What does a patent agent do?
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.
Patent agent responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real patent agent resumes:
- Advise client in requirements to achieve and maintain critical FCPA compliance.
- Represent local and multi-national clients before the USPTO and US/RO of WIPO.
- Conduct detailed interactions with the USPTO regarding patent prosecution.
- Formulate objections under 35 USC regulations.
- Assist with patent appeals, interferences, and opposition proceedings.
- Prepare non- final rejection under 35 USC 102/103 base on reference from the prior art.
- Assist in the completion of a privilege log and perform second review (QC).
- Gather pertinent information as a basis to form a judgment on the originality of the invention.
- Examine inventions from a technical standpoint and understanding the concepts behind the originality of the invention.
- Conduct and ensure QC of special projects assign by manager to analyze database documents request by trial counsel.
- Set up interference between pending applications.
- Patent preparation and prosecution including reissues, reexaminations and appeals to board
- Review documents to ascertain responsiveness to various subpoenas and discovery requests.
- Determine whether newly-present claims correspond to the count following declaration of the interference.
- Conduct inventor disclosure meetings and correspond with USPTO examiners throughout the patent procurement process.
Patent agent skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Patent Agents are proficient in Intellectual Property, Patent Prosecution, and Law Firm. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Problem-solving skills, and Research skills.
We break down the percentage of Patent Agents that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Intellectual Property, 13%
Implemented and managed current awareness program to monitor intellectual property of Suppliers, Competitors, and Customers to ensure competitive advantage.
- Patent Prosecution, 10%
Prepare information disclosure statements, declarations, and other patent prosecution related materials.
- Law Firm, 9%
Worked with over 15 external IP Law firms and outsourced drafting, review and prosecution work on need- basis.
- Electrical Engineering, 9%
Draft and Prosecute Patents in the areas of electrical engineering, IT, medicine, and biology.
- Litigation, 8%
Prosecuted numerous office actions, and served as a technical adviser for litigation, preparation and prosecution matters.
- Patent Portfolio, 5%
Drafted patent applications (including several for high-profile, commercially significant inventions and product enhancements) and stewarded the patent portfolio.
"intellectual property," "patent prosecution," and "law firm" are among the most common skills that patent agents use at work. You can find even more patent agent responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a patent agent to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "lawyers interpret the law as it applies to their client’s case." Additionally, a patent agent resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "analyzed patents in support of patent litigation and adversarial licensing. "
Problem-solving skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling patent agent duties is problem-solving skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "lawyers must evaluate information to propose viable solutions, mediate disputes, and reach agreements or settlements for their clients." According to a patent agent resume, here's how patent agents can utilize problem-solving skills in their job responsibilities: "managed and successfully resolved ip litigation and pre-litigation investigations within budget ($1-3 million/quarter). "
Research skills. patent agents are also known for research skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to patent agent responsibilities, because "lawyers need to find laws and regulations that apply to a specific matter in order to provide appropriate legal advice for their clients." A patent agent resume example shows how research skills is used in the workplace: "supported litigation through document review, legal and technical research, and educating attorneys regarding related technology. "
The three companies that hire the most patent agents are:
- Lewis Roca
17 patent agents jobs
- Womble16 patent agents jobs
- Goodwin10 patent agents jobs
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Compare different patent agents
Patent agent vs. Housing counselor
A Housing Counselor works directly with clients and organizations to support moderate and low-income clients in overcoming barriers to housing and financial stability. They represent the homeowner in interventions and/or mediation proceedings with the mortgage servicer, lender, and/or other stakeholders.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between patent agents and housing counselor. For instance, patent agent responsibilities require skills such as "patent prosecution," "law firm," "electrical engineering," and "molecular biology." Whereas a housing counselor is skilled in "social work," "regulatory compliance," "crisis intervention," and "real estate." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Housing counselors really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $91,338. Comparatively, patent agents tend to make the most money in the professional industry with an average salary of $110,300.On average, housing counselors reach lower levels of education than patent agents. Housing counselors are 8.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 3.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Patent agent vs. Legal administrator
The job of legal administrative assistants is to provide support to lawyers and paralegals. They typically perform legal research, manage schedules, and draft legal-related documents. Other duties include interpreting laws, regulations, and rulings in legal documents, obtaining information from other agencies or organizations, and preparing management and legal reports. In addition, legal administrative assistants are responsible for updating and maintaining databases and ensuring to provide effective administrative assistance. They are also expected to schedule client meetings and court hearings.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that patent agent responsibilities requires skills like "intellectual property," "patent prosecution," "electrical engineering," and "molecular biology." But a legal administrator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "veterans," "powerpoint," "management system," and "data entry."
Legal administrators earn a lower average salary than patent agents. But legal administrators earn the highest pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $54,616. Additionally, patent agents earn the highest salaries in the professional with average pay of $110,300 annually.legal administrators earn lower levels of education than patent agents in general. They're 7.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Patent agent vs. Council member
A Legal Counsel supervises the legal aspects of a business. They give accurate and timely counsel to executives on a variety of legal topics, such as labor law, partnerships, or international ventures.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, patent agents are more likely to have skills like "intellectual property," "patent prosecution," "law firm," and "electrical engineering." But a council member is more likely to have skills like "public policy," "finance committee," "community outreach," and "alumni."
When it comes to education, council members tend to earn similar degree levels compared to patent agents. In fact, they're 3.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 20.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Patent agent vs. Legal counsel
Types of patent agent
Updated January 8, 2025
