- #1
makethings
- 96
- 0
Hypothetically speaking, why would engineering graduates want to pursue a law degree? I am in my senior year of Mech. Eng. and I am planning to do a Masters in the same field and then work toward the requirements for professional licensure. I would hope to have an exciting career in engineering or be an entrepreneur. The thought of getting a law degree is enticing mainly because I feel the prestige behind it and I would like to know more about its value and worth toward my career goals.
1) I read and hear Intellectual Property is where engineers and scientists can make a killing salary-wise. Is this true? Even more importantly to me, is it exciting or rewarding work? I can only imagine day-to-day work being like. Engineer X comes to you with a design, you as the IP lawyer with the engineering background goes, "hmm.. interesting design, I wish I could have come up with that." Then you spend hours sitting at your desk writing up a patent with all the technical and legal mumbo jumbo. Is that an accurate picture?
2) Litigation. I would imagine where there is a plane crash, or bridge collapse, or machine failure there would be a lawyer/engineer who could diagnose the cause of the problem and then assign blame according to what contracts/manuals/drawings say who is responsible for taking care of such things. Then there are those who would fight in court for the plaintiff or accused. I guess there are two sides to this, a forensic side and a legal side. So would you really need an Engineer/Lawyer to do this or isn't the standard way of doing things is having a forensic engineering firm do the investigation while a legal team of lawyers just read the fine print on who's responsible without having the need of any engineering background.
3) Policy. Work for government and make policy or regulate the engineering profession.
Sounds boring. I guess it would be a comfy desk job after I have worked in either research or design for many years and just want to take a step back from fast paced work into something more relaxing. At least that's my impression of that kind of work.
Anything else? To me, it seems like going from engineering to law, you just become a lawyer. If I wanted to be a lawyer, I would have directly done so and maybe read a few engineering books on the side. I am really interested in what can a law degree do to compliment me in my day-to-day activities as an engineer.
1) If I become an entrepreneur. Maybe selling engineering services, doing design work or that sort, is the two year investment into a law degree worth it? Would I need one if I wanted to write up my own contracts?
2) Would university engineering departments favor hiring faculty with a specialization in law?
Maybe you guys can tell me what the possibilities are or if going into law school would end up being a fool's errand in my case.
1) I read and hear Intellectual Property is where engineers and scientists can make a killing salary-wise. Is this true? Even more importantly to me, is it exciting or rewarding work? I can only imagine day-to-day work being like. Engineer X comes to you with a design, you as the IP lawyer with the engineering background goes, "hmm.. interesting design, I wish I could have come up with that." Then you spend hours sitting at your desk writing up a patent with all the technical and legal mumbo jumbo. Is that an accurate picture?
2) Litigation. I would imagine where there is a plane crash, or bridge collapse, or machine failure there would be a lawyer/engineer who could diagnose the cause of the problem and then assign blame according to what contracts/manuals/drawings say who is responsible for taking care of such things. Then there are those who would fight in court for the plaintiff or accused. I guess there are two sides to this, a forensic side and a legal side. So would you really need an Engineer/Lawyer to do this or isn't the standard way of doing things is having a forensic engineering firm do the investigation while a legal team of lawyers just read the fine print on who's responsible without having the need of any engineering background.
3) Policy. Work for government and make policy or regulate the engineering profession.
Sounds boring. I guess it would be a comfy desk job after I have worked in either research or design for many years and just want to take a step back from fast paced work into something more relaxing. At least that's my impression of that kind of work.
Anything else? To me, it seems like going from engineering to law, you just become a lawyer. If I wanted to be a lawyer, I would have directly done so and maybe read a few engineering books on the side. I am really interested in what can a law degree do to compliment me in my day-to-day activities as an engineer.
1) If I become an entrepreneur. Maybe selling engineering services, doing design work or that sort, is the two year investment into a law degree worth it? Would I need one if I wanted to write up my own contracts?
2) Would university engineering departments favor hiring faculty with a specialization in law?
Maybe you guys can tell me what the possibilities are or if going into law school would end up being a fool's errand in my case.