©2021. Published in Landslide, Vol. 13, No. 4, March/April 2021, by the American Bar Association. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. This information or any portion thereof may not be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or stored in an electronic database or retrieval system without the express written consent of the American Bar Association or the copyright holder.
March 31, 2021 Feature
Charting Their Courses: Six IP Professionals Find Different Paths to Where They Are Today
When we admire people who have great and interesting careers, we often overlook the many paths that come with their success and satisfaction. Careers are never a linear process, but are filled with bumps, surprises, and sometimes even abrupt changes. As a junior lawyer, I never imagined myself as a partner at a big law firm specializing in intellectual property and working on high-profile trademark cases. Mine was a whim that turned into a career I love.
How do you stay on track? How do you ensure what path is right for you? How do you take control and direct your own course? There are countless stories where people started careers that did not follow a straight line but meandered until they landed on the right foot.
We talk to several attorneys about how they charted their courses and, often through unexpected circumstances, wound up on top. With dedication, hard work, and especially an open mind to follow where your path takes you, things tend to turn out the way they are supposed to. Just remember to let the fun in!
—Megan K. Bannigan