Haley Ball, Ph.D. ‘23
Haley S. Ball, Ph.D. is an associate at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. She graduated from American University Washington College of Law in Spring ’23 and passed the DC bar exam in October ‘23. Haley is the former Editor-in-Chief of the American University Intellectual Property Brief. She was also a student attorney in the Washington College of Law Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Clinic, a Legal Rhetoric Dean’s Fellow, and a member of the American University Law Review. She holds a Ph.D. and B.S. in Biochemistry from George Mason University, and the University of Maryland, College Park—respectively.
What led you to work in patent law?
During my undergraduate degree, I learned about patent law during a course on alternative careers for chemistry majors. I was interested because I thought that being a patent attorney would unite two sides of myself: one as a scientist, and one as a writer. I applied to be a biotech paralegal at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, P.L.L.C., where I worked for two years after I finished my bachelor’s degree. My experience as a paralegal made me realize that I wanted a career in patent law. To pursue this goal, I returned to school for my doctorate in biochemistry and my law degree. I returned to the firm for two summer associate positions before accepting my current full-time associate position.
How would you describe biotech patent law to someone who isn’t familiar with the field?
I work with clients in the biotech and chemistry fields to legally protect their inventions. Some of my clients are larger pharmaceutical companies, and some of them are smaller start-up companies. However, they all have biotechnology- or chemistry-related inventions—such as cancer therapeutics, vaccines, small molecule drugs, or even alternative meat products—that need patent protection. There are two major aspects of patent protection: (1) obtaining a patent for the invention and (2) enforcing that patent against infringers.
What did you do in law school in pursuit of being a patent attorney?
I knew before entering law school that I wanted to be a patent attorney, so I took all the patent law courses available to me, including patent law, patent prosecution, and patent litigation. I also took all the other intellectual property law courses that I could, including copyright law and trademark prosecution. This approach enriched my understanding of patent law and provided me with a foundational knowledge of the other forms of intellectual property protection. Because of this approach, I feel more confident that I can give clients well-rounded advice about their options for IP protection. I also took courses in interviewing and counseling, and negotiation. Those two classes really strengthened my overall lawyer skills, and I highly recommend all law students take those classes regardless of the area of law they plan to practice in. Being able to negotiate for your client, actively listen to your client, and effectively counsel your client is key to being a good lawyer. Good client service is essential to being a good lawyer.
What was your experience with extracurriculars in law school like?
I joined the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic as a student attorney and was the Editor-in-Chief of the American University Intellectual Property Brief from 2022-2023. Participating in the Clinic was a great experience because it enhanced my understanding of patent and trademark law. However, the most valuable aspect of participating in the Clinic was getting to interact directly with our clients. Client counseling is very much a learned skill and an important skill.
What advice do you have for those interested in intellectual property law?
I would recommend taking the IP survey course. This class is great for exposing yourself to the different areas of intellectual property law: patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret. I didn’t take this class since I was already sure I wanted to focus on patent law, but I highly recommend it to anyone who isn’t 100% sure what area of intellectual property law they want to practice. I also highly advise those interested in intellectual property law to join the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic and the Intellectual Property Brief. The Brief is a publication, but it is also a great way to meet other people who are similarly interested in intellectual property law.
Can you speak about women’s representation in patent law?
There is a discrepancy in the number of men and women who are USPTO-registered patent agents and attorneys. The same goes for white people and people of color. To prosecute patents before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, you need to pass the Patent Bar. To qualify to take the Patent Bar, you need a STEM degree. Some areas of STEM have lower rates of representation for women and people of color, largely due to isolation and lack of support, so this disparity perpetuates in the number of registered patent agents and attorneys. I think, if more education was done to share patent law as a career path with students before they begin college, and universities took more measures to make the experience of pursuing STEM as a woman or person of color less isolating and more supportive, the field would have the opportunity to diversify. Overall, I know my firm is always looking for people with diverse backgrounds despite these hurdles.