An undergrad degree is required before you go onto the next step which is concerned with becoming a patent attorney. An undergrad degree can be taken in any field, it could be a science degree or an arts degree. Anything that will make you qualified to pursue the said field.
The next step is the postgrad degree. This is where you will learn the most about the field that you want to get into. This field will be directed towards teaching you about the nuances of what means to be a patent attorney.
The technical stuff may be extremely important, but at the same time, you have to understand that you are becoming an attorney and law happens to be the most crucial part when you are becoming a practicing lawyer in a sense.
When you are deciding to become a patent lawyer, you have to keep in mind that you will be working for various businesses. You will be drafting patents and such for small businesses that will require your legal advice on various matters.
Finally, we have the most basic skill that anyone should have if they want to do well in this field, communication. Without knowing how to make your clients understand what you mean, you will easily fall onto the bottom of the food chain. You will have trouble getting new clients because you will not have the means to explain to a layman.
Another aspect of language that you will need is a better understanding of literal language. Becoming a patent attorney can easily become a job where you will have to interact with international clients. It isn’t necessary to know other languages. But it will always be helpful for you if you know how to read and speak in a few European languages.
You have to remember that the work of a patent attorney isn’t one-fold and thinking that it is will create problems for you in the future. Focusing on one aspect of it will not help you move forward in this specific field.
Typically, patent attorneys have a strong background in the fields of science and engineering.
To become a patent attorney, the USPTO requires applicants to have a degree or background in science or engineering, as well as a law degree from an accredited law school in the United States. The individual must then pass the patent bar exam.
Patent attorneys and lawyers spend much of their time drafting, preparing, and filing patent applications for their clients. Patent lawyers also spend a great deal of time communicating with the patent office and responding to inquiries from the patent office regarding his clients’ pending patent applications. Also, patent attorneys often meet with clients to discuss the patentability of their inventions, as well as whether they should proceeding with patenting their invention or design.
Patent attorneys must have great oral and written communication skills because a large portion of their job depends on communicating ideas to others. Whether you’re drafting a patent application or you’re communicating with the patent office, you must be able to communicate clearly and effectively.
If you can satisfy any one of the following criteria, the patent office may allow you to practice patent law:
The short answer is: yes, patent attorneys can work from home. Patent attorneys spend much of their time drafting and preparing patent application, this is definitely something that a patent attorney can do from home.
Apply to register with the USPTO. To take the Patent Bar, you must first apply to register with the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) at the USPTO. You will need to complete the "Application for Registration to Practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office" (Form PTO-158) and send it to Mailstop OED, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450, along with the following documents and fees: [8]
The Bar exam is administered by individual states and jurisdictions within the U.S. To find out the contents of the exam and review the criteria for eligibility, visit the website of the Bar Association in your particular jurisdiction.
If you have a criminal history, provide a full explanation in writing of your arrests and convictions, a complete copy of all court records regarding each incident and any other documents requested in the section of the application that asks about your criminal history.
Complete an undergraduate degree in a scientific field. To register with the USPTO, one must possess the necessary scientific and technical training. This can be established in one of three ways. The most straightforward way to meet this requirement is to present an official transcript (with a university stamp or seal) showing that you were awarded a Bachelor's degree in one of the following subjects by an accredited U.S. college or university, or that you were awarded the equivalent to a Bachelor's degree by a foreign university in one of the following subjects: [2]
The USPTO requires that you submit official results showing that you passed the FE test, as well as an official transcript showing the award of a Bachelor's degree.