How Do I Choose the Best Patent Attorney?

Before you choose the best patent attorney for your situation, you should find out some important facts about the lawyer you are considering. You should first ensure that he has the qualifications you need, such as experience working with patents and knowledge of ideas that are similar to yours. You also should find out the case history of the lawyer, including the number of patents he has received through the patent office on behalf of clients. In addition, you may want to get to know the fees of the patent attorney in question, because this may allow you to compare rates and budget for services. You often can find out all of this information during an initial consultation.

Among the most important attributes of a good patent lawyer is his background, because you likely will want to hire someone who understands both patent law and the type of invention you are trying to patent. This means you should make sure the lawyer you choose is part of the patent bar, which typically is required to be an attorney in this field and can let you know that the lawyer you are considering knows how to work with patents. In addition, the best patent attorney for you is one who is educated about the type of idea you have. For instance, if your invention involves computer software, then you should look for a lawyer with a degree in a similar field so he will thoroughly understand how to treat the subject.

When choosing the best patent attorney for your situation, you also should consider the success the lawyer has had in pushing the ideas of other clients through the patent office. This is important, because you do not want the patent to take years to go through, and this tends to happen to many who do not choose the best patent attorney. Dealing with a patent office usually requires an attorney who can properly put together the required materials while being proactive with your patent.

You also may want to find out the costs of the attorney you are considering, because you need to be able to afford his services. In many cases, the best patent attorney for you will let you know the fees of the project upfront, because he charges a flat rate instead of an hourly fee. This lets you budget for services ahead of time so you are not worried about receiving a surprisingly high bill when the patent process has been completed. It usually is wise to get an idea of whether you can expect a return on investment, because you likely won't want to pay a lot of money for the process to stall for years or for the patent to fail to go through at all.