Ryan Cox is a Law Clerk at Xcel Energy in Minneapolis. Cox is expected to graduate in 2021. He hopes to find either a federal judicial clerkship or a position as a patent litigator at a firm in Minneapolis. 
Cox graduated from Rice University with a degree in Psychology. When asked why he chose patent law he said, “I’ve always had an interest in science and technology, but I’ve also developed an interest in entrepreneurship. So the marrying of those two interests drove me to patent law where I can see myself practicing in the field for many years.”
Mitchell Hamline’s strong part-time enrollment option drew Cox to the school since this would allow him to work during the day and attend law school in the evenings. He has been working in the General Counsel’s office at Xcel Energy for the last year and a half. “It’s been a great learning experience overall and a perfect place to meet several seasoned attorneys and broaden my legal network,” said Cox.
The Intellectual Property Institute appealed to Cox because it gave him the opportunity to pursue a Patent Law Certificate. Cox noted, “The Institute also provided competent faculty advisors to guide me through the curriculum and life after law school.”
Cox’s favorite course has been Patent Law II. “It’s aptly positioned in the patent law curriculum where students have some comprehension of the U.S. patent system, but not enough to be dangers. So, it is a sweet spot where I can confidently pose questions about the material being covered and also think creatively about the issues facing the patent system today and in the future,” said Cox.
Cox wanted to ensure prospective students understood that you do not have to have a scientific or technical background to be a patent litigator. He said, “If you have a desire to join the patent field and are unsure about your prospects due to having a non-scientific background, then I’d recommend reaching out to a current professor or alum who is currently working in the field without an engineering or science degree.”