Recently, we caught up with Dr. James Daly IV, a Bellarmine University alumni (Class of 1991).
After receiving his B.A. in Biology from Bellarmine he earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology, and then his J.D. degree in law (graduating cum laude).
He is now a patent attorney with the firm Jenkins, Wilson & Taylor, in Durham, North Carolina (website:
www.jenkinswilsontaylor.com
).
Dr. Daly was kind enough to answer a few questions about his career:
A lot of Biology students wonder what they should do after they graduate. What things did you do, after graduating from Bellarmine, that led you to your current position?
Jim Daly: "I can empathize completely with Biology students unsure of how to proceed after graduation. The path to my present career as a patent attorney has been a bit convoluted, which in the long run, has surprisingly proven to be a career advantage. Let me explain."
"When I was a Biology student at Bellarmine, I believed I had two career options available with a Biology degree. Option 1 was to go to medical school and study to become a physician. Option 2 was to go on to graduate school to obtain a master or doctoral degree and enter into a career of teaching and/or research. I, like many nascent Biology students, began my undergraduate studies with a bent toward Option 1. I was fortunate enough to obtain a position as an orderly in an Emergency Room, where I experienced clinical medicine in all of its glory (and horror)."
"Although I worked in the ER all through college, at some point in the middle of my studies, I realized a clinician’s life was not for me, which only left Option 2. At least, that is the way I perceived my options at the time. Dr. Dobbins was a tremendous help in transitioning my thinking and efforts toward a career in research. I am ever grateful for her counsel and efforts. I strongly encourage current students to turn to Bellarmine faculty as a prime resource for advice and contacts when considering career options."
"I applied and was accepted into the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at University of Louisville School of Medicine as a Ph.D. student. My graduate research, focused on understanding the role of the immune system in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease, gave me the chance to interact with a patent attorney. He was trained first as a research scientist, holding a Ph.D. in biochemistry, and then as an attorney. That interaction greatly broadened my perspective of career possibilities. I began considering and researching patent law and other “alternative careers” not directly related to research, teaching, or clinical work. It was both an unsettling and interesting time."
"Although I realized for the first time a biology degree provided far more career options than I had considered previously, I kept returning to patent law. It seemed to offer much of what I was looking for in a career. So, I finally made the decision after much soul-searching to change my career track and head into the uncharted waters of patent law. I considered leaving graduate school or trying to finish early with an M.S. to save time, but in the end I decided to stick it out and finish what I started. I also considered becoming a patent agent, that is, someone having technical training in a scientific discipline who drafts patents, but is not an attorney, and therefore does not engage in the practice of law as it relates to patents. Again, I decided to forego the quicker path and instead study to obtain a law degree. I am now happy I made these choices. Having a Ph.D. in patent law has provided me with a useful technical and professional edge."
"Immediately after defending my dissertation I entered law school at U of L. It was a bit of a cultural and intellectual shock, but I managed it with most of the credit for my survival going to my family, and in particular my wife. During law school I took every opportunity to work in the field of patent law. During my second and third years of law school I worked part-time, first in the patent law department of a corporation, and then for a law firm in their patent group. During the summers I also worked as a patent law intern."
"My law school work experience was broad, covering patent drafting of simple mechanical devices through complex biotechnology inventions. That broad hands-on experience was a tremendous help for me, both in confirming I enjoyed the work and in helping me find employment after law school. I would highly recommend, whatever career option you consider, to do whatever you can to get hands-on experience in the field. It helps you to determine whether the work suits you and shows potential employers you are serious about your choices."
"After law school I took an associate attorney position with a general practice law firm with a patent law practice group in Louisville. I worked there for a couple of years, gaining great experience in patent law under the tutelage of several skilled patent attorneys. I am presently working for an intellectual property law boutique firm, that is, a law firm with a specialized practice solely in intellectual property, in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. I made the move out of Louisville so that I could have more opportunities to focus my practice in biotechnology patent law. With my present firm situated near the heart of Research Triangle Park, I could not ask for a better opportunity to practice biotechnology patent law, which dove-tails well with my scientific and legal training."
"So, to summarize, even though I did not have a clear idea of where my career path should lead after Bellarmine (and I certainly never considered patent law as an option) my choices eventually led me to a career for which I was well-suited and qualified. Therefore, I would recommend to current Bellarmine Biology students that you first try to determine who you are, where your talents lie, and what you enjoy, and follow those leads. You will likely find yourself, eventually, where you need to be."
Do you think there will be a strong demand in the future for lawyers who know a lot about Biology?
Jim Daly: "Yes, absolutely. A glance at the newspaper headlines is a clear indication of how important biology is becoming in everyone’s lives: embryonic stem cell research; biofuels to address energy concerns; human cloning; personalized medicine; FDA regulatory concerns; economic vs. ecological balancing; etc. A person with training in Biology is, I believe, well situated in the present economy. Beyond the traditional careers of Biologists there are many other new opportunities available. For example, businesses and the media have a great need for people with training in Biology who can bridge the gap between the technical jargon of research and the business executive or layperson."
What would you recommend to a biology student who thinks they might be interested in law school? What undergraduate courses might prepare them for law school? Can students find internships with attorneys?
Jim Daly: "Fortunately, a successful transit through law school requires many of the same skills acquired and honed studying biology. A few skills useful in law school include: a strong analytical reasoning ability; reading comprehension and speed; and perhaps foremost, communication skills both written and oral. With regard to communication skills, an ability to set forth well-supported arguments that flow logically and clearly is paramount. In short, a student with an interest in law school, and following from that an interest in law as a profession, should work to cultivate skills in the arts of persuasion. I do not believe this requires a student to join the debate team (although that would certainly provide an advantage); rather, the usual challenges faced studying for a Biology undergraduate degree will likely suffice."
"So, it is my opinion additional classes beyond those required for a science degree at Bellarmine are not needed to prepare a student for law school and beyond. I found that the rigors of reading and comprehending science material along with correctly, succinctly and clearly answering essay exam questions were great preparation for law school. However, if a student is interested in patent law in particular, a broader range of science courses (e.g. additional Chemistry courses if one is a Biology major) can prove beneficial for a career in patent law, albeit not likely of immediate assistance in law school."
"Finally, an additional advantage I believe a Bellarmine student of Biology has over some with regard to attending law school is that Bellarmine science curricula provide more opportunities for students to exercise writing skills. Bellarmine has a lower faculty to student ratio than larger universities in many courses and as a result exams tend toward essay questions rather than multiple choice and research papers are common, even in science courses. Further, being a liberal arts school, science students are exposed to a greater range of study, including both the natural sciences and the humanities. As such, a student entering law school with a science degree from Bellarmine might have an advantage with regard to reading and writing skills and general breadth of education over other like-situated students."
Thanks for sharing your perspective on this fascinating career.
