You can be an IP lawyer without a STEM degree. You can even be a patent attorney but only on the litigation side.You absolutely do not need hard sciences for anything related to copyright and trademarks, including in a law firm. In order to qualify for the Patent Exam, you will need at least a bachelor's degree in one of the specified fields of science or engineering. 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. To be eligible for the Patent Bar, candidates typically need a background in science or engineering. There are a number of areas in IP that don't require a science background. As rayiner mentioned, there is IP litigation. Trademarks Lawyer Serving Fulton County, GA. (678) 992-5070; Free Consultation; Offers Video Conferencing. Experienced Georgia Trademark Law Attorney.