Robert Goetz is a 2002 graduate of the Joint Degree Program, with a JD plus an MS in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology & Genetics. He began his law studies in 1999 and enrolled in the Graduate School in 2000. Mr. Goetz was elected by the Joint Degree Program students to represent them on the JDP's Governing Committee in 2001-02. During Summer 2001 he worked at the Chicago-based law firm of Roper & Quigg, primarily conducting patent litigation. He now works at Medlen & Carroll, a biotechnology patent prosecution and litigation firm located in Madison, WI. He received his BA in Psychology and premedical studies from the University of Minnesota.
Thoughts about Joint Degree Program (JDP):
"The JDP allows me to practice the type of law I want to practice. Although it still is early in my career, I can definitely say that I would not be prosecuting biotechnology patents right now if it were not for the JDP. When I started law school, I had an undergraduate science degree. I was interested in biotechnology patents, but soon found out that without an advanced degree in the field, employment options were very limited. The JDP gave me the opportunity to not only get my law degree from a top 20 law school, but also get the necessary advanced degree for biotech patent law.
"While enrolled in the JDP, I quickly learned the value of juggling academic mindsets. This is a very valuable asset in the patent community. While prosecuting patents, I often have to switch back and forth between legal and scientific mindsets. I learned a lot in the JDP with the seminars, the conferences, the lectures, the coursework, the labwork, my personal presentations, etc., but learning how to switch back and forth between legal and scientific frames is what prepared me most for my career.
"Being a part of two academic worlds also allows you to develop two subsets of friends. I had the opportunity to develop friendships with law students and molecular genetics students.
"My training is comparable to that of my colleagues at Medlen & Carroll, in that we all have law degrees and advanced biology degrees. The only difference is that I was able to complete my law degree and masters degree in four years, versus some of my colleagues, who spent five, six, and up to ten years in school."
