ADD ADVICE TO FAVPatent attorney
Patent attorneys work in the patent departments of large commercial and industrial companies, government patent departments, or in firms of patent attorneys
What patent attorneys do
- advise on scientific, technical, practical and legal aspects of patents, trademarks, designs and industrial copyrights
- take part in the process of obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights
- increasingly work on protecting clients operating in countries outside the UK.
Key skills
- sound scientific or technical background and relevant degree
- ability to develop and apply legal drafting and writing skills
- an analytical and logical mind
- good command of precise English, both verbal and written
- German or French language skills may be useful.
Training to be a patent attorney
Trainee patent attorneys are sent on a series of in-house courses or undertake a part-time postgraduate course, sponsored by their employers. They then sit a set of statutory examinations run by the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys. Both routes are equally acceptable and the pass rate is similar for each.
It’s also possible to take the postgraduate diploma full time and then seek a trainee post.
All methods of entry are highly competitive, and some employers look for specialist knowledge of subjects such as biotechnology.
Salaries
Comprehensive data on salaries is not available, but pay on entry may be between £16,000 and £30,000. Experienced patent attorneys can command the very highest earnings.
