Patent attorney

You'll usually need a degree in a technical subject, for example:

• science
• engineering
• mathematics
• computing

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. Some 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

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

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 larger company's intellectual property 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.

In both cases, you would still be required to study and pass professional exams.

Registrations

you will need to register with the Intellectual Property Regulation Board

Career Tips

It may help in some jobs if you can read business French and German to a reasonable level, as clients often want advice about European patents, which can be prepared in English, French or German.

Further Information

You can find more details about working in intellectual property rights and patents from The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and Careers In Ideas .

As a patent attorney, you could:

• meet with inventors or manufacturers
• research existing patents to check if an invention or design is original
• advise clients on the likelihood of being granted a patent
• write detailed legal descriptions of the invention or design
• apply for patents to the UK Intellectual Property Office or European Patent Office
• answer questions from patent examiners
• advise clients whose patent rights may have been breached
• represent clients at court during patent disputes
• support overseas attorneys with UK patent applications
• keep up to date with intellectual property law

You could work in an office, at a client's business or in a court.