A career in patent law offers exposure to the cutting edge of technologies with clinical and commercial impact and the opportunity to learn how patents interact with business strategy.<br/><br/>A patent is a publication that describes an invention and concludes with a set of claims that define intellectual property. Patent professionals work with inventors and their employers to prepare patent applications and then negotiate with patent examiners to obtain the broadest possible claims that meet the legal requirements. They also serve their clients by analyzing the strength and validity of patents, negotiating patent licenses, and enforcing patent rights through litigation in the courts and before the patent office.<br/><br/>After a first career in scientific research, I began my transition to patent law by applying to law school. Chemists looking for more immediate exposure to patent law can get hired as patent examiners by the US Patent Office or work in licensing. Another popular approach is to join a law firm as a scientific advisor or patent agent (a scientist or engineer who passed the patent bar). Some law firms support the career development of their patent agents by paying their law school tuition.

Careers in Patent Law

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.