5 Savvy Questions You Should Ask Before You Hire A Patent Attorney
If you’re looking for a patent attorney, you should ask a few questions before making a decision. So, to ensure you select the best lawyer to assist you in filing your Patent, we’ve compiled a list of four questions you should ask your candidates.
What kind of technical background do you have?
Finding the finest patent attorney to write your Patent can be difficult, no matter how basic your innovation is. You should ask your lawyer questions that demonstrate their level of personal knowledge of the products you want to protect. They should be able to safeguard the value of your product and represent it as accurately as feasible. Finally, you want someone who knows how to patent your concept and turn it into valuable intellectual property.
Assume you’ve created a new dog toy. While several patents describe similar toys, your dog toy is unique since it is designed to wear dogs out faster than others. As a result, you’ll need a patent lawyer that knows a little bit about dogs, how they like to play, and why there’s a market for dog toys in general. Finding a lawyer with experience creating pet toy patents is the best-case scenario.
So, while knowing where a patent lawyer went to school and what their degree is important, asking about their personal experience is much more important. It would be beneficial if you had a deeper understanding of their passions and interests.
Don’t be afraid to inquire about their previous patents. You’ll never know how good a writer they are outside of their subject of education unless you look at their other work.
What is your method for working with clients, and how do you work with them?
Having a lawyer assist you in drafting a patent is a collaborative effort that necessitates communication. Consider the following questions. What is the patent procedure like for this lawyer? What is the frequency with which I will have to meet with them? Consider whether you want a lawyer to take your notes and prepare a patent application or if you’d rather them come up with a strategy first.
In either case, you must be on the same page and be aware of your lawyer’s procedures. Set clear expectations and determine if you want to work with them in that manner.
Keep in mind that the patent attorney works for you. They’ve been employed to manage and oversee a project that may necessitate the involvement of others. As a result, it’s preferable to hire a patent attorney who is both a technical and legal specialist. It’s vital to find out as soon as possible whether you and your attorney have similar thoughts and thought processes.
Who makes up your team?
Because filing a patent is such a difficult procedure, your lawyer will almost certainly lead their professional team through each stage. Your lawyer will certainly have junior patent attorneys or patent agents on their staff. Please inquire about who will be working on your Patent and why your attorney chose them. You can also inquire about their supervision and request to speak with them directly.
To prepare patent drawings, lawyers frequently hire drafting technicians. It would be best to ask how much time they’ll need to complete the designs and how you can interact with them to draught and approve them.
It would be best to become acquainted with your lawyer’s paraprofessional support personnel. Knowing who will file your patent application and keeping track of the responses from the US Patent Office is in your best interests. If your patent lawyer intends to handle all of these activities independently, this is a significant red flag.
Also, keep in mind your worth during this procedure. You know everything there is to know about your invention. Inform your attorney if you wish to design some of the applications yourself or if you have some illustrations that best represent your product. Draw a line in the sand about the roles you want to play and hire a lawyer who has the same or comparable goals.
What is your experience with the USPTO (the United States Patent and Trademark Office)?
Law firms highly value patent attorneys who have worked as USPTO examiners. They are regarded as experienced negotiators who thoroughly understand both sides of the process.
Lawyers who have not worked as examiners, on the other hand, should not be overlooked. When choosing between two qualified patent lawyers, bear this quality in mind.
For example, once your dog toy patent is filed, it will be sent to the USPTO’s Group Art Unit, where animal toy patents are examined. Your lawyer would have a better idea of how that office is conducted and managed if they worked there. What is your experience with the USPTO (the United States Patent and Trademark Office)?
Law firms highly value patent attorneys who have worked as USPTO examiners. They are regarded as experienced negotiators who thoroughly understand both sides of the process.
Lawyers who have not worked as examiners, on the other hand, should not be overlooked. When choosing between two qualified patent lawyers, bear this quality in mind.
For example, once your dog toy patent is filed, it will be sent to the USPTO’s Group Art Unit, where animal toy patents are examined. Your lawyer would have a better idea of how that office is conducted and managed if they worked there.
A patent application is a complicated legal document, and failing to fill it out correctly and include all required documents can result in your innovation not receiving full protection under patent laws or in a patent being denied. You should see a patent attorney in your area if you need help filing a utility non-provisional patent application or if you have general questions regarding patent laws.
I would recommend Brealant to have your Patent registered quickly and without any issues. This well-known Patent attorney specializes in foreign trademark registration. The primary objective of this company is to obtain Patent registrations for its clients in the shortest amount of time and at the lowest possible cost.In addition, Brealant has a staff of attorneys who have dealt with Patent applications before. Contact us for more details.