Do you want to become a patent attorney? If yes, here are the steps to make your dream come true. To become a patent attorney, you must study for a minimum of seven years and pass a minimum of three exams at various periods in your education.
The following is a six steps list required to become a patent attorney. Know more about how to become a patent attorney.
Intellectual property attorneys or Patent attorneys by law are entrusted with the responsibility of drafting, filing patent applications, and fighting cases concerning infringement, licensing, and re-examination on the client’s behalf. They are also expected to know a bit of technical know-how related to the client’s inventions, biotechnology, or computer science
The patent attorneys are required to give patent ability opinions in court. Patent attorneys are bound to be admitted by the bar association of any district of any state. In the US for instance most patent attorneys are found in California, New York, and Texas. The states with the highest number of patent attorneys are in Delaware.
The USPTO or United states patent and trademark office are responsible for conducting examinations to make, and register patent attorneys, and grant license to practice across the United States. The USPTO thoroughly assesses the candidate’s knowledge of US patent laws, associated federal rules, and regulations. Besides the USPTO also judges how candidates conduct themselves ethically.
The pattern of the examination consists of 100 multiple choice questions with 6 hours to complete which is divided into 3 hours in the morning and 3 in the afternoon.
1. Obtain a degree in either science or engineering.
The first step toward becoming a patent attorney is to earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering or science from an accredited university, which typically takes four years to complete. This may offer you the technical knowledge base you need to understand the patents you will be working with. As a result, you can choose a major in a subject area that interests you. If you go into a rapidly expanding sector, such as patent law, you might discover a more significant need for specialists in your particular area.
If you hold a bachelor’s degree in a subject that is neither science nor engineering, then you can substitute some graduate coursework in science or engineering for the requirement. If you want to become a patent attorney, this course of study aims to prepare you to pass the examination administered by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). If you choose to continue your education and earn a graduate degree, you must complete the necessary number of credit hours to meet this requirement.
2. Get your LSAT score
The next step is to sit for the Law School Admission Test, sometimes known as the LSAT. There is a multiple-choice question that tests your reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning. A written portion of the exam requires you to compose an essay in response to a chosen topic at random.
3. Enroll in a law program
After earning a passing score on the LSAT, the next step toward earning your Juris Doctor degree is to enroll in and graduate from a recognized law school. There are a variety of concentrations available to students interested in studying law, including copyright and trademark law, intellectual property law, and patent law. If you attend school full-time, it will typically take you three years to earn your degree. On the other hand, part-time evening programs can take anywhere from four to five years to complete.
4. Be successful in the state bar examination
To become a lawyer in the state where you wish to work, you will first need to pass the bar test. The bar exam varies substantially depending on where in the country you take it; nonetheless, the vast majority of states utilize at least some of the bar exam components defined by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Essay questions and longer assignments designed to assess applicants’ legal responses to diverse scenarios are also included in these examinations, in addition to multiple-choice questions covering several sub fields of law and the ethical obligations of lawyers.
5. Acquire a patent and sign up for an account with the USPTO
To engage in the legal practice of patent law, one must first register with the USPTO. This necessitates submitting an application and achieving a passing score on a multiple-choice examination called the patent bar test. This test requires either prior coursework or work experience in the fields of science or engineering; however, a bachelor’s degree may be considered sufficient in its place. Work done at the graduate level does not automatically qualify you for the position, but it may be sufficient if it satisfies the particular credit-hour requirements.
6. Give some thought to obtaining extra specialized schooling
If you are interested in expanding your area of expertise, you might want to think about earning a master of laws degree, sometimes known as an LL.M., in a particular field, such as patent litigation or international intellectual property law. Obtaining one of these degrees requires a typical time commitment of twelve months of studying continuously.
