You can get into this job through:
You'll usually need a degree or postgraduate qualification in a technical subject, for example:
Once you finish your course, you can apply to work as a trainee in a patent office and study for professional exams while you work. It usually takes at least 2 years to qualify.
You may be able to take a postgraduate award in law or intellectual property law, which can count towards qualification as a patent attorney. Many patent attorney trainees are sent on one of these courses by their employers.
If you do a course that covers intellectual property or patent law, it may exempt you from part of the professional training.
Entry requirements:
Entry requirements:
Entry requirements:
You could start your career by finding work as a technical assistant or trainee patent attorney. This may be in a firm of attorneys, or in a company's patent department. Once working, you would take further training to qualify. This route can take between 4 and 6 years.
You may be able to find work without a scientific or engineering degree if you have a very high level of technical experience gained in industry.
This may also apply if you're a qualified solicitor with experience of working in intellectual property rights. You would still be required to study for and pass professional exams.
Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
Skills:Patent attorneys advise clients on how to apply for patents for new inventions, designs or processes.
As a patent attorney, you would:
Location : You could work in an office, at a client's business or in a court.
With experience, you could become an associate or partner in a private practice firm.
In industry, you could move into management or research and development. You could also choose to become a patent examiner with the UK Intellectual Property Office or European Patent Office.
Some patent attorneys also register to do trade mark work.