Qualifications for patent work
The absolute essential for a career as a patent agent or a patent examiner is scientific, technical or engineering expertise. If you are to apply for a patent or scrutinise its application, you must be able to understand how it works. You definitely need a good engineering, scientific or technical degree, usually a 2.1 or higher. Becoming a patent attorney or a patent examiner are popular job options for postgraduate students. However, postgraduate qualifications are not essential (except at a few private practice employers of patent agents), although they may be beneficial if you choose to work in a specialist field. There are also some postgraduate courses in intellectual property law, which may allow you to bypass the early stages of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys foundation examinations if you want to become a registered patent attorney and may be advantageous to patent law employers.
Skills needed to be a top-notch patent attorney
As a patent agent, you will need the ability to translate technical language into legal terminology. Drafting patent applications involves converting technical details and complex processes to clear, unambiguous and comprehensible language. You need to be highly analytical and logical, with the capability to understand complex ideas and put them down on paper. You will get training in intellectual property law, but it is useful to have some knowledge of the law. Language skills are valuable, as work with the European Patent Office often requires reading English, French and German. Soft skills are needed too, including:
- accuracy and meticulous attention to detail
- juggling patent applications from different clients at the same time
- coping with pressure
- working to strict deadlines
- commercial skills.
Skills needed to be a great patent examiner
Patent examiners require many of the same skills as patent attorneys. Your day-to-day tasks will mean that you'll have to be able to scrutinise technical information and be able to identify the salient points in an application. In order to to fairly conclude whether the invention deserves a patent, you will need to be able to develop a search strategy, so being able to strategise and planning is pretty important. The ability to priorise will stand you in good stead.
Decisiveness is an essential trait, as is the ability to create well-constructed arguments. You will need the confidence to put your point across but also be tactful and diplomatic when dealing with colleagues and patent attorneys so good communciation skills are a must.
