How to Choose a Patent Attorney

Inventors with a great new idea will often face the question of how to choose a patent attorney. The choice of a patent attorney should not be taken lightly, because the patent process can span several years and so you will be working with your attorney for a significant period of time.

Not only that, patent attorneys can cost your several hundreds to thousands of dollars in fees, so you’ll want an attorney that is worth the cost.

Some clients who have made bad choices regarding a patent attorney report that their patent applications ended up being unrecognizable as their invention, and that the costs were not made clear up front, among other complaints.

One of the most important factors that is often overlooked by clients is the level of technical experience possessed by the attorney. All patent attorneys must possess some form of technical degree in order to pass the patent bar, but that doesn’t mean they have practical technical experience.

When selecting a patent lawyer, experience is key. You should look for an attorney that is experienced in writing and defending patents because they are most likely to know how to tailor the content of your patent application to fit the USPTO requirements. Another important factor to consider is the attorney’s litigation background.

Those lawyers who have previous experience with patent litigation will have a better understanding of which patent details will hold up in court and which will be challenged.

You can tell a lot about a patent attorney by how responsive they are to your needs. You should expect that your attorney will return your phone calls promptly and answer all of your questions to the best of their ability.

A skilled patent attorney is especially important in cases where there is prior product that is close to your invention.