It is not the law schools that have requirements for Patent Law, it is the Patent Bar. If you want to practice Patent Law you have to take and pass the Patent Bar. In order to take and pass the Patent Bar you have to either have a BS degree or you have to have taken certain science classes.
Here is a link to the US Patent and Trademark Office.
A lot of firms require you to be a member of the Patent Bar to work in their IP departments.
Regarding having a Bachelor's Degree: In California you don't have to have a Bachelor's in order to take the bar. California Business & Professions Code Section 6060 provides that
Quote:
Before beginning the study of law, have done either of the following:
(1) Completed at least two years of college work, which college work shall be not less than one-half of the collegiate work acceptable for a bachelor's degree granted upon the basis of a four-year period of study by a college or university approved by the examining committee.
(2) Have attained in apparent intellectual ability the equivalent of at least two years of the college work by taking any examinations in such subject matters and achieving the scores thereon as are prescribed by the examining committee.
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But then again, you don't even have to go to law school. B&P Section 6060 goes on to provide that you can sit for the bar if you have done one of the following:
Quote:
(1) Graduated from a law school accredited by the examining committee or approved by the American Bar Association requiring substantially the full time of its students for three years.
(2) Graduated from a law school accredited by the examining committee or approved by the American Bar Association requiring a part only of its students' time for four years.
(3) Studied law diligently and in good faith for at least four years in any of the following manners:
(i) In a law school that is authorized or approved to confer professional degrees and requires classroom attendance of its students for a minimum of 270 hours a year. A person who has received his or her legal education in a foreign state or country wherein the common law of England does not constitute the basis of jurisprudence shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the examining committee that his or her education, experience, and qualifications qualify him or her to take the examination.
(ii) In a law office in this state and under the personal supervision of a member of the State Bar of California who is, and for at least five years last past continuously has been, engaged in the active practice of law. It is the duty of the supervising attorney to render any periodic reports to the examining committee as the committee may require.
(iii) In the chambers and under the personal supervision of a judge of a court of record of this state. It is the duty of the supervising judge to render any periodic reports to the examining committee as the committee may require.
(iv) By instruction in law from a correspondence law school authorized or approved to confer professional degrees by this state, which requires 864 hours of preparation and study per year for four years.
(v) By any combination of the methods referred to in paragraph (3) of this subdivision.
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Edited b/c I can't seem to write anymore.