To become a patent lawyer in the U.S., one needs to register with the US Patent and Trademark Office.To register to practice law in the US, a person needs to meet a number of general requirements, including having scientific and technical training, as well as a strong moral character.He must pass the Patent Bar, a multiple-choice exam administered by both the USPTO and the commercial test delivery provider, Prometric.
Step 1: Are you a US citizen or resident in the US?
One needs to be a US citizen or legal resident in the U.S. to register with the USPTO.If you are not a U.S. citizen, you will need to show proof that you have permission to work in the US.This includes a copy of both sides of your work permit and all documentation submitted to and received from the Department of Labor.
Step 2: A degree in a scientific field is required to complete an undergraduate degree.
The necessary scientific and technical training is required to register with the USPTO.There are three ways this can be established.The easiest way to meet this requirement is to present an official transcript showing that you received a Bachelor's degree in one of the following subjects at an accredited U.S. college or university.
Step 3: It is equivalent to an undergraduate degree in a scientific field.
You can meet the scientific and technical training requirement by completing official transcripts that show the completion of an undergraduate degree, as well as one of the following four types of courses: 24 semester hours in physics (only physics courses for physics majors will be accepted)Only chemistry courses for chemistry majors will be accepted for 30 semester hours in chemistry.
Step 4: Pass the Fundamentals of Engineerings test.
If you pass the Fundamentals of Engineerings (FE) test, you can still meet the scientific and technical training requirement if you don't have an undergrad degree.Contact the secretary of the State Board of Engineering Examiners in your state if you want to take the FE.You need to submit official results showing that you passed the FE test, as well as an official transcript showing the award of a Bachelor's degree.
Step 5: Good moral character requirements need to be met.
To register with the US Patent and Trademark Office, you need to show that you have good moral character.If you have been convicted of a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude or breach of trust, or both, you will be ineligible.Unless more than five years have passed since the date of disbarment or resignation, you have been disbarred from the practice of law or other profession.If you fail to demonstrate good moral character for more than two years, you will not be allowed to register.
Step 6: A graduate from law school.
One needs to be an attorney to register as a patent lawyer.One needs to be licensed to practice law by the Bar Association in his jurisdiction to become an attorney.A Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association approved law school is required to practice law.To apply to law school, you will need to register with the Law School Admission Council, take the LSAT, and prepare a personal statement.There is no requirement for an application to complete any particular courses during law school.If you want to practice patent law, you need to have taken courses in Intellectual Property, Trademark Law and Patent Law, as well as participate in clinical programs that give you practical experience in the field of intellectual property.Some states don't require completion of law school in order to practice law.If a person passes the state Bar exam and completes a legal apprenticeship, he can become a lawyer.As long as you pass the Patent Bar and meet the technical and moral character requirements, you can still register with the USPTO as a patent agent.
Step 7: You have to pass the state Bar exam.
A person needs to pass a Bar exam before he can practice law.The only exception is Wisconsin, which grants adiploma privilege to graduates of the University of Wisconsin Law School, allowing them to become licensed in Wisconsin without passing the Bar exam.The Bar exam can be found on the website of the Bar Association in your particular jurisdiction.There are two days of testing for the Bar exam.The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is a standardized multiple-choice test.The second day consists of essay questions based on areas of law specific to that jurisdiction.The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is a multiple choice exam on ethical standards.The exam can be taken earlier than the Bar exam.
Step 8: You need to register with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
If you want to take the Patent Bar, you need to register with the OED.You need to complete the "Application for registration to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office" and send it to the office.Evidence of scientific and technical training, such as official transcripts showing a Bachelor's degree is an accepted scientific field, can be found in Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia.If you are not a U.S. citizen, you should provide a copy of both sides of your work permit and all documentation submitted to and received from the Department of Labor.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.A cashier's or certified check, Treasury note, or United States Postal Service money order can be used to pay the Director of the US Patent and Trademark Office for $240.A higher fee is required if you have a criminal background.
Step 9: Wait to get your letter.
You will receive an admission letter with further instructions on the examination process once you have submitted your application to register with the OED.You will be given an identification number.You need to use this number in future correspondence with the OED.If you plan to register for the exam with Prometric, you will need to provide your USPTO ID number during the registration process.The exact date by which you must take the exam will be stated in the admission letter.
Step 10: You have to register for the exam.
The Patent Bar is administered by the US Patent and Trademarks.The Prometric exam is a computer-based exam.The Prometric exam is offered in a variety of locations throughout the year, but it is only offered once per fiscal year at the USPTO office in Alexandria, Virginia.The next exam date can be found on the website.The same process is used to apply to register for the exam.The only difference is that you have to register by the deadline in order to take the exam and that there is an additional fee of $450.If you want to register for the Prometric administered examination, you must first register with the US Patent and Trademark Office.If you want to take the exam sponsored by the US Patent and Trademark Office, you have to schedule it by calling Prometric or visiting the company's website.The OED will give you an eligibility ID in your admission letter.
Step 11: Find out what is covered in the exam.
Changing patent law is reflected in the material on the Patent Bar.It's important that you know what you're going to get on your exam.The source materials that will be tested on your exam can be found on the USPTO website.Old practice tests can be used to study for the Patent Bar.The last time the source materials for the exam were changed was in 2014, so any materials before that date may not be reliable.
Step 12: Put together a study plan.
You can either study on your own or take a course to get ready for the Patent Bar.You will save money if you choose to study on your own.The material tested on the Patent Bar is publicly available in the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure and you can review it on your own.A person who is approaching it for the first time is overwhelmed by the large amount of pages.Some sections of the MPEP have not been updated to reflect changes in law, which can make preparing for the exam more difficult.It can be very difficult to study on your own.15% is the first-time pass rate for those who attempt this method.It is possible to enroll in a commercial exam prep course.This approach gives you study guides that highlight the most important information that will be tested on your exam and thousands of practice questions that have been updated to reflect the test you will take.
Step 13: You can enroll in a course.
ThePLI's Patent Bar Review is the most commonly taken prep course.The course will give you a study guide and a bank of practice questions that will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.The test-takers who enroll in this course pass the exam on their first attempt 81% of the time.The price is almost $2800 for non-students and almost $1900 for students.The PatBar Patent Review course is less expensive than the Patent Bar Review.It costs between $600 and $900 if a discount is offered.PatBar provides its students with easy to understand outlines and practice questions that reflect the information on the exam.It's difficult to know if the PatBar website is as effective as the Patent Bar Review because it doesn't reveal the pass rate of its students.The Wysebridge Patent Bar Review costs $349.It aims to simplify the process of studying for the Patent Bar by targeting only the material you need to know and boasts a pass rate of 83%, which it claims is higher than any other course offering a similar price.The course is online only.
Step 14: You have to take the exam.
You must take the exam within 90 days of receiving your admission letter.Before you can take the exam, you have to pay an examination administration fee.When you apply to register with the USPTO, you will have to pay the examination fee if you take the exam.Arrive at least 30 minutes before the exam begins.Bring a current, valid state or federal government issued ID, such as a driver's license or passport, to the test center.To register with the OED, your name must match the name on your ID.You should not bring reference materials with you to the test center.You will get reference materials at the test center.Bring at least two #2 pencils with you to the test center if you are taking the exam.
Step 15: Find out if you passed the exam.
After the date on which you took the examination, the results will be mailed to you.You will get unofficial results on the computer at the end of the exam if you take the Prometric exam.You will receive your results by mail.You will receive your results by mail if you take the exam.Instructions for completing the registration process will be given to you if you pass.