how to become a patent attorney in south africa

How much does a patent attorney earn in South Africa?

Below is How to Become A Patent Attorney South Africa. Complete a technical or scientific degree or diploma or equivalent alternative qualification. Obtain a law degree (LLB) from a prescribed South African University. Pass the statutory examinations set by the South African Patent Examination Board.

Can a foreign client file a patent application in South Africa?

 · The Patent Attorneys qualification is a statutory qualification under control of the Patent Examination Board. An Attorney who has this qualification is entitled to register and practice as a Patent Attorney and to Fellowship of the South African Institute of Intellectual Law. Lectures for the Patent Attorneys qualification is presented by members of the SAIIPL during …

How to become a trademark attorney in South Africa?

 · to become a patent attorney, you will require: 1. a technical or scientific diploma or degree from a university or technikon, involving at least a three-year course of study; or 2. any technical or scientific qualification, which in the opinion of the Board, is sufficient to enable the candidate to meet the requirements of the patent examinations; or

How to become a patent attorney?

The Trademark Attorneys qualification is a statutory qualification under control of the Patent Examination Board. An Attorney who has this qualification is entitled to register and practice as a Trademark Attorney and to Fellowship of the South African Institute of Intellectual Law.

How much do patent lawyers make in South Africa?

Salary Recap The average pay for a Patent Attorney is ZAR 1,586,134 a year and ZAR 763 an hour in Johannesburg, South Africa. The average salary range for a Patent Attorney is between ZAR 1,093,676 and ZAR 2,005,074. On average, a Doctorate Degree is the highest level of education for a Patent Attorney.

What qualifications do you need to become a patent attorney?

To enter the profession, a degree in a science, engineering, technology or a mathematics-based subject from a recognised institution is strongly preferred. A science/engineering background is required to enable you to understand a client's invention.

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

4-6 yearsTypically, it takes 4-6 years to become a registered patent attorney.

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.

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaTax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.Immigration attorney: $84,000.Estate attorney: $83,000.Public Defender: $63,000.More items...•

What undergraduate degree is best for patent law?

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.

How hard are patent exams?

Patent exams are notoriously difficult. This is a harsh but true fact for those hoping to qualify as patent attorneys. But what makes it all the more difficult is that for many, until now, they have been the candidates that breezed through external examinations and are therefore unaccustomed to failure.

How do I become a trainee patent attorney?

You could start your career by finding work as a technical assistant or trainee patent attorney. This may be in a firm of attorneys, or in a company's patent department. Once working, you would take further training to qualify. This route can take between 4 and 6 years.

Is being a patent attorney stressful?

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.

What do patent attorneys do?

The patent attorney is the central point of contact for the legal protection of industrial property rights. Patent attorneys advise clients on inventions, designs, trademarks, know-how as well as on how to protect software products and plant varieties.

How much does a trainee patent attorney earn?

Trainee Patent Attorney Salaries in London Area The average salary for Trainee Patent Attorney is £39,542 per year in the London Area. The average additional cash compensation for a Trainee Patent Attorney in the London Area is £1,454, with a range from £519 - £4,074.

What attracts you to the patent profession?

One of the things that attracted me to the patent profession was the opportunity to work in a wide variety of technological fields, and it has certainly not disappointed. The nature of the profession means that you are learning about new technology on a daily basis.

What is patent attorney?

The Patent Attorneys qualification is a statutory qualification under control of the Patent Examination Board. An Attorney who has this qualification is entitled to register and practice as a Patent Attorney and to Fellowship of the South African Institute of Intellectual Law. Lectures for the Patent Attorneys qualification is presented by members of the SAIIPL during the first semester of each year. The following persons are entitled to attend such lectures:

How long does it take to get a patent law internship?

It is strongly recommended that each candidate serve an internship of between three to six months at a patent law firm or a period of three to six months at the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO).

What is a patent candidate?

A candidate in possession of any technical or scientific qualification, which in the opinion of the Board, is sufficient to enable the candidate to meet the requirements of the patent examinations; or any candidate who has adequate practical experience in a technical or scientific field, which in the opinion of the Board, ...

How to become a patent attorney in Australia?

To become a patent attorney in most countries, including Australia, you must first obtain a technical undergraduate degree in a field of engineering or science. Then, you need to obtain relevant qualifications and experience in intellectual property law.

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 many cases are in a patent portfolio?

Workload management skills, as patent attorneys are normally managing a portfolio of several hundred cases at any given point in time.

How many levels of patent examination are there in the UK?

Pass examinations set by the UK Patent Examination Board. There are two levels of examination – you must pass the foundation level exams before progressing to the final exams the following year.

How long does it take to become a patent agent in Canada?

To become a registered patent agent in Canada you will need to: Complete a series of four qualifying exams in a span of four days. Before you can register for the examination you must have at least 24 months’ practical experience in the area of patent law and practice, with at least 12 of those months worked in Canada.

How long does a patent last?

The typical term for the monopoly granted by a patent is 20 years from the original filing date of a patent application.

How long does it take to get a law degree in South Africa?

The LLB degree usually takes four years to complete and the BCom plus LLB degrees five years. If you obtain a law degree outside South Africa, you will have to contact the National Forum of Advocates (NFA) to verify whether your degree is recognised as equivalent to an LLB in South Africa.

What happens if you are not registered as a candidate attorney?

If you are not registered as a candidate attorney, this time you have spent working will not be recognised by the court once you apply to be admitted as an attorney.

When do you have to write your PLT exam?

After your PLT course, you will write your board examinations. These can be written every February and July/August. In total, you have to pass four board examinations, namely Estates, Bookkeeping, Attorneys’ Practice and Court Procedures. You can choose when you will write which examination as long as you pass all four.

What is PLT in law?

PLT is a compulsory course in practical legal training, teaching you legal skills and preparing you for your board examination. You need to complete your PLT before you can be admitted as an attorney.

When do you have to apply for law school in South Africa?

In your second last year or as early as at the end of your second year of studies of university you will need to apply directly to law firms for work experience during the July or December holidays. Most of the well-known law firms in South Africa offer work experience for a two to three week period.

How long does it take to become an attorney?

According to the Attorneys Act, a candidate attorney will successfully complete his Articles of Clerkship after a period of two year as well as attending part-time law school.

What is PLT in law school?

PLT is a compulsory course in practical legal training that teaches you legal skills and prepares you for your board exams. You will need to complete you PLT before you can be admitted as an attorney.

Who advises you to be in regular contact with your law society?

Robert Walters advises you to be in regular contact with your law society as the amendments and requirements change as well as certain Court procedures. Make sure that you get sorted with this as soon as possible to get all your documents in order to avoid last minute run arounds.

When do you take the PLT board exams?

Board exams. After you PLT course you will take your board exams which can be written every February and July/August. In total there are four board exams (Estates, Bookkeeping, Ethics and Court Procedures) that you'll need to take but you can choose which ones you want to write and when you want to write them.

What is the legal practice act in South Africa?

Becoming a legal practitioner. The admission requirements for legal practitioners (attorneys or advocates) in South Africa are currently prescribed by the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 and the Rules promulgated in terms of the Act..

Who can be subject to any other law?

(1) Subject to any other law, no person other than a practising legal practitioner who has been admitted and enrolled as such in terms of this Act may, in expectation of any fee, commission, gain or reward –

Can an attorney render legal services?

(1) An attorney may render legal services in expectation of any fee, commission, gain, or reward as contemplated in this Act or any other applicable law, upon receipt of a request directly from the public for that service .