According to the USPTO
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.
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For chemistry graduates considering a career in patent law, Padget advises exploring the different private practice and in-house roles. ‘They are really different – if you want a variety of clients then you want to be in private practice, but an in-house role allows you to gain more commercial experience.’
This article has been viewed 100,847 times. To become a patent lawyer in the U.S., one must register to practice law with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
To register to practice law with the USPTO, a person must meet general requirements, such as possessing the requisite scientific and technical training, as well as a strong moral character. In addition, he must pass the Patent Bar, a multiple-choice exam administered by both the USPTO and the commercial test delivery provider, Prometric.
Apply to register with the USPTO. To take the Patent Bar, you must first apply to register with the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) at the USPTO. You will need to complete the "Application for Registration to Practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office" (Form PTO-158) and send it to Mailstop OED, U. S.
What Should I Major in to Become a Patent Attorney ? Most Patent Attorneys, 36% to be exact, major in Law. Some other common majors for a Patent Attorney include Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies and Electrical Engineering majors.
Individuals who want to become a patent agent need to pass the patent bar exam. You do not need a law degree or legal training to take the patent bar: all you need is a bachelor's degree in science or engineering (for more information, click here and here).
It is quite hard to become a patent attorney, but it's not impossible. You have to be someone who can sit down for long hours to study and prepare for your examinations.
Careers in patent law offer good -- that is, usually interesting and well remunerated -- job opportunities. Although becoming an attorney requires additional training, long-term career prospects are often much better than, say, those of becoming a faculty member at a research-intensive institution.
A degree in a science, engineering, technology or a mathematics based subject, or equivalent, from a recognised institution is strongly preferred. Most firms also require at least a 2:1 in a first degree.
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Stress may come in the form of long working hours, demanding clients, and tight deadlines, but that is true for any law firm. You may enjoy the job aspect where you interact with clients and their creative ideas, discussing their invention, and researching the likelihood of successfully attaining a patent.
Despite being an open book exam, the patent bar exam is one of the toughest in the country, with less than 50% passing since 2013. Many students put in additional hours post-course of study but still feel like they're ill-prepared and nervous on exam day.
Entry to the patent attorney profession is highly competitive. We and other firms do receive many more high-quality applications than we have places to offer. Some firms offer limited work experience, but this is quite rare and we are not among them.
Because there are so many patents, it is difficult to innovate without risking a suit for patent infringement. Therefore, it is vital that inventors enlist the help of an attorney who has knowledge about a specific industry and who can guide the inventor through the patent process.
Although obtaining a law degree is not essential after your PhD, it is recommended, and all patent agents must pass rigorous qualifying exams. Further down the road, training in patent law offers opportunities for in-house work in biotech companies, business development, and mergers and acquisitions.
A day in the office for me might involve: assessing technology and advising on whether it is patentable. drafting and filing a patent application. going through the application process, eg responding to a patent examiner's report and arguing why the invention should be granted a patent.