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Patent analyst vs litigation attorney

The differences between patent analysts and litigation attorneys 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 litigation attorney. Additionally, a litigation attorney has an average salary of $109,027, 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 litigation attorney are litigation, law firm, and legal research.

Patent analyst vs litigation attorney overview

Patent AnalystLitigation Attorney
Yearly salary$77,926$109,027
Hourly rate$37.46$52.42
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs3286,918
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Doctoral Degree, 53%
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 litigation attorney do?

A Litigation Attorney manages all phases of the litigation process from investigation and pleading to trial, settlement, and appeal. They also question witnesses, victims, and others involved in cases.

Patent analyst vs litigation attorney salary

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

Patent AnalystLitigation Attorney
Average salary$77,926$109,027
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $129,000Between $69,000 And $172,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Best paying companyMorrison & FoersterPerkins Coie
Best paying industryTechnologyProfessional

Differences between patent analyst and litigation attorney education

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

Patent AnalystLitigation Attorney
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Doctoral Degree, 53%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Patent analyst vs litigation attorney demographics

Here are the differences between patent analysts' and litigation attorneys' demographics:

Patent AnalystLitigation Attorney
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 71.6% Female, 28.4%Male, 56.8% Female, 43.2%
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, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between patent analyst and litigation attorney 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

Litigation attorney example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and manage plaintiff's personal injury practice.
  • Develop litigation strategies including discovery, deposition, arbitration, and jury trial.
  • Draft internal memos, subpoenas and various discovery documents.
  • Direct and determine all aspects of plaintiff litigation and resolution strategy.
  • Review documents for FINRA arbitration concerning poaching of traders between inter-dealer brokers.
  • Respond to investigative subpoenas from U.S. government regulatory agencies requesting production of relevant client and third party material.
  • Show more

Patent analyst vs litigation attorney skills

Common patent analyst skills
  • Search Reports, 19%
  • Technical Aspects, 11%
  • Medical Devices, 7%
  • USPTO, 7%
  • Mechanical Engineering, 6%
  • Freedom-To-Operate, 6%
Common litigation attorney skills
  • Litigation, 30%
  • Law Firm, 14%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Civil Litigation, 4%
  • Commercial Litigation, 3%
  • Insurance Defense, 3%