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Sarah Perlinger: 1L at the Franklin Pierce Law Center [By Heather Jung] On March 26, Sarah Perlinger was a guest speaker at the 233 rd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Perlinger, a 1L at the Franklin Pierce Law Center, spoke to those in attendance about “non-traditional” chemistry careers, focusing on her experience as a patent examiner and her decision to attend law school after studying chemistry as an undergraduate. “I hope to answer questions from those who
communicate on varied subject matter within
Student organizations have played a large
may be thinking about pursuing a career
the chemical technology.” Since she began
role in Perlinger’s law school career. She
in law,” Perlinger said. “This is relevant
studying law, she has come to appreciate it
is currently active in a couple: Student
because there are many chemists who may
even more.
Intellectual Property Law Association (SIPLA) and Women’s Law Student Association
be contemplating different career choices and may be unaware of what patent law is
“I love that every time you open a new case,
(WLSA). Perlinger says that SIPLA’s main
and what a career path in law entails. My
no matter how similar the subject matter is to
goal is to educate law students about
talk will give those chemists a starting point
other cases, the analysis can be very different
intellectual property laws and works to bring
for further research on patent law if they are
because of one differing key fact. Essentially,
in speakers who work in that field. WLSA’s
thinking this field might be for them.”
I love that the analysis is always fresh and
goal is to bring men and women together to
challenging,” Perlinger said.
discuss the issues women face during law school. WLSA also pairs law students with
Perlinger received her B.S. in chemistry from Union University in Jackson, TN, in
Perlinger interned at Finnegan, Henderson,
mentors who are women currently working
2005. During the course of her studies, she
Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, one of the
as lawyers and want to share their wisdom
won several awards, including Outstanding
world’s leading intellectual property firms,
with the students. Perlinger is also a Student
Physical Chemistry Student, Academic Medal
the summer after graduating from Union
Ambassador for the Pierce Law Center.
of Honor for Chemistry, Union University
University. During that time, she worked
Research Award, and the CRC Freshman
on a litigation support staff that helped the
“So far, I think the associations allow you
Award.
attorneys organize their pleadings, prepare a
to meet and get to know other students you
privilege log, and organize correspondence for
might not otherwise encounter in classes
Perlinger hopes to put her background
ongoing cases. She says that her experiences
and elsewhere,” Perlinger said. “They also
in chemistry to good use by working in
there introduced her to patent litigation and
provide you with numerous opportunities
pharmaceutical patent law in Washington, DC,
gave her a better understanding of what
to learn from people already working as
after she graduates. Patent law will allow her
goes on during the discovery process. This
attorneys. Finally, the associations also put
to combine her passions for chemistry and
summer she plans to work at Sterne, Kessler,
you in touch with faculty who can give you
the law. She said that she got this idea while
Goldstein & Fox as a summer associate.
great tips for surviving law school. Overall,
working at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, where she examined patents that mostly dealt with pharmaceutical compounds. “I enjoyed working on that subject matter immensely because I was able to use my chemistry background when analyzing the compounds themselves, and I also learned a lot of biochemistry when researching how the compounds act in the body,” she said. According to Perlinger, she decided to pursue
Q. What do you do for fun? A. I love getting outdoors, so whatever excuse I can make to get outdoors, I do. I also love to play tennis, and I love hanging out with my family in Colorado, where I’m from. Q. What CD is in your CD player right now? A. Wow, I think I actually have an old Weezer CD in my CD player right now. Q. What was the last magazine you read? A. I actually don’t read magazines all that often, so I’m not sure.
the associations allow you to build a network of people you can hopefully keep in touch with long after law school is over.” On the Net Franklin Pierce Law Center www.piercelaw.edu Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP www.finnegan.com
a career in law after exploring the career options available to someone who studied chemistry. She says that she was drawn to law “because it offers so much opportunity to PAGE
Q. What is your favorite TV show? A. Gilmore Girls. I’m quite a fan actually and have been since the show started.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office www.uspto.gov