Christina Stock ‘98
Christina Stock is a Patent Resource Attorney at Cooley LLP’s Boston office. She’s responsible for guiding the firm’s patent professionals on the rules and regulations required by U.S. and international patent offices. Her role is a little bit of everything: searching for esoteric answers to questions posed to her, facilitating transatlantic work with patent colleagues in London, and spending a lot of time keeping up to date on the evolving field of patent law. Her work primarily deals with patents, trade secrets, and licensing laws.
Before her career in patent law, Christina obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Biomedical Sciences from Harvard University and then her Juris Doctorate from WCL in 1998. As a WCL student, she was a member of the American University Law Review and Intellectual Property Law Society.
Christina's interest in patent law stems from the field’s everchanging nature, with novel technologies burgeoning there are always more niches to explore. Additionally, her parents have a stem background, and her father practiced patent law, so she always saw it as a potential career path.
What skills have you developed most throughout your practice experience?
The skill I developed the most throughout practice is writing persuasively. As a patent attorney, your ability to help clients hinges on your proficiency in communicating complex science concepts to people without science backgrounds in a simplistic manner, on top of the ability to convey law concepts to a non-legal audience. Improving your skill to speak persuasively in both areas assists your capacity to help your client. Other skills I’ve developed in practice include attention to detail. When you’re at a firm, they pay for your time and your production of excellent work, so exceptional attention to detail lets you demonstrate your value to a project and issue. Additionally, when you are tasked with an assignment and are unsure what to say or do, it is better to say, “I was thinking this because of ___” than say you are “unsure what to do.” Finally, bring positivity and a can-do attitude!
How has your work changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began?
The most significant change is the integration of a hybrid work environment. During COVID-19, we worked from home for two and a half years. I enjoy the integration of a hybrid work environment as it allows lawyers to work remotely, which helps with productivity and maintaining work-life balance.
What advice would you give WCL law students?
You should ensure you like the field you’re practicing in. You won’t know you don’t like something unless you call alums or other connections to inquire about practice in that field. You should ask many questions to adjunct professors, alums, and especially career services. Ask career services for information on people working in a large firm or the patent office, and ask lots of questions to find the area of law and practice that would suit you.
Which doctrinal classes would you recommend for students?
I primarily engage with the corporate and litigation patent group in my current role. I think licensing, transaction, and corporation coursework is helpful as you can likely be brought in to work on a deal or IPO, and knowing how patent law fits into the bigger picture helps your investment in your work. Additionally, I recommend taking bar classes before you graduate as it makes studying for the bar much more manageable.