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Patent attorney skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted experts

James Tomaszewski,

James Tomaszewski

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical patent attorney skills. We ranked the top skills for patent attorneys based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 15.3% of patent attorney resumes contained electrical engineering as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a patent attorney needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 patent attorney skills for your resume and career

1. Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering is an applied science discipline that deals with the study of devices and systems which use electricity, design and application of equipment, electronics, and electromagnetism. Electrical engineering is now split into an array of fields, including systems engineering, power engineering, computer engineering, radio-frequency engineering, signal processing, telecommunications, instrumentation, and electronics.

Here's how patent attorneys use electrical engineering:

Acquired specialized training in electrical engineering, computer science, and networking.
Prepared and prosecuted patent applications in a broad range of technologies, including computer science, telecommunications, and electrical engineering.

2. USPTO

Here's how patent attorneys use uspto:

Conducted detailed interactions with the USPTO regarding patent prosecution.
Performed patent prosecution drafting amendments and remarks in response to Office Actions from the USPTO, EPO, and JPO.

3. Law Firm

Here's how patent attorneys use law firm:

Drafted patent applications for the Oil and Gas Industry at Intellectual Property law firm.
Associate attorney at a law firm specializing in intellectual property law.

4. Litigation

Here's how patent attorneys use litigation:

Reviewed and executed infringement and invalidity analyses for patents relating to telecommunications and call routing in support of major infringement litigation.
Negotiated and drafted development agreements, supplier agreements, litigation agreements, indemnity agreements and numerous forms of non-disclosure agreements.

5. Patent Prosecution

Here's how patent attorneys use patent prosecution:

Established a successful solo legal practice focused on patent prosecution and licensing for individual inventors and small businesses.
Experience in United States and International patent prosecution, licensing, international patent searching and evaluation.

6. Intellectual Property Law

Here's how patent attorneys use intellectual property law:

Founded a small solo practice focused on business formation and Intellectual Property law Review and draft legal documents for small businesses
Provided general consulting on intellectual property law matters and general legal issues.

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7. Patent Law

Here's how patent attorneys use patent law:

Coordinated and led training sessions to build knowledge of patent law among engineers.
Focus on Patent law, personal injury, and family law.

8. Patent Portfolio

Here's how patent attorneys use patent portfolio:

Consolidated patent portfolio to increase cost efficiency and claim coverage of patent estate.
Counseled corporate and internal clients regarding patent portfolio strategies and legal implications.

9. Due Diligence

Due diligence refers to the process of auditing, investigating, or reviewing done to confirm the authenticity of relevant facts. In addition to this, it also refers to the evaluation of a party's financial records to determine whether one should enter into a transaction with the said party or not.

Here's how patent attorneys use due diligence:

Performed due diligence investigations directed to intellectual property transactions involving pharmaceuticals and biotechnology interests.
Performed due diligence analysis relating to potential intellectual property acquisitions and cross-licensing agreements.

10. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how patent attorneys use business development:

Advised clients with management, protection, enforcement and commercialization of intellectual property as it pertains to business development.
Increased client base through substantial business development and professional networking.

11. License Agreements

Here's how patent attorneys use license agreements:

Investigated and assessed licensing opportunities, calculated prospective royalty payments, and drafted patent license agreements.
License agreements and confidentiality agreements.

12. Legal Research

Here's how patent attorneys use legal research:

Conducted legal research on various intellectual property issues.
Perform prior art searches and legal research, prepare claim charts, infringement analysis and legal opinions.

13. Trade Secrets

Here's how patent attorneys use trade secrets:

Advised clients regarding protection of trade secrets, including programs and procedures for maintaining secrecy.
Ensured that privileged materials, trade secrets, and other confidential information was not released to the opposing party.

14. PCT

Here's how patent attorneys use pct:

Prepared and prosecuted chemical and mechanical utility applications for domestic and PCT filings.
Prepared and prosecuted patent applications, including PCT applications.

15. Medical Devices

Medical devices refer to apparatus for use in medical procedures.

Here's how patent attorneys use medical devices:

Prosecute patents and design patents including mechanical inventions, medical devices and software.
Worked primarily in the fields of CMOS fabrication, business methods, computer networking, mechanical device, bio medical devices.

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What skills help Patent Attorneys find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What hard/technical skills are most important for patent attorneys?

James Tomaszewski

Director of the Center for Professional Development, University of Cincinnati

Excellent writing skills.

What skills stand out on patent attorney resumes?

James Tomaszewski

Director of the Center for Professional Development, University of Cincinnati

Demonstrated commitment to a particular practice area, especially experiential learning opportunities such as externships and clinics.

What soft skills should all patent attorneys possess?

James Tomaszewski

Director of the Center for Professional Development, University of Cincinnati

Engagement, Resilience, Responsiveness, Respectfulness, Integrity.

What patent attorney skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Charity Rohlfs J.D.

Associate Professor of Paralegal Studies, Website

GenAI! Which means highlights the importance of skills like organization, communication, and consensus building. The legal field has historically been technology hesitant, but the pandemic and AI have forced the use and adaptation of technology. AI’s exponential growth will require new skills at a lightning fast pace. A bellwether in the legal field is eDiscovery as it requires the ability to organize massive amounts of information as well as clearly and concisely communicate the information. AI is helping paralegals and attorneys do just this! Finally, in a world that often hides behind screens, having the ability to build consensus and connect with others will be invaluable.

Do you want to know more?

List of patent attorney skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a patent attorney resume and required skills for a patent attorney to have include:

Electrical Engineering
USPTO
Law Firm
Litigation
Patent Prosecution
Intellectual Property Law
Patent Law
Patent Portfolio
Due Diligence
Business Development
License Agreements
Legal Research
Trade Secrets
PCT
Medical Devices

Art Searches
Appeals
Patent Litigation
Legal Services
Foreign Counsel
Invention Disclosures
Office Action Responses
Intellectual Property Rights
Trademark Applications
Legal Opinions
Computer Software
FTO
Patent Searches
Foreign Patent Applications
In-House Counsel

Legal Issues
Intellectual Property Issues
Foreign Associates
Patent Application Preparation
Technology Areas
Non-Disclosure Agreements
DNA
Business Methods
Patent Infringement
FDA
Joint Development
Confidentiality Agreements
Mechanical Devices
International Patent Applications
Semiconductor Devices

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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