u/Hot-Flow9699

i'm a rising senior, CS major at a small LAC, 3.8 gpa. i want to do IP/technology law (the AI + copyright stuff specifically). no law experience yet but working on getting an IP internship this year.

money is a big factor for me. i had some help with undergrad but i'm on my own for law school and i have a little undergrad debt already, so i need to be smart about merit aid rather than just taking on whatever.

questions:

1. how much does a 3.8 + a strong CS major actually help, and what LSAT range should i be targeting to be a real scholarship candidate (not just admit)?
2. timing: i'm a senior now. is it smarter to grind the LSAT and apply this cycle, or take a gap year, work an IP-adjacent job, and apply with a stronger score? i don't want to rush the LSAT just to apply on schedule.
3. anything CS people specifically get wrong about law school admissions that i should know going in?

appreciate any straight answers, especially on the scholarship math.

hey all. i'm a senior CS major at a small liberal arts college (3.8 gpa) and i want to end up in IP/tech law. originally my plan was to take the patent bar, work as a patent agent or technical specialist to get some experience (and ideally have a firm help pay for law school), then get my JD and become a patent attorney.

but the more i look into it the less sure i am about the agent step. a few things i'm trying to figure out:

1. my CS program isn't ABET accredited, so i'd be qualifying under Category B, not A. i made a list of my coursework but i'm honestly not sure if i clear it without taking extra lab science. for those of you who went Category B, how annoying was that process and did OED actually give you a clear answer before you sat?
2. i'll keep it a buck, i've read a couple patents and found them dense and kind of hard to get through. i like the conceptual side of IP a lot (especially AI/art/copyright stuff) but i don't love the deep technical reading. does that mean patent prosecution is just not for me, or is that normal at first?
3. is starting as an agent actually worth it if i know i want the JD anyway, or am i adding a step that doesn't pay off?

genuinely want the honest version even if it's "don't." thanks.