Patent attorney
Help people protect their rights when they invent a new product, design or process.
About the job
What it's like
You would help people protect their rights when they invent a new product, design or process.
You’d ensure that an original idea is legally credited to the inventor – whether that’s an individual or a company – so other people can’t copy the invention for a set period of time.
You would:
Meet inventors or manufacturers to get the details of their invention, innovation or design
Search existing patents to check the invention or design is original
Advise about the chances of being granted a patent
Write a detailed legal description of the invention or design - known as a patent draft
Apply for patents to the UK Intellectual Property Office or European Patent Office
Answer questions from patent examiners
Advise clients whose patent rights may have been breached
Represent clients if a case comes to court
You would also advise on other intellectual property issues such as design rights, industrial design, copyright and trade marks. You’d need to keep up to date with intellectual property law.
A scientific or technical background would help you to understand the new products and processes that you would need to assess and advise upon.
Reading skills in French and German may also be an advantage for some roles.
Many patent attorneys are also qualified trade mark attorneys.
Hours
You'll typically work standard office hours, Monday to Friday, possibly with occasional overtime to meet deadlines.
Environment
You'll be mainly office-based, but also travel to meet clients, attend court and visit the UK Intellectual Property Office. There may also be overseas travel to the European Patent Office in Munich.
Travel
There may be overseas travel to the European Patent Office in Munich.
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Top skills
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It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- patents
- physics
- electrical engineering
- patent prosecution
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- negotiating
- time management
- developing a plan
- sorting
- attention to detail
- empathising
- researching
- written communication
- verbal communication
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Business
Design and Technology
Engineering Science
English
You'd need qualifications that help you understand technical products and processes. You'd also need knowledge of intellectual property law.
An honours degree or postgraduate qualification (SCQF Level 10/11) in a scientific or engineering subject would be useful.
Before becoming a fully qualified patent attorney you would need to complete a series of on the job professional qualifications in intellectual property law. The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys has more information.
Some employers also look for foreign language qualifications.
To enter a science or engineering degree usually requires four to five Highers, often in one sitting. You may be able to gain advanced entry into the second or third year of a degree with a relevant HNC/HND qualification (SCQF Level 7/8).
Entry to a postgraduate qualification usually requires an honours degree (SCQF level 10), and some courses will require relevant experience.
Any qualifications that show understanding of law, language and science and the ability to gather organise and present information such as BTEC Diploma in Public Services.
Relevant experience such as attending Law Society of Scotland events and activities for school students.
Once in work you must pass Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and/or Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA) exams in order to join the Register of Patent Agents and the Register of Trade Mark Agents.
If you wish to work on international patents you will need to pass the European qualifying exams.
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