how much schooling does it take to become a patent lawyer

by Izabella Klocko 5 min read

Becoming a Patent Attorney usually takes seven years of full-time study after high school—four years of undergraduate study, followed by three years of law school.

How long does it take to become a patent attorney?

Jul 23, 2021 · Becoming a patent attorney requires at least seven years of study and at least three exams at different points. Here are six steps to become a patent attorney: 1. Earn a science or engineering degree. First, a potential patent attorney earns a four-year college degree, usually a Bachelor of Science degree, in an engineering or science field.

What subjects do you need to become a patent attorney?

Nov 05, 2010 · Admission to law school requires a bachelor's degree. Patent attorneys are expected to be experts in the law and the technical, scientific or engineering field in which they concentrate their patent law practice. Thus, students might want to select a field of study that corresponds with the area of patent law that they intend to practice.

Can you become a patent lawyer without a science degree?

Aug 19, 2019 · Complete Law School (3.5 years) Preparing for and passing the patent bar exam (6 months) If you don’t waste any time, complete your coursework on time, and don’t take any time off, you will be able to become a patent attorney within 9 years. The 9-year figure assumes that you haven’t begun your college degree.

How much do patent attorneys make?

How long does it take to become a patent attorney? It will take you 4 years to obtain a bachelor’s degree. It is recommended that students spend 150-300 hours on the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) prep. If your scores are high enough, you will be accepted to law school; be prepared to spend at least 3 years as a full-time student.

What is the best major for patent law?

What is the Best Major for Becoming a Patent Pracitioner? Electrical and mechanical engineers are in the highest demand. Life sciences degrees like biochemistry and molecular biology are also in demand although these typically require higher degree levels (like a Master's degree or Ph. D.).

Is a patent lawyer worth it?

The pros of not hiring a patent attorney are that you eliminate an expense. But, in most cases, any cost of a patent search whether you do it yourself or hire a patent attorney is worth the fees.Aug 6, 2019

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Medical lawyers are among the highest-paid types of lawyers and earn one of the highest median salaries in the legal field.

How expensive is a patent?

A patent attorney will usually charge between $8,000 and $10,000 for a patent application, but the cost can be higher. In most cases, you should budget between $15,000 and $20,000 to complete the patenting process for your invention.

What does a patent attorney do?

A patent attorney (or a patent lawyer) is a licensed professional who specializes in the field of law governing intellectual property (to be exact,...

How much do patent attorneys make?

On average, a patent attorney can make a little more than $137.000 per year in the United States. In case you decide to choose this career path, yo...

How much does it cost to become a patent attorney?

You would certainly need a bachelor’s degree, in order to become a patent attorney (in any major). A year in a university can cost you anywhere bet...

What is the demand for patent attorneys?

Between 2016 and 2026, the lawyer job market (including patent attorneys) is expected to grow by 8.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics....

How long does it take to become a patent attorney?

It will take you 4 years to obtain a bachelor’s degree. It is recommended that students spend 150-300 hours on the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test...

Step 1: Obtain an Undergraduate Degree

Admission to law school requires a bachelor's degree. Patent attorneys are expected to be experts in the law and the technical, scientific or engineering field in which they concentrate their patent law practice. Thus, students might want to select a field of study that corresponds with the area of patent law that they intend to practice.

Step 2: Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and Apply to Law School

Applicants to law school must take the LSAT, which consists of multiple-choice questions and an essay. The exam is designed to test students' analytic and logic skills.

Step 3: Graduate From Law School

Law school requires three years of full-time study, but some schools offer part-time programs that take longer. Courses completed during law school cover topics like civil and criminal law and procedures, contract law, torts, legal writing and research, constitutional law and ethics.

Step 4: Pass the Bar Examination

Law school graduates are required to pass a state bar examination before being able to practice as a lawyer in that state. Bar exams are generally 2-3 days long and might consist of multiple-choice questions and essays.

Step 5: Gain Experience

Most employers prefer patent attorneys with at least two years' experience. Aspiring patent lawyers can gain this experience by working in a law firm specializing in patent law. During this time, these lawyers can learn about patent applications and trial practice.

What education do I need to become a patent attorney?

Required Education and Background to Become a Patent Attorney. According to the USPTO, to become a patent attorney an individual is required to have a degree in science or engineering , however, there is an exception to this rule. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than the subjects we covered, ...

What major do I need to become a patent lawyer?

Here is a list of majors that the patent office wants to see applicant have: Biology. Chemistry. Physics. Engineering. Computer Engineering. Electrical Engineering. Microbiology.

Why do patent attorneys need to communicate?

