Jim Butler

Senior Director of Intellectual Property
Sapphire Energy, Inc.
San Diego, CA

"I came to the study of law as a second career, after starting out as a faculty member in the University of Idaho Animal and Veterinary Science Department. I can honestly say that of the many years I spent in college, first as an undergraduate and then a graduate student, the years at the College of Law were some of the most enjoyable. I found the classes to be interesting and the interactions with the instructors to be engaging and challenging. I entered law school with the goal of becoming a patent attorney. Although at the time patent law was not an area of emphasis at the College, the faculty worked with me to realize my goal. I currently work at a small start-up company where, in addition to working in the area of intellectual property, I am called upon to deal with a wide variety of legal issues. My ability to do so is due in no small part to the excellent legal education I received at the University of Idaho."