how to become a european patent attorney

by Celestine Haag 4 min read

To become a patent attorney you need to:

  • have a Master's degree in science or technology;
  • have completed a 3-year traineeship;
  • have passed the Dutch exams for patent attorney.

European Patent Organisation
To be registered, an individual must qualify as a European patent attorney and, to that end, must pass a written examination, the European Qualifying Examination (EQE). The EQE consists of four papers sat over three days, each day lasting between 5 hours and six and a half hours.

Full Answer

How to become a patent attorney?

Qualifying as a European Patent Attorney. If you consider becoming an European Patent Attorney you must satisfy a number of requirements. First of all, you have to have your place of business or employmentin one of EPC Contracting States. In other words, you cannot become a European patent attorney if you are working, for example, in the US or in Japan even though you are a …

What do I need to know to become a European Patent candidate?

Candidates must possess a scientific or technical qualification - for example, in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, electronics, pharmacology or physics. Decisions on qualifications are based on Article 11 (1) (a) of the Regulation on the European qualifying examination (REE) and Rules 11 to 14 of the Implementing provisions to the REE. At the date of the examination, …

What qualifications do you need to be a patent agent?

The PEB sets UK qualifying exams and these must be taken in order to become a registered (UK) patent attorney. The work of the PEB is overseen by an independent Governance Board, which operates autonomously from CIPA Council. Examinations are also set by the European Patent Office (EPO). These must be taken in order to become a European Patent Attorney.

What are the examination papers of the European Patent Office?

How to become a European patent attorney. To become a European patent attorney, you must sit the European qualifying examination (EQE). However, before you will be eligible to take this exam you must: Have a suitable qualification, such as a university degree in science or technology/engineering.

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Can an American become a European patent attorney?

In other words, you cannot become a European patent attorney if you are working, for example, in the US or in Japan even though you are a citizen of an EPC Contracting State. A second requirement is to pass the European qualification examination (EQE).

How do I become a patent attorney in Germany?

A university degree in engineering or natural sciences is the only way to become a patent attorney in Germany. Lawyers cannot become patent attorneys, however they can be fully active in the field of patent law and other fields of industrial property law.

How do I become a patent attorney in the Netherlands?

To become a patent attorney you need to:have a Master's degree in science or technology;have completed a 3-year traineeship;have passed the Dutch exams for patent attorney.

How much do patent attorneys make UK?

Qualified attorneys with around five years' experience can earn around £78,000 (£80,000 to £100,000 when moving firms). This rises to around £115,200 for those at salaried partner level (£110 to £140,000 when moving firms).

How long does it take to qualify as a patent attorney?

It usually takes at least 2 years to qualify. You may be able to take a postgraduate award in law or intellectual property law, which can count towards qualification as a patent attorney. Many patent attorney trainees are sent on one of these courses by their employers.

How do you become a professional patent?

The statutory requirements for becoming a patent agent are:Be a citizen of India;Have completed the age of 21 years;Have obtained a degree in science, engineering or technology from any University established under law for the time being in force in the territory of India.More items...•Aug 25, 2016

How do I start a career in patent law?

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).Jul 7, 2020

Is it hard to become a patent attorney?

To qualify it takes on average five years... there are a series of exams you'll have to take and the pass rates are pretty low so they are hard! But obviously passable and the more you pass the higher your salary becomes.

Is being a patent attorney stressful?

The Career 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.Jun 29, 2021

What is a patent attorney?

Patent attorneys are intellectual property attorneys who are responsible for writing and filing patent applications. It is also their duty to protect the rights of their clients, the inventors and their patents, before organisations such as Patent and Trademark Offices (PTO).

What are the responsibilities of a patent attorney?

The responsibilities of a patent attorney are to: Write detailed technical / engineering / scientific descriptions of inventions using very exact language in the proper formats. Write patent claims to define the legal scope and variations of the monopoly conferred by the patent when it is granted.

How to contact Baxter IP?

If you want to start an exciting, lucrative career as a patent attorney at Baxter IP, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, please email your cover letter & CV to [email protected] or call us at +61 2 9264 6716 and we look forward to catching up over coffee.

Is patent attorney a good career?

Despite having a traditionally quite narrow scope of work, being a patent attorney has excellent career prospects. As in every profession, it is always challenging for a new trainee to gain a foothold in the profession.

The Traineeship

Our trainees aim to become a German patent attorney (or a patent attorney of another country) as well as a European patent attorney. The traineeship will last ca. 3-4 years, and will culminate in the sitting of various exams, including the European Qualifying Examination (EQE).

What we can offer you

We offer our trainees a competitive fixed salary, with opportunities for salary increases during the traineeship. More importantly, we can offer top-quality training.

What we expect from you

In addition to the required technical qualifications at a university level, excellent English skills are a prerequisite for this challenging and diverse position. Experience working or studying abroad is welcome, but not essential.

The application process

We hire trainees year-round and are always looking to hire excellent graduates. You can apply at our offices in Munich also for positions in Dusseldorf and London or send your application directly to your desired branch office. Interviews take place with the responsible partners. It may also be possible to arrange a work shadowing day.

What language is the EPO exam?

The examination papers are drawn up in the three official languages of the EPO (English, French and German). Candidates may be permitted to submit their answers in another official language of a contracting state. Examination Papers.

How many papers are there in the EQE?

Examination Papers. The EQE, held once a year, comprises five papers: Pre-examination - assesses candidates' ability to answer legal questions and questions relating to the drafting of claims. Paper A - tests the candidate's ability to draft claims and the introductory part of a European patent application.

What is the EQE exam?

The EQE is designed to establish whether the candidate has the requisite aptitude and knowledge to represent applicants before the EPO.

Prerequisite qualifications

he UK regulations require that you need to be the holder of a degree in order to be considered as a registered patent attorney. In order to take the European Qualifying Examinations (EQE) to qualify as a European Patent Attorney you must hold a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) degree.

Professional qualifications

There are two sets of qualifications to be undertaken; these qualifications and the time they will take to attain can be seen in this diagram.

Support for studying

In-house training#N#Most employing firms offer a formal or an informal training programme that both helps you develop the skills you need to work as a patent attorney, and supports you in developing the knowledge and skills required to successfully complete both the UK and European professional qualifications.

Continuing professional development

As the career of a patent attorney progresses, there are additional ways to develop further, such as the development of specific areas of expertise appropriate to the practice, the maintenance of a current knowledge base in the face of changing law and the adoption of other skills.

What degree do I need to become a patent attorney?

Admission to law requires a bachelor's degree and successfully clearing the LSAT. Furthermore, they are required to pass the Bar exam to successfully qualify as a lawyer. Most employers prefer patent attorneys to have prior work experience as well.

How much do patent attorneys make?

Patent Attorneys in America make an average salary of $96,081 per year or $46 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $177,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $51,000 per year.

What is patent law?

A patent is an exclusive right granted by the state allowing its owner to control commercial exploitation of an invention. Patent attorneys complete and file patent applications and also work to protect the rights of the inventor or patent holder in courts and with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ( PTO ).

What is the job of a patent attorney?

Tasks of a patent attorney include, but are not limited to, discussing invention and researching the likelihood of successfully attaining a patent, and litigating patent infringement controversies in court.

What are the best states to work as a patent attorney?

The best states for people in this position are Massachusetts, California, Washington, and Oregon. Patent attorneys make the most in Massachusetts with an average salary of $123,783. Whereas in California and Washington, they would average $122,330 and $112,186, respectively. While patent attorneys would only make an average of $107,201 in Oregon, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

What is location quotient?

Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here

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.

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.

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