Patent Agents Job Description, Duties & Salary

Advancement Prospects

Patent agents who work in legal departments of corporations may advance to senior patent agent roles after three or more years of experience. Those with more than five years of experience may became department managers, responsible for overseeing the work of patent agents and support staff. Self-employed patent agents may branch out into other specialty areas. Some share their knowledge by teaching and writing about intellectual property rights. Others get a law degree so they can prosecute patent cases in law courts as well as before the USPTO. Patent agents who are employed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office are promoted according to the government pay scale, advancing to jobs of greater responsibility and higher wages after specified time-frames are met.

Related Professions