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The differences between patent agents and litigation associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a patent agent and a litigation associate. Additionally, a litigation associate has an average salary of $112,116, which is higher than the $65,466 average annual salary of a patent agent.
The top three skills for a patent agent include intellectual property, patent prosecution and law firm. The most important skills for a litigation associate are litigation, law firm, and legal research.
| Patent Agent | Litigation Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $65,466 | $112,116 |
| Hourly rate | $31.47 | $53.90 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 25,562 | 9,779 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Doctoral Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A patent agent is responsible for monitoring the intellectual property rights of an existing patent invention and ensuring that new applications would not coincide with any registered patent. Patent agents handle the application processes and document verification for individuals or the government. They conduct in-depth research and discuss the process with the investors and inform them of any restrictions on issuance. A patent agent must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in performing duties and resolving issues timely and efficiently.
A Litigation Associate offers legal advice for individuals involved in lawsuits and represents them in court. They prepare pleading, collect evidence, defend depositions, and manage the client database.
Patent agents and litigation associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Patent Agent | Litigation Associate | |
| Average salary | $65,466 | $112,116 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $124,000 | Between $68,000 And $182,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | White Plains, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner | Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a patent agent and a litigation associate in terms of educational background:
| Patent Agent | Litigation Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Doctoral Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between patent agents' and litigation associates' demographics:
| Patent Agent | Litigation Associate | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.5% Female, 30.5% | Male, 52.4% Female, 47.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |