how to become patent attorney uk

by Brenden Rohan 6 min read

  • Prerequisite qualifications. The UK regulations require that you need to be the holder of a degree in order to be considered as a registered patent attorney.
  • 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. 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 ...
  • 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 ...

You'll usually need a degree (at least a 2:1) in a science, engineering, technical or mathematics-based subject to get a job as a trainee patent attorney. Training takes place on the job and includes self-directed study, in-house support and guidance, and external training courses.

Full Answer

How to become a patent attorney?

In order to train as a patent attorney, you will need a STEM degree. However, no prior legal experience is necessary before joining the profession. Other qualities that it is important for a patent attorney to possess include: excellent verbal and written communication skills;

Can I use the title'patent attorney'in the UK?

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.

How many patent attorneys are there in the UK?

Jul 11, 2017 · How to become a patent attorney. Jul 11, 2017. Written By Maudie Powell-Tuck and Becky Kells, AllAboutLaw. Contents. 1. An undergraduate degree in a hard science or engineering subject; 2. A postgraduate qualification; 3. Passion for law; 4. …

Are there any apprenticeship vacancies for a patent attorney in England?

advise clients about the chances of being granted a patent. write detailed legal descriptions of the invention or design - known as a patent draft. apply for patents to the UK Intellectual Property...

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How long does it take to become a qualified patent attorney?

In reality, it typically takes 4-6 years to become a patent attorney.

How do I become a patent attorney?

Here are six steps to become a patent attorney:Earn a science or engineering degree. ... Take the LSAT. ... Attend law school. ... Pass the state bar exam. ... Pass patent bar and register with USPTO. ... Consider additional specialized education.Jul 23, 2021

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 a patent attorney a lawyer UK?

Is a patent attorney a type of lawyer? Yes. However, you do not need a law degree to become a patent attorney. Patent attorneys are a specialist type of lawyer monitored by their own regulator, IPReg.

How do I become a patent attorney without a science degree?

You may be able to find work without a scientific or engineering degree if you have a very high level of technical experience gained in industry. This may also apply if you're a qualified solicitor with experience of working in intellectual property rights.

Can patent lawyers steal your idea?

However, patent lawyers are bound by ethics and professional responsibility requirements. Stealing an idea would be a serious breach of duty for a lawyer that can expose him or her to punishments from the bar, and the original inventor would likely be able to sue for theft.

Is patent attorney a stressful job?

The stress of deadlines is a big one. There are always deadlines and some of them are career fatal. Always having to justify your billing is another stress. Most pieces of work have a tight budget and you have to bill enough to cover your salary, the costs of running the firm and a little profit.

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 type of lawyer makes the most money?

Some of the highest-paid lawyers are:Medical Lawyers – Average $138,431. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ... Intellectual Property Attorneys – Average $128,913. ... Trial Attorneys – Average $97,158. ... Tax Attorneys – Average $101,204. ... Corporate Lawyers – $116,361.Dec 18, 2020

How many UK patent attorneys are there?

1,500 patent attorneysPatent attorneys are a select crew: there are only around 1,500 patent attorneys in the UK. That's in comparison to 120,000 solicitors in England and Wales and 15,000 barristers.Jul 11, 2017

Is a patent attorney a solicitor?

Patent attorneys are distinct from IP solicitors and solicitors in general in that they are not required to have a law degree. Instead, they are required to have a technical background which usually means a science, engineering or maths degree.Feb 18, 2019

Does a patent agent need a law degree?

In order to become a patent agent, a degree in law is not required. A degree in science, engineering or technology is a must. An individual with a degree in law does not automatically qualify as a patent agent unless he meets the above requirements.Aug 25, 2016

Responsibilities

  • These will depend, to some extent, on whether you're advising private clients or employed by a large organisation to protect their products. However, you'll need to: 1. discuss inventions and processes with inventors or manufacturers and ascertain whether they're likely to succeed in being granted patents 2. analyse scientific or technical documents, including previously grante
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Salary

  1. As a trainee patent attorney you can earn in the region of £35,100, rising to £40,900 when part-qualified (or £38,000 to £45,000 when moving firms).
  2. As a newly qualified patent attorney your salary will be around £58,800 (£62,000 to £67,000 when moving firms), rising to around £69,700 after two or three years (£70,000 to £80,000 when moving fir...
  1. As a trainee patent attorney you can earn in the region of £35,100, rising to £40,900 when part-qualified (or £38,000 to £45,000 when moving firms).
  2. As a newly qualified patent attorney your salary will be around £58,800 (£62,000 to £67,000 when moving firms), rising to around £69,700 after two or three years (£70,000 to £80,000 when moving fir...
  3. 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 £1...

Working Hours

  • Generally, hours are Monday to Friday, nine to five, but you'll need to work extra hours to meet deadlines.
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What to Expect

  1. You'll need to work well independently, particularly in private practice, although colleagues will be available to give advice. You're more likely to be part of a team working in industry.
  2. You'll need to be comfortable working to tight deadlines and working on several different patent applications for more than one client at the same time.
  3. This is a small profession with excellent career prospects, but getting into the profession as …
  1. You'll need to work well independently, particularly in private practice, although colleagues will be available to give advice. You're more likely to be part of a team working in industry.
  2. You'll need to be comfortable working to tight deadlines and working on several different patent applications for more than one client at the same time.
  3. This is a small profession with excellent career prospects, but getting into the profession as a new trainee can be challenging. Competition is particularly fierce and it may be worth applying for...
  4. Work is usually office based, although travelling to meet clients is common as they may wish to patent a product or process, which is easier to demonstrate on site. You may also have to visit court...

Qualifications

  • You'll usually need a degree (at least a 2:1) in a science, engineering, technical or mathematics-based subject to get a job as a trainee patent attorney. Training takes place on the job and includes self-directed study, in-house support and guidance, and external training courses. There are two parts to the qualification process and you must successfully complete both in order to b…
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Skills

  • You'll need to have: 1. an understanding of scientific and technological principles and processes in order to understand the invention yourself and be able to explain it to others 2. communication skills, particularly written skills, in order to convince the IPO that a patent should be granted 3. the ability to express complex technical ideas clearly and concisely 4. an eye for detail and an analyt…
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Work Experience

  • Getting relevant work experience with patent firms is challenging due to the confidential nature of the work. Although opportunities are rare, Easter and summer internships lasting one to two weeks do exist. These internships will give you the opportunity to find out more about the role. Some firms provide an insight day or week to first-year students interested in a career in IP. The…
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Employers

  • Patent attorneys are typically employed by: 1. law firms in private practice 2. the law department of large industrial companies 3. government departments. Although your work activities are more or less the same wherever you work, when working in private practice you'll be working for a range of clients represented by the law firm, while in government or industry, you'll just have the one e…
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Professional Development

  • Once qualified, you must complete a certain amount of continuing professional development (CPD) every year. This can include attending seminars and webinars on particular areas of patent work and intellectual property law run by CIPAand other relevant organisations, as well as seminars to help develop your business skills when running a practice and other activities such …
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Career Prospects

  • Once qualified, the usual route in private practice is to go on to become a partner of a firm. There may be an intermediary 'associate' step before partnership in some firms. You may decide to specialise in a certain area of patents, such as chemical patents, or choose to spend time helping the firm expand and develop. However, you'll still be expected to make a significant contribution …
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