Eric Phillips ’21 is an Associate at Kinney & Lange in Minneapolis. 
An interest in understanding cutting-edge technology drove Phillips to a patent law career. “While practicing patent law, you consistently interface with engineers and scientists that teach you about their inventions. Oftentimes, these inventors are at the top of their respective fields and are excited to teach you about their inventions. I enjoy learning and feel that patent law is the perfect field to learn continually,” said Phillips.
Phillips earned his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University. After graduation, he worked as a process engineer at 3M in Hutchinson, Minnesota for three years before starting law school. During law school, he worked full time as a manufacturing engineer at 3M’s corporate headquarters before he began working as a law clerk at Kinney & Lange after his second year of law school.
It was important to Phillips to work full time in law school to pay down undergraduate student loan debt. “The part-time evening program coupled with the patent program at Mitchell Hamline was the selling factor for me. Further, I knew that I wanted to end up in the Twin Cities, and I knew that Mitchell Hamline has a strong alumni network throughout the Twin Cities,” said Phillips.
When asked about his time at Mitchell Hamline, Phillips said, “Professor Moy is one of the most brilliant professors I have ever had. He is truly an expert in the field that takes pride in teaching patent law to his students. Professor Moy is a great storyteller and leverages that skill to make some of the most complicated areas of patent law easier to understand. Lastly, as a mechanical engineer, Professor Moy, who is also a mechanical engineer, utilizes diagrams and schematics to explain the law in a unique and easy-to-understand way.”
Phillips suggests that prospective law students connect with the professors that teach in their desired area of practice. He said, “I was fortunate to meet Professor Moy when he gave me a tour of Mitchell Hamline. After that meeting, I knew that Professor Moy would be a great professor and help me achieve my goals.”
Phillips was also featured in the Winter 2019 edition of Mitchell Hamline Law on page 12.