Need? No. But would the technical degree make you more marketable for IP litigation opportunities in the market today? Yes. Particularly if you possessed an electrical engineering (EE) or computer science (CS) degree.

With that said, a technical background is not a hard requirement to transition to an IP litigation practice or to be a successful IP litigator. In fact, many of the finest IP litigators practicing today do not possess technical backgrounds. It’s important to note; however that these partners do have a team of technical lawyers on deck to assist with cases and participate in pitches for business. So make no bones about it, the technical expertise is an essential part of a successful IP litigation practice.