Intellectual property law, or IP law, is a definite up and coming area in the field of law, especially with all of the technology being invented that requires trademark protection and patent protection. Ip attorneys strive to protect the products and services that their clients invent and introduce to the public.
In order to become an, IP attorney, you have to attend many years of schooling. One must first obtain their high school diploma or GED, and attend an accredited college earning them a bachelor's degree. Since many facets of IP law involve information technology or engineering it is beneficial to have your bachelor's degree in that area, though it's not necessary. After acquiring a bachelor's degree, the individual would then need to take the (LSAT) Law School Admission Test. This is a standardized test that must be passed before admission into a law school is accepted. After passing the LSAT, an individual may then apply to an accredited law school. After attending and passing law school, obtaining your state bar license, you must also pass the patent bar.
The patent bar exam is given by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This exam deals with patent laws, patent rights, patent protection, international patent laws, copyright laws, trademark protection, basically all of the facets involved with intellectual property law. An intellectual property lawyer will have many areas of practice and must be knowledgeable in each and every category. In other words, not only would he or she be able to practice patent law, but also international patent law, copyright law, and is knowledgeable in trademark protection. It is a very comprehensive law to learn and understand, but a lucrative, specialized area that many patent law firms look for before filling a position. So if you can dedicated several years to school and be prepared to pass many exams and tests before finally becoming one, perhaps becoming an intellectual property lawyer is the right fit for you.
- See Top 10 Reasons Most Law Firms Have No Idea How to Hire and Evaluate Patent Attorneys for more information.
