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The differences between patent attorneys 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 attorney and a lawyer. Additionally, a lawyer has an average salary of $115,808, which is higher than the $86,919 average annual salary of a patent attorney.
The top three skills for a patent attorney include electrical engineering, USPTO and law firm. The most important skills for a lawyer are litigation, law firm, and legal issues.
| Patent Attorney | Lawyer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,919 | $115,808 |
| Hourly rate | $41.79 | $55.68 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 7,889 | 2,897 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A patent attorney is an intellectual property expert whose responsibilities revolve around assisting and representing clients on patent application procedures. A patent attorney must meet with clients to identify their needs, provide advice when it comes to trademarks and trade secrets, discuss and interpret complex subjects such as regulations and laws, and secure rights and properties. Furthermore, as a patent attorney, it is essential to review and negotiate contracts and proposals to avoid disputes in the future.
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 attorneys and lawyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Patent Attorney | Lawyer | |
| Average salary | $86,919 | $115,808 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $152,000 | Between $64,000 And $208,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New York |
| Best paying company | Goodwin | Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a patent attorney and a lawyer in terms of educational background:
| Patent Attorney | Lawyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between patent attorneys' and lawyers' demographics:
| Patent Attorney | Lawyer | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% | Male, 48.5% Female, 51.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.3% 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 Percentage | 10% | 10% |