Photo courtesy of Sydney Blanchard
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Sydney Blanchard is not only studying for her juris doctor at Detroit Mercy Law, she also is participating in the Intellectual Property Law Intern Program offered by Howard & Howard.
“It’s been highly beneficial for my growth, with a very hands-on approach,” says Blanchard, a former chemical engineer who worked in the pharmaceutical industry.
“The partners and associates are more than willing to mentor and teach, giving me a unique opportunity to learn patent law firsthand. I really appreciate that the internship runs year-round, allowing me to fully capitalize on the experience before I graduate and further enhance my skills in patent law.”
With a goal of specializing in intellectual property law, Blanchard plans to become a skilled patent attorney, leveraging her technical expertise and legal acumen to help inventors protect their groundbreaking work; and she eventually hopes to grow within a firm that shares her values of service and innovation.
“Patent law is a perfect blend of my technical background in chemical engineering and my desire to serve others by safeguarding intellectual property,” she says. “I’m passionate
about being a champion for inventors, ensuring their innovations are protected and recognized. Patent law offers the constant intellectual challenge I thrive on, with opportunities to learn about groundbreaking technologies while applying legal expertise.”
Blanchard started on her career trajectory with an undergrad degree in chemical engineering from Michigan State University.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve loved pursuing things that challenge me. I’ve always had a hunger for knowledge, particularly in math and science, fields where I felt women were underrepresented,” she says. “My decision to study engineering was not only for my personal goals but to be a representation for other young women, showing them they can achieve success in these fields as well. My background in chemical engineering reflects my passion for understanding how things work and using that knowledge to make a difference.”
After graduation, Blanchard spent a 6-month contract working for Pfizer and then a year as a validation engineer for Performance Validation, a pharmaceutical company in Portage. She developed verification and qualification deliverables, including risk management, functional design specifications, test protocols, and summary reports. She executed test protocols, tracked, and managed change control activities for multiple projects, and more.
“Working at Pfizer allowed me to apply my technical knowledge in a meaningful way, specifically in aiding the facilitation of life-changing medicines. Being able to contribute to the development and validation of medications that improve and save lives was incredibly rewarding,” she says. “It also gave me an opportunity to work in a highly regulated environment where precision and adaptability were critical, which honed my problem-solving and collaboration skills.”
Blanchard finds her previous work/life experience is an advantage.
“My background in engineering and experience at Pfizer gave me strong analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to work under pressure. These skills transfer directly to law school, especially in areas like patent law, where understanding technical details is crucial,” she says. “Having worked in a professional setting also makes me more adept at managing time and collaborating effectively, both essential in legal studies and practice.”
She headed to Detroit Mercy Law in August 2023 and will graduate in 2026.
“My decision to go to law school was driven by my passion for service, innovation, and my faith. UDM’s Jesuit values align with my commitment to serve others, while also allowing me to stay close to my family,” she says.
“Additionally, UDM's strong bar-centered curriculum provides an excellent foundation for legal success, which appealed to me as someone eager to excel in patent law.”
Legal News
Sydney Blanchard is not only studying for her juris doctor at Detroit Mercy Law, she also is participating in the Intellectual Property Law Intern Program offered by Howard & Howard.
“It’s been highly beneficial for my growth, with a very hands-on approach,” says Blanchard, a former chemical engineer who worked in the pharmaceutical industry.
“The partners and associates are more than willing to mentor and teach, giving me a unique opportunity to learn patent law firsthand. I really appreciate that the internship runs year-round, allowing me to fully capitalize on the experience before I graduate and further enhance my skills in patent law.”
With a goal of specializing in intellectual property law, Blanchard plans to become a skilled patent attorney, leveraging her technical expertise and legal acumen to help inventors protect their groundbreaking work; and she eventually hopes to grow within a firm that shares her values of service and innovation.
“Patent law is a perfect blend of my technical background in chemical engineering and my desire to serve others by safeguarding intellectual property,” she says. “I’m passionate
about being a champion for inventors, ensuring their innovations are protected and recognized. Patent law offers the constant intellectual challenge I thrive on, with opportunities to learn about groundbreaking technologies while applying legal expertise.”
Blanchard started on her career trajectory with an undergrad degree in chemical engineering from Michigan State University.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve loved pursuing things that challenge me. I’ve always had a hunger for knowledge, particularly in math and science, fields where I felt women were underrepresented,” she says. “My decision to study engineering was not only for my personal goals but to be a representation for other young women, showing them they can achieve success in these fields as well. My background in chemical engineering reflects my passion for understanding how things work and using that knowledge to make a difference.”
After graduation, Blanchard spent a 6-month contract working for Pfizer and then a year as a validation engineer for Performance Validation, a pharmaceutical company in Portage. She developed verification and qualification deliverables, including risk management, functional design specifications, test protocols, and summary reports. She executed test protocols, tracked, and managed change control activities for multiple projects, and more.
“Working at Pfizer allowed me to apply my technical knowledge in a meaningful way, specifically in aiding the facilitation of life-changing medicines. Being able to contribute to the development and validation of medications that improve and save lives was incredibly rewarding,” she says. “It also gave me an opportunity to work in a highly regulated environment where precision and adaptability were critical, which honed my problem-solving and collaboration skills.”
Blanchard finds her previous work/life experience is an advantage.
“My background in engineering and experience at Pfizer gave me strong analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to work under pressure. These skills transfer directly to law school, especially in areas like patent law, where understanding technical details is crucial,” she says. “Having worked in a professional setting also makes me more adept at managing time and collaborating effectively, both essential in legal studies and practice.”
She headed to Detroit Mercy Law in August 2023 and will graduate in 2026.
“My decision to go to law school was driven by my passion for service, innovation, and my faith. UDM’s Jesuit values align with my commitment to serve others, while also allowing me to stay close to my family,” she says.
“Additionally, UDM's strong bar-centered curriculum provides an excellent foundation for legal success, which appealed to me as someone eager to excel in patent law.”
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