[AnnieBL]

I'm retired now, but I was a patent attorney/agent licensed to practice in various jurisdictions (UK, Canada, US, Europe), and handling a wide range of technologies, electronics by preference, but also pharmaceutical, chemical, medical,general mechanical, computer, agricultural, you name it, as well as other forms of intellectual property and a certain amount of litigation backup work. My wife too; she was one of the earlier female entrants to the profession in the UK, and beat me out for the job I was seeking with what was then one of the most old-fashioned firms in the business: I only got to meet her (long story) after the firm concerned had another unexpected vacancy and in effect she got to teach me the job. We never again worked for the same firm after she moved on from there. In the early 1990's I was by default handling my then firm's IT work on the side, if you are looking for an occupational trend.