3L Annabelle Lincoln’s interest in patent law recently led her to an externship with NASA Glenn Research Center, where she says she is “living her dream!” Post-graduation, Lincoln hopes to work as a space law attorney or aerospace focused patent attorney. Keep reading to learn more about her experience at NASA Glenn.
Could you speak a little about the process of securing your externship at NASA? How did you find the opportunity and what was the selection/interview process like?
During my 2L spring semester, I spoke with the career office to see what patent-law focused externship opportunities were available. I was aware that NASA Glenn Research Center was nearby and asked if the legal department at NASA was planning on posting a fall externship opportunity. The adviser said a fall externship position would be posted in the summer. I eagerly waited for the opportunity to submit my application. The interview process was simple and easy. I met virtually with the two intellectual property attorneys at NASA Glenn and I was extended the offer at the end of the interview.
Describe what a regular day looks like in your current externship role.
I work about 12 hours a week on-site at NASA Glenn with the option to work from home. I typically get to the office early, say hello to the other attorneys, then start working on my projects. There are usually a few meetings to attend during the day and I speak with my supervisor with any questions. When I finish a project, I sit down with my supervisor to discuss my work. He often provides notes and practice tips that will be helpful in my career as a patent attorney. NASA Glenn has events that I can attend as well, such as facility tours, celebration events and NASA-wide meetings. The projects I am placed on stretch my knowledge in the best way. NASA Glenn conducts a lot of research in different technical areas. I attend, and sometimes lead, interviews with inventors. The invention topics are expansive, including quantum mechanics, electrical power systems, material science and HVAC systems. The space element on the inventions really makes these projects fun and inspiring. It is a true dream come true to speak with the inventors about their work.
What has surprised you most about your externship?
My previous patent-law experiences have been at law firms, in-house at manufacturing companies and at the US Patent Office. I have also learned a great deal about patent law at CWRU Law. This was my first opportunity to work with patent attorneys at a government agency. I expected there to be a lot of government regulations to follow, but I am learning how vast the regulations are. While I am working mainly with the intellectual property team, I have had the opportunity to sit in on meetings with other attorneys. There is a saying “the more you know, the more you realize you do not know.” Sitting in on these meetings has taught me more about the types of government law and regulations than a law class could teach. Additionally, I was surprised to learn how much NASA cares about their employees.
How does this externship fit into your long-term career goals?
I have a background in mechanical engineering, and I will work as a patent attorney after I pass the bar. From a young age, NASA’s research has been an inspiration and motivation for me to continue a STEM-focused career. This prestigious internship is a career goal I have reached but will help me achieve my future goals. I hope to become a space law attorney or aerospace focused patent attorney. My dream would be to return to NASA and work as a patent attorney one day.
Externships offer a different kind of learning experience. What are some valuable and/or unique skills you have developed at your placement that you would not necessarily have learned in the classroom?
I am learning how government regulation intertwines with patent law. How a government handles inventions is very different from how a typical law firm might handle it. Both approaches are hard to teach in the classroom. CWRU Law has a lot to offer for intellectual property and teaches a lot of core skills needed to be successful in the field. Experiential credits outside the classroom are helpful to learn the business and government side of how each case is handled. For example, class experiential opportunities at CWRU Law help teach the process of handling patent applications preparation and prosecution, working with inventors and the essentials of bringing an infringement suit. In practice, the government process can really only be learned at a government agency. At NASA I get to learn how the government specifically decides which inventions to go forward with, what they decide to place in the public domain, what should be a trade secret, how they conduct their inventor interviews and how they decide to enforce inventions. Further, writing an intellectually hard patent application is a hurdle a typical class cannot teach you. The inventors at NASA are working on some of the most difficult science and engineering problems in the world. Finding a way to understand the invention to the point where I can write an iron-clad patent application can be difficult. Working on tough projects helps build perseverance and grit, both of which are important skills to have in patent law. Additionally, the attorneys at NASA Glenn have significant experience in their field, learning their practice tips and how they conduct themselves helps me significantly both as a student and as a future attorney.
***This interview reflects Lincoln’s personal experience and opinion, and should not be considered an official endorsement by NASA or the U.S. Government.