu.edu/admissions/jd/flex/
In conclusion:
So there you have it—a tour through the ups and sideways of maybe, possibly, potentially applying to law school after your Ph.D. Whether you're here because you're curious, mildly panicking, or just trying to dodge awkward family questions over the holidays, I hope this gave you some clarity (or at least a good laugh).
At the end of the day, law school isn't just about more tests, more debt, and more caffeine-fueled late nights like you're 18 again taking your first biology exam—it's about reimagining what your future could look like. It's about taking your unique skill set, your big dreams, your personal values, and that nerdy, problem-solving brain of yours and turning it into something extraordinary.
And even if you're still on the fence, that's okay too! Just know that the journey isn't as linear or scary as it seems—and you've got people (like me!) cheering you on every step of the way. So, grab your coffee (or tea, I don't judge, but kinda do), embrace the chaos, and go after it. Who knows? Law school might just be your next great adventure, or as a patent attorney told me recently, law school might just be your new favorite hobby.