Biochem degree should satisfy the academic requirements to sit for the patent bar (no law degree required):
With a law degree from a Tier One law school, she should have an opportunity to become an IP (intellectual property) attorney at a major law firm.
Life Sciences / Tech law firms on the West Coast include:
Typically, universities do not hold merit scholarship awards during one’s gap year. And, no, it would not be wise to take any college courses during one’s gap year as it may disqualify the student from consideration for merit scholarships for first year students. Do research instead.