Patent attorneys must have great oral and written communication skills because a large portion of their job depends on communicating ideas to others. Whether you’re drafting a patent application or you’re communicating with the patent office, you must be able to communicate clearly and effectively.

How much does a patent attorney make?

How Much Money Does a Patent Attorney Make? According to PayScale, the average starting pay for a patent attorney is $138,054. On the lower end of the pay scale, attorneys make $82,000 and at the high end of the pay scale, patent attorneys make up to $204,000 per year.

What is the USPTO requirement?

The USPTO also requires those seeking to register with the USPTO to have good moral standing. That is, an individual must not have engaged in dishonest behavior or convicted of a crime that requires dishonesty, such as a conviction for fraud.

How many questions are asked in the USPTO exam?

To pass the exam, an individual must answer 70% of the questions correctly or 63 out of the 90 questions correctly.

How to become a patent attorney?

To become a patent attorney, the USPTO requires applicants to have a degree or background in science or engineering, as well as a law degree from an accredited law school in the United States. The individual must then pass the patent bar exam.

Education Requirements to Become a Patent Attorney

Individuals who want to become a Patent Attorney will need several years of education in order to enter this profession.

Patent Attorney Job Description

Patent Attorneys meet and work with clients who have developed and created a product or service that needs protection against copycats.

Patent Attorney Salary and Career Path

The median salary in 2012 for all attorneys, including Patent Attorneys was approximately $113,530 per year.

Frequently Asked Questions

A patent attorney (or a patent lawyer) is a licensed professional who specializes in the field of law governing intellectual property (to be exact, patents).

What is a Patent Lawyer

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a patent lawyer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $48.52 an hour? That's $100,926 a year!

Patent Lawyer Jobs

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Average Salary for a Patent Lawyer

Patent Lawyers in America make an average salary of $100,926 per year or $49 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $190,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $53,000 per year.

Patent Lawyer Demographics

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Online Courses For Patent Lawyer That You May Like

2 courses in 1. Learn the process for patenting your idea, invention and how to trademark you brand...

How Do Patent Lawyer Rate Their Jobs?

Rate how you like work as Patent Lawyer. It's anonymous and will only take a minute.

How many years of experience is needed to become a patent attorney?

The Patent Attorney occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. To be a Patent Attorney typically requires 2 -4 years of related experience.

How much does a patent attorney make?

The average salary range for a Patent Attorney is from $124,267 to $188,468. The salary will change depending on your location, job level, experience, education, and skills.

What is patent attorney?

A patent attorney has specialized education and skills. This representation includes filing patents and trademarks with the USPTO and handling all related matters. A patent attorney must be admitted to practice in at least one state, territory or the District of Columbia.

How to become a patent attorney?

When you’re ready to become a patent attorney, you must register with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and pass the patent bar.

How long is the bar exam?

Generally, the Bar exam consists of two days of testing.

How long before the OED exam do you have to be at the test center?

Arrive at least 30 minutes before the exam is scheduled to begin. Bring a current, valid state or federal government issued ID, such as a driver's license or passport, to the test center. The name on your ID must match the name your name as it appeared in your application to register with the OED.

How many hours of chemistry are required for physics?

24 semester hours in physics (only physics courses for physics majors will be accepted) 32 semester hours in a combination consisting of the following: 8 semester hours of chemistry or 8 semester hours of physics, and 24 semester hours in biology, botany, microbiology, or molecular biology.

Do you have to go to law school to become a lawyer?

Not all states require that a person have completed law school in order to practice law. In Virginia, Vermont, Washington and California, a person is eligible to become a lawyer if he has completed a legal apprenticeship and passes the state Bar exam.

Why do we need patent lawyers?

Patent lawyers are necessary to protect those intellectual property rights. The continuous changes in the internet are bringing us faster machines, applications that help with so much, webcams, video streaming, etc. Inventors and coders are coming up with new stuff all the time and will probably need the work of a patent lawyer when their hard work ...

What degree do you need to become an arbitrator?

Arbitrators or mediators who work between groups or people to help solve disputes outside the legal system need bachelor's degrees.

What do patent attorneys need?

Patent attorneys also need commercial skills like business development and client care. The majority of patent attorneys work in private practices.

What are the qualities of a patent attorney?

4. Commercial awareness. 5. Aptitude for language. There’s no patent for the perfect patent attorney (yes, it would never be approved), but there are certain qualities that most patent attorneys have: 1. An undergraduate degree in a hard science or engineering subject.

Do you have to be a genius to become a patent attorney?

You don’t have to be a genius, but academic qualifications are valued. You may have to get your head round some extremely complex and technical patents in your working life. Around 60% of patent attorney trainees have a postgraduate qualification and around half of these have a PhD.