What do you view as the highlights of your career? These can be in terms of greatest challenges, most satisfying achievements, or most enjoyable projects.

Patent litigation requires managing a huge amount of moving variables, including the balance of advocacy toward a broader patent (which may in turn invalidate the patent in light of prior teachings) or a narrower patent (which may mean that a defendant's product no longer infringes). My highlights include the times I have successfully generated a succinct document that can explain complex technology in simple terms and in a persuasive manner while balancing all of those variables. These situations serve as my greatest challenges and most satisfying achievements. In prosecuting patents before the Patent Office, I can see a new invention literally every single day. The challenge there is to be able to pick up a new file, learn an invention, determine how it is an improvement over prior teachings and express that distinction in words that will later be picked apart by someone litigating that patent. Every day is a challenge and is rewarding.

Relate your education to your career and current responsibilities.

I use my education in electrical engineering every single day. Its breadth benefits me the most. My practice requires me to be a generalist in technology while still being able to specialize. In litigation, one patent may be the focus for years at a time. In that case, I may become close to an expert in that technology -- though the day that the potential matter came through the door, if I didn't have at least some background, I may not have been able to convince a client that I had the technical expertise to competently handle the matter. In patent procurement, I may have only one day (or less than a day) to pick up an existing file, learn the invention and distinguish it. A breadth of technical background is again required.

What specific advice would you offer to engineering students as they complete their education and prepare to launch their careers?

A degree in engineering is an incredibly powerful and impressive credential. There are many who cannot handle the curriculum and will be impressed (and will form an opinion of you) as soon as they learn of your education. There are many career paths available for the educated engineer. Keep an open mind and never stop learning. Your worst or least favorite subject may be where the technology jobs are. College was just the start of your education. You now have the fundamental tools to attack any engineering project. There's a good chance you won't know all you need to handle your first tasks, but you will know where to begin.

As counsel in WolfBlock's Intellectual Property/Information Technology practice, Steven Rubin advises clients throughout all phases of a patent's life from conception to enforcement. He helps clients determine what intellectual property protection is recommended in light of business objectives and drafts and prosecutes corresponding patent applications. He manages large patent portfolios, identifies potential patent infringement assertions and potential cross-licensing opportunities and provides infringement opinions as needed. Mr. Rubin also reviews patent portfolios and pending patent litigation in relation to corporate mergers, acquisitions and investments. He is a graduate of Hofstra University School of Law and the New York Institute of Technology.