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Patent analyst vs lawyer

The differences between patent analysts and lawyers 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 analyst and a lawyer. Additionally, a lawyer has an average salary of $115,808, which is higher than the $77,926 average annual salary of a patent analyst.

The top three skills for a patent analyst include search reports, technical aspects and medical devices. The most important skills for a lawyer are litigation, law firm, and legal issues.

Patent analyst vs lawyer overview

Patent AnalystLawyer
Yearly salary$77,926$115,808
Hourly rate$37.46$55.68
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs3282,897
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

What does a patent analyst do?

Being a patent analyst involves comparing products that are already in the market to new inventions and innovations. You will be responsible for ensuring and upholding government assurance of the originality and ownership of an invention. Patent analysis involves the examination of every aspect of an invention, including the blueprints, the pieces, the assembly, the raw material used, and etc. The role requires the evaluation of uses and specifications of an invention, classification, and then a written report based on the analysis.

What does a lawyer do?

A lawyer is a legal practitioner who specializes in understanding and interpreting laws and other legal matters. Their responsibilities revolve around providing legal counseling and advice, representing clients in different kinds of court proceedings, conducting research, collecting evidence, and coordinating with various experts. A lawyer must also manage and oversee the performance of assistants, paralegals, and other team members. Furthermore, there are instances when a lawyer must draft or manage documents such as contracts, trusts, deeds, and wills, assisting clients as needed.

Patent analyst vs lawyer salary

Patent analysts and lawyers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Patent AnalystLawyer
Average salary$77,926$115,808
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $129,000Between $64,000 And $208,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateMassachusettsNew York
Best paying companyMorrison & FoersterNelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between patent analyst and lawyer education

There are a few differences between a patent analyst and a lawyer in terms of educational background:

Patent AnalystLawyer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Patent analyst vs lawyer demographics

Here are the differences between patent analysts' and lawyers' demographics:

Patent AnalystLawyer
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 71.6% Female, 28.4%Male, 48.5% Female, 51.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between patent analyst and lawyer duties and responsibilities

Patent analyst example responsibilities.

  • Manage and provide responses to incoming subpoenas and discovery requests relating to underwriting files and policy and accounting information.
  • Conduct invalidation search, freedom-to-operate search and landscape studies in USPTO, EPO, WIPO and Chinese patent database SIPO
  • Perform patentability, invalidity, freedom to operate (FTO), and evidence of use searches.
  • Evaluate complex patent portfolios for licensing value and litigation suitability.
  • Review completed applications for compliance with USPTO contract and quality requirements.
  • Manage and provide responses to incoming subpoenas and discovery requests relating to underwriting files and policy and accounting information.
  • Show more

Lawyer example responsibilities.

  • Participate in drafting legal documents and prepare business contracts, perform taxation duties for the enterprise and settle disputes with employees.
  • Handle all types of civil claims and provide notary services
  • Review of complaints relate to judicial ethics and employee misconduct.
  • Draft, proofread and ensure filing and service of criminal motions.
  • Draft a variety of pleadings and motions on behalf of the plaintiff.
  • Assist clients at the notary public office and negotiate licensing agreements for virtual data rooms.
  • Show more

Patent analyst vs lawyer skills

Common patent analyst skills
  • Search Reports, 19%
  • Technical Aspects, 11%
  • Medical Devices, 7%
  • USPTO, 7%
  • Mechanical Engineering, 6%
  • Freedom-To-Operate, 6%
Common lawyer skills
  • Litigation, 14%
  • Law Firm, 8%
  • Legal Issues, 7%
  • Real Estate, 6%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Civil Law, 5%