Has anyone given patent bar exam in usa?

Can one study MPEP on ones own or a review course is a must?

The websites for patbar say there are lots of openings for patent attorneys with starting salary at US$ 130,000 . Is this a reliable information?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I don't think that you "must" take a patent bar review course (live). However, I would certainly go out and buy the books for a review course or buy the Barbri Books from someone who did the live course. With regards to that, the Barbri software (which attempts to mimic the test) is excellent. The attempt to make it like the test is only so-so, but the explanations on why each answer is right or wrong is excellent. I think that I sold my old Barbri stuff for about $500, so I imagine you cold get a set of books for something like that on eBay (but make sure they send you a copy of the software).

With regards to the 130K jobs -- they are out there. The economy didn't hit IP as bad as other areas. Passing the patent bar will help get those jobs. In order to find such jobs, beyond looking just at big firms, look at patent prosecution boutiques. Of course, if your grades are not that great, you are going to have a tough time. That's the way it is with any job though.

Thanks a lot, mschuster43. Very helpful and encouraging answers to both questions.

One quick question - when you say 'if your grades are not that great...' - you refer to law school grades or grades in patbar exam?

Thanks.

I mean your law school grades. More specifically, I mean your JD grades (LLM grades aren't nearly as important). The patent bar is a pass/fail test.

Thanks a lot.