The terms are used in different ways according to the countries, and therefore may or may not need the same official education as a legal practitioner. The designations “patent lawyer” and “patent agent” are well used in few jurisdictions. The terms are exchangeable in some of the jurisdictions whereas in other jurisdictions the latter is usually used only when the person is eligible as a lawyer. There are various myths regarding the career option of patent attorney. Contradictory to the fact that there is no demand for the jobs of a patent attorney, currently it is a sought after career option.
There are various reasons for the rising demand of the jobs for patent attorney. The prime reason for the strong need of the patent attorneys is the supply and demand constraint i.e. there are limited patent attorneys in the market. Over the last few years, the ratio of patent attorneys has not improved as compared to the ratio of all the practicing attorneys.
Secondly, entry to the jobs for a patent attorney is relatively easy. To turn into a patent attorney you just have to take the required exam of your state. However, you need thorough knowledge and a passion to clear the bar exam. In addition to this, you also have to appear for the patent bar exam. Previous technical or scientific level education in a Bachelor's degree level for engineering or science field is required to appear for the patent bar exam.
The applicant further requires considerable college credits in his fields to qualify for entry level patent attorney jobs. There are many people graduating every year with various science and technical degrees but very few have the interest to attend law schools given the fact that the potential for these people is extremely good even if they do not have a law degree. Hence, the patent attorney job board is expanding at a fast rate.
Another myth regarding this career option is the fact that getting entry level patent attorney jobs is difficult because the prospective patent attorney must have the necessary training to be eligible to take the patent bar; he must also pass the exam to qualify for the jobs for patent attorney. The training is not a cakewalk but surely is not as difficult as portrayed. The requirement for patent attorneys has multiplied since the requirement for patents has continually increased radically. The number of patents that are issued every year has increased by thirty to forty percent since 1990 and the number of software patents increased by approximately 200 percent. Therefore, the patent attorney jobs are undoubtedly becoming a lucrative option.
Nevertheless, there are certain things that you must keep in mind while you are in the entry level patent attorney job. Attorneys having technical expertise in certain subjects have higher possibilities to achieve greater success as a patent attorney rather than the other attorneys. This fact makes the number of prospective candidates for patent attorney positions much smaller. However, to gain something you need to put some good effort, otherwise you cannot achieve success in the field you opt for. The patent attorney job board is diversified and there are following types (1) chemistry & pharmaceutical, (2) the life sciences, (3) electrical engineering, (4) material science, (5) mechanical engineering, (6) physics, (7) computer science, (8) medical devices. Considering demand, the greatest demand for patent attorney jobs for candidates is having a background in computer science or electrical engineering. There is also a high requirement for attorneys with biotechnology, organic chemistry, or biochemistry backgrounds. The demand is lesser for those having chemical or mechanical backgrounds.
In the field of intellectual property, anyone who is contemplating a career in the field should understand this. The intellectual property domain is among the most essential legal fields since the participation of intellectual property attorneys has been vital for the development of the economy in the nation. Patent law is in high demand in the domain of intellectual property law. Patent attorneys are usually exceedingly marketable in the case that they have the right background. When we consider the level of growth in the patent field, nonetheless, there are numerous types of patent attorneys and their areas of proficiency can influence their marketability.
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