“Future-Proof Patent Law by Starting Talent Pipelines Early”

In an article published by Law360, Marshall Gerstein’s Chief Talent and Diversity Officer Christine Hollis describes the firm’s commitment to growing its talent pipeline at a time when many law firms and the industry as a whole are grappling with how diversity is defined and fostered.

“Law firms operating in the intellectual property space face a unique and persistent challenge: The talent pipeline is simply too narrow,” Christine writes. “Patent prosecution work requires not only legal training but also hard science credentials. That combination, particularly when paired with the goal of building a diverse workforce, remains in short supply.”

To address this challenge, Christine encourages law firms to consider beginning their pipeline strategies for potential candidates as early as high school.

“If we can engage students before they finalize their academic tracks, we can show them that their interest in science can take shape in the legal world, not just in the lab or a corporate research and development department,” the article continues. “Patent law allows them to understand how innovation happens and help protect it. They can take part in the life cycle of invention and influence how ideas move from concept to market.”

Read Christine’s recommended strategies for law firms in Law360 here.