new comer the first post

hi here, everyone. i m fresh hand for this forum.

in these days, i have been suffering from choosing my career direction. Just a few weeks ago, i felt i found my future- ip law. However, the more  i learned about how much attorney earn in china, and what they do, the more depressed i m.

as  i did career test before i left this country, the result told me that i should go to do translating, or teaching, or God serving, simply because i m better at lanuage issue rather than mechanical thing. That is why the ip attorney come to my sight.

i have been researching around to help me to make up my mind lately.

now i m hesitate. It is most likely i have to solid my technical background at first and then go further to other field if i m truely tired of technical working.....

Should i go back uni to take one master of mechanical engineering or ip law?

everyone can give me suggestions even some words, i would appreciate that. i found the life is pretty hopeless...

It is really a hard thing to choose a career in which you are really interested and can go along your way step by step.

I am an IP attorney right now. But before I joined my current IP law firm, I also worked as a Technical Support Engineer and even a Technical Sales Engineer for many years. The reasons why I finally made up my mind to start my legal service career are:

1. I passed the Examination for Lawyer\'s Certificate many years ago and I never f orget it.

2. I am confident that I can do this job even though the market is full of fierce competition.

3. I am with technical background and confident that I can understand technologies in several technical fields.

4. The final reason I choose IP legal service, particularly patent services is because I am quiet and capable of taking care of things in detail.  It  is my experience that patent services is really something you need to take care just like you do on one\'s babies.  If you lack patience, It is better that you select another career.

It is just for your reference.

thanks for your statement, i appreciate that.

i m still asking around, now thinking of pattern turn out to be an ellipse. If i m holding solicitor licence or i have one clear picture what i wanna in the head, the choice wont be so hard to make. Unfortunately now when i count what i had so far, the factor socked me in that way which i nearly had nothing but one mechanical engineering degree~~

Okay~~ need to go back to study now~~ now i made temporary decision.. to pass the interpreting assessment held at the next week.

thx buddy~

I do think it could be a good choice for you to be a senior interpreter.

It is my understanding that it is very difficult to translate patents/patent applications.  It is your strength that you are very proficient in English and with technical background at the same time.  Therefore, if you are very intersted in patent law, I believe that it should not take long time for you to be a top patent translator.

In my opinion, it is not necessary that you study for a higher degree of Engineering.  It should be sufficient to underatand patent documents relating to your field if you have received systematic education when you stayed in the university.

Of course, if you are proficient in English, you got more choices in addition to patent services.  A senior interpreter with technical background should be very competitive.  It is enviable!

May you succeed in the assesment next week.

In my opinion, interpretor is just a job, not a permanent career, maybe you can earn some fortune when you were young, but what if you get too old to translate. i seldom see people around still hanging in this field after 30 something.
So, be wiser.
IP is a new field deserving to struggle for, even I understand your technical backgroup is relatively weak, it seems you are still very young.

to 在水一方：

thx for ur bless firstly. i m counting my lucky stars right now~~ all medical
terminologies brought me great trouble.

interpreting courses which i m taking right now hardly go through any engineering terminologies or terms. Therefore, as for my understanding, it is helpless for patent translation, isn\'t it?  Further education at least could give me a shot to pick my technical english up anyway. One engineering master degree is supposed to bring me more options than one IP LAW degree, isn\'t it?

to 马克：

thx for ur comments.

i agree with u partly. It would depend on how much you want interpreting to be your career. and what opportunity you seize. More important thing is that income of interpreting is not stable at all. That might suit female to do but, for male, who would take responsibilty to support the entire family, it doesn\'t sound reliable.

if i didn\'t make any misunderstanding, do you mean IP is one field WORTH struggling for?

I m trying to be wiser [s:2]

Cheers buddy~~ back to recite those terrible nightmare words~~ now i\'ve got
meningitis

Dear guy :
        Maybe  you should not choice you future so early, you have the chance to take the LSAT after finishing school. and then  decide where to go!