You can be an IP lawyer without a STEM degree. You can even be a patent attorney but only on the litigation side.As others have indicated, to practice before the U.S. Patent Office you must have a science or engineering background, not just a law license. You must have a undergrad degree in specific science fields or significant science class hours. You absolutely do not need hard sciences for anything related to copyright and trademarks, including in a law firm. Unlike traditional bar exams, applicants do not need a legal background. There are a number of areas in IP that don't require a science background. As rayiner mentioned, there is IP litigation. What if I Have a Law Degree, but No Science or Engineering Background? A: Sure, you can file a patent application, and there are plenty of help out there for pro se inventors.