I'm currently working as a software engineer( more like an algorithm engineer), and I decided to apply next cycle. I got a decent LSAT score on Jan test, so I didn't worry about test preparation. The thing is my current job is nothing related to practicing law. I want to be a patent lawyer after law school, so I searched online about patent agent job( and also patent assistant). However, the salary for inexperienced patent agent is only one third of my current salary. TBH, I didn't care about money. I had enough saving. How important is work experience related to job hunting after law school? Is it stupid to give up my current job for less lucrative position?

Thanks for your advice.