Introduction
Be it an invention, the release of a new song, a new software advancement, or even a story, all of these are ideas from an individual or a business company. People are exposed to different things every day. Those things are creative outputs of another entity. Even businesses are on a constant run to build new innovative ideas and stand out against their rivals. People won’t have any legal rights to ideas until and unless it is an original and our own. Think of a scenario where an entity builds a new and game-changing idea but has been infringed by another entity without any permission. How infuriating and the amount of loss it could cause? Stealing ideas leads to infringement penalties. This is where the role of a patent attorney comes into play.
This article will explore how to become a patent attorney and their role in safeguarding the copyrights of organizations.
What is a patent?
A Patent right, also known as an intellectual property right, assists individuals or businesses in protecting their innovative ideas from potential threats. Patent rights safeguard ideas and inventions by giving them legal rights over them.
Who is a Patent Attorney?
Patent attorneys/lawyers are professionals specialized in intellectual property law. They help navigate the individuals through the whole patent process. The patent attorney’s role starts from the process of research and extends up to the drafting of lawsuits. They also provide information regarding patent infringement, licensing, and litigation.
What do Patent Attorneys do?
Patent attorneys are involved with various things that people interact with daily. People are just not aware of the involvement. A Patent attorney helps their clients protect their intellectual property from infringement. Their work includes protecting the patent rights of software, a pharmaceutical drug, or a gadget to safeguard the copyrights of songs, movies, or books. They are well-updated with information on various fields of work. It is done through a thorough process of research on those particular subjects. The work of these attorneys includes drafting and filing patent applications, researching and advising their clients on the quality of their ideas, and safeguarding the ideas or innovations from possible infringement. During the challenging times of violation or infringement acts, patent attorneys manage the patent litigation and represent their clients in court.
How to Become a Patent Attorney?
Given the wide scale of career opportunities, the field of law is an interesting one to opt out of. The field of law has many domains and patent law is intriguing. It deals with protecting ideas or intellectual property. Are you inclined towards this field and always in doubt about how to become a patent attorney/lawyer? Then you must follow these steps to become one.
Step 1: Completing Undergraduate Degree
There are no specific law courses offered in undergraduate programs. Students who want to pursue law must hold an undergraduate degree in engineering, science, or any other professional course closely related to law. These streams offer students a deeper understanding of the technological subjects and, with that knowledge, prepare them for their future endeavors. It is not only confined to this and with the given knowledge, students will stay updated on various topics, which is essential for patent lawyers. Patent law positions are highly selective, and students are required to maintain a good CGPA.
Step 2: Certificates in Extracurriculars
Participating in extracurriculars always helps to build the resume of the students. It is advantageous for students at the time of acceptance to law schools. It will help the resume look more professional and will help build skills in various sectors. It is not mandatory that all extracurricular courses must be related to the field of law. Certainly, it is important to develop skills like oral and written communication, leadership, teamwork, advocacy, and research.
Step 3: The LSAT Exam
This is one of the deciding factors that influence the question of how to become a patent attorney.
Once the students finish their 4-year graduate programs, the next step involves the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) examination. Law schools take the LSAT scores to conclude the acceptance process. Look for the average or the cut-off marks for the exam and previous years’ papers to gain an understanding of the questions. Devise an efficient study plan and prepare for the exam.
Step 4: Attend a Law School
The next step involved in becoming a patent lawyer is to complete a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. After getting through the LSAT exam, look for suitable law schools. Different law schools have a varied cut-off margin. The enrollment will be based on acquired LSAT scores. Choose the appropriate law schools offering quality education. Look for the best law schools offering patent law programs. For example, UC Berkley has been recorded as the best school for intellectual property law programs along with post-graduation programs.
Step 5: Gaining experience and pursuing future education
These potent law schools help students gain hands-on experience by making them work on intellectual property cases. The option of doing an internship to gain skills is always helpful. It improves the legal skills of a student. The best is to work under patent law firms. They help gain real-time experience in intellectual property law cases and the whole process of prosecution.
Qualified patent lawyers hold a Master’s degree, as it helps them gain more knowledge and experience in research and specialized training in intellectual property law.
Step 6: Bar Exam
After the completion of education, the skills, knowledge, and experience of the students are tested through the bar exam.
Step 7: Pass The USPTO
Aspiring lawyers who want to practice patent law with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) must pass the certified patent bar exam.
Skills Required To Become a Patent Attorney
Some of the skills required how to become a patent attorney are:
- Technological Knowledge
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork
- Research Skills
- Legal Writing
Job Outlook and Salary of Patent Attorneys
With new innovations and technological advancements coming up these days, the need for safeguarding rights and ideas is rising. Many businesses and institutions are in search of good patent attorneys, increasing the demand for the role.
Note: The average salary of patent attorneys is $135,428 per year.
Conclusion
How devastating it would be to come up with a new business idea or idea for a new song and it is infringed by an unknown/known entity.? The patent law plays an important role in safeguarding the intellectual property rights of individuals or businesses. With the increase in innovations, the need for protecting them and the demand for patent attorneys is on the rise. Students who are passionate and have questions on how to become a patent attorney, then you must follow a step-by-step process to achieve that goal. By following the steps mentioned in the above article, work hard on building up practical and technical skills.
