Hi there, I’m Chris Chankyo Kim!

The guy who went from coding to patent writing (and still loves both)

Hey! Thanks for stopping by. So, who am I? I’m someone who found his sweet spot at the intersection of technology and law—a place I never expected to land when I was pulling all-nighters coding in Stanford’s computer science labs.

My winding path (or how I accidentally found my calling)

I started out earning my BS and MS in Computer Science at Stanford, diving deep into software systems, algorithms, and AI. I loved solving technical puzzles and building things that worked. But somewhere along the way, I noticed something interesting about myself: I got just as excited about explaining these complex concepts to others as I did about coding them.

That realization led me to what I do now—working as a Patent Technical Specialist at Law Firm. Turns out, there’s this perfect middle ground where I get to use my technical knowledge while helping inventors protect their brilliant ideas. Recently, I passed the Patent Bar Exam (which was no joke!), bringing me one step closer to becoming a Patent Attorney.

Why I built this website

Remember searching for career information and feeling like you’re wandering through a maze? That was me when I was trying to figure out if there was life beyond traditional software engineering for a CS graduate.

I created PatentPursuits.com to be the roadmap I wish I’d had. Think of this site as part professional journal, part educational resource for:

  • Fellow tech folks curious about patent careers
  • Inventors trying to navigate the patent maze
  • Anyone fascinated by how emerging tech like AI is shaking up intellectual property
  • People who love a good innovation story (because behind every patent is a human who solved a problem)

What’s next: Law school adventures

Working with patents has shown me I’ve found my happy place—where my love for technology, communication skills, and analytical thinking all come together.

Law school is my next step. While I already work with patent law every day, formal legal education will level up my game from understanding procedures to providing strategic legal advice. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about helping brilliant people protect their innovations—it’s like being part guardian and part translator for ideas that might change the world.

The human behind the resume

When I’m not geeking out over patent applications (yes, they can be fascinating!), you might catch me:

  • Tinkering with coding side projects that my friends politely pretend to understand
  • Volunteering for pro bono work (because everyone deserves access to legal help)
  • Running through neighborhoods at sunrise (the only time I’m truly awake)
  • Practicing Tae Kwon Do (poorly but enthusiastically)
  • Discovering new music that I’ll probably talk your ear off about

As a Korean American immigrant, I navigate between cultures and languages daily. I’m fluent in Korean and English, with enough Spanish to get by—which comes in handy when connecting with diverse clients and communities.

Why this matters (at least to me)

We’re living in this wild moment where technology and law are colliding in ways nobody fully predicted. AI is writing code, blockchain is redefining ownership, and these advances are raising legal questions that have never been asked before.

My science background taught me to approach problems with both creativity and healthy skepticism. In patent work, these same skills help me spot those tiny technical details that can make all the difference between an application being approved or rejected.

Let’s connect!

I’d love to hear from you whether you’re:

  • Curious about jumping from tech to patents
  • An inventor with questions about protecting your ideas
  • A law student interested in the tech side
  • Someone who just finds this stuff as interesting as I do

The coolest journeys rarely follow a straight line. Mine certainly hasn’t! I’m always up for a chat about patents, tech, career pivots, or even just sharing stories. Drop me a line through any of the contact options below.

Coffee’s on me if you’re in the area!