Patent attorney

Career path and progression

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.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
• excellent verbal communication skills
• excellent written communication skills
• analytical thinking skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• maths skills
• knowledge of English language
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Law - Patent attorneys work within intellectual property law every day – writing patent drafts, advising on design rights and copyright, and representing clients in court during patent disputes. They need a thorough understanding of legal procedures, regulations, and how to construct legally precise arguments.
• Engineering - Patent attorneys frequently work with inventors and manufacturers to understand new technical inventions and processes. A strong engineering background helps them grasp how a device or system works so they can write accurate, detailed patent descriptions that protect the invention properly.
• Physics - Patent attorneys often deal with inventions involving mechanical systems, electronics, energy, and materials. Understanding physical principles helps them assess whether an invention is genuinely novel and describe how it works in the precise technical language required for a patent application.
• Chemistry - Patent attorneys working with pharmaceutical companies, materials manufacturers, or chemical processes need to understand the science behind these inventions. Being able to read and interpret chemical formulas, reactions, and processes is essential for drafting accurate patents in these fields.
• Mathematics - Patent attorneys use mathematical and logical reasoning to analyse complex technical information and assess whether an invention meets the criteria for a patent. Many inventions involve mathematical models or algorithms, and attorneys need to understand these to describe them precisely.
• English Language - Patent attorneys spend much of their time writing highly detailed legal and technical documents where every word matters. They must communicate complex inventions clearly and precisely, and any ambiguity in a patent draft could leave a client's invention unprotected.

Also relevant

• Computer Science - Patent attorneys increasingly handle inventions involving software, algorithms, and digital systems. Understanding how code and computational processes work helps them assess and describe technology patents in areas like artificial intelligence, data processing, and app development.
• Biology - Patent attorneys who work with biotech companies, medical device manufacturers, or agricultural innovators need to understand biological concepts. This helps them accurately describe inventions involving genetics, cell biology, or living organisms in patent applications.
• Modern Foreign Languages - Patent attorneys often deal with European patents, which can be filed in English, French, or German. Being able to read technical documents in these languages is a real advantage when advising clients on international patent protection.
• Business - Patent attorneys advise clients on the commercial value of protecting their inventions and need to understand how businesses operate. They also work within firms where progressing to associate or partner level requires an understanding of business management and client relationships.