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Patent Lawyers

Overview

Patent lawyers are intellectual property lawyers who specialize in securing patents for inventors from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and prosecuting or defending suits of patent infringements. Patent law is a blending of two fields: applied science and law, and as such, patent lawyers usually have degrees both in law and a technical field, such as engineering. Patent lawyers usually earn more than lawyers in other fields. In May 2018, there were 642,750 lawyers, with a very small percentage specializing in patent law. In total, there are approximately 35,064 patent lawyers registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, along with 12,431 patent agents who are not lawyers and can not litigate in court or draw up contracts.

Salary Range

$25,000 to $100,000+

Minimum Education Level

Law Degree

Certification/License

Required

Outlook

Faster than the Average
Personality Traits

Problem-Solving

Realistic

Scientific

Career Ladder
Partner in Patent Law Firm

Senior Patent Lawyer

Patent Lawyer

Patent Legal Assistant