For any sort of private job you will want to have taken the patent bar examination. You can self-study or take a review course. I think it's easiest and "best" to start your career in patent law at the patent office. It's not required but will be easier because they do a great job training and...
I expect that the difference will not be fully appreciated in the legal profession (i.e. it probably won't make any practical difference either way regarding employment or prestige in the industry).
1) Probably not very high in demand but check your local job boards and postings. Scientific advisers are most common in super high tech areas (advanced EE, advanced chemistry, pharma), not sure if general physics would fall into that territory but it depends on your area of expertise. It's not...
Sorry, I can't help you there as I took the patent bar a decade ago. All I know is is the extensive undergrad-esque programs are unnecessarily time intensive and expensive.
The debt is to be taken seriously. That said, if it's what you want to do, it can be worth it. You just don't want to go in blindly, not knowing the costs and how that'll affect your life once you graduate. There is the potential to make big bucks (and also even a nice salary) in patent law...
" I like Copy Right and Trademark law, but I'm concerned that there is not much demand for that specific area, and that patent lawyers would just do those, instead of having different lawyers work on them"
This is definitely not the situation. If you want to do TM or (c), go for it.
How did I support myself? I took out 100K in loans and worked in the school computer lab a few hours a week. I still have 20 years left to pay it off. My first boss said he paid off his loans (from back in the 80s) with his first paycheck. It's a whole different world right now and that's why...
You'll see from job postings that there's a greater need for patent attorneys with EE backgrounds as compared to aerospace or comp si/engr.
I went straight through engineering and law school to being a patent attorney. Industry experience is valued but not required.
My questions are this:
1) How desirable is someone with my background? I'm not sure if having a wide breadth (physics, nuclear engineering, nuclear forensics, and geophysics) is seen as a good thing, or if companies would rather have someone with just one focus.
Not common but not undesirable...
Keep in mind that this post originated a long time ago. I'm now in a different employment situation so I have a bit more perspective and input. Currently I work at a firm that allows me to work as much or as little as I want (granted I don't think I could work 80 hours a week because there...