Patent Prosecution

What are the best practices for dealing with in-house counsel who regularly requests time-consuming revisions to applications that add little to no value?

What is your average billable hours each month?

Anyone know what Perkins Coie is like? What's the billable?

Curious who among us takes pride in writing a good spec on the first draft? Or have fixed fee schedules obliterated your pride of authorship?

Since last summer, give or take, I've been struggling to maintain a tolerable WLB. Part of it is that I relocated and I feel like the family is still trying to get adjusted and unpacked, but other… more

What kinds of things should a prosecution associate do early on to put themselves on the partner track?

I understand that (some) tech firms are feeling the brunt of a (potentially) looming recession. In your view, is the legal tech work impacted more m&a related, or is it more directly related to pa… more

When you're at Sterne Kessler and see Suzanne from HR is also in this group. Toxic firm.

I've been at two IP firms and I can't believe the toxicity at the first firm. Old people need to retire.

Are patent agent hour requirements generally the same as an associate?

Did you pursue this line of work because it interested you, or because you were influenced/pressured by someone? I know this is a weird career for someone to pressure someone into, but I promise you s… more

Does anyone know what is the average annual salary of a trainee Patent or Trademark Attorney in the United Kingdom?

What would you do if you were in the process of hiring someone but found out they lied about some things on their resume? Would you simply rescind the offer? Or would you talk to them straight on abou… more

Anyone have some clever career options for a Patent Attorney with e.e./m.e degrees who is sick of being a lawyer?

Can anyone speak to the culture at Marshall Gerstein?

Failed the patent bar for a third time. Never in my life have I felt as dumb as I do when I take that test. I keep scoring 63%- I hate having to take the test again more than anything else in the worl… more

Advice on choosing between Patent Pros/Litigation? Finishing law school and undecided about whether to go patent pros or litigation route. After some general research, the common theme seems to be tha… more

Amazing how many PPs get away w/ shoddy work and charge $$$$. A couple times a year a startup comes to me to take over their portfolio because [senior partner at big firm] is charging a lot and they d… more

Just curious how most people in here feel since it seems there's a lot of talk in general of PP being an unfulfilling path. Has being a patent attorney been more or less rewarding than you initial… more

For those who practice at a big law firm, what is it like trying to meet 2000 billable hours? How much time do you generally spend on applications and OA responses? Do you have to eat lost time? What … more

I'm ready to go in house - I'm tired of spending all day in the weeds and want to solve bigger picture, more business-focused problems. Any suggestions besides continuing to network and applyi… more

I've only been a patent attorney for a few months, and I'm already getting several clients both in patent and trademark. I was wondering if anyone has any fee suggestions? I am not familiar wi… more

How much CS experience do you have? Did you go straight through school or did you work in the industry for a few years?

Anyone else struggle with your personal relationships in this line of work? My job is so stressful, I hate to complain because I know every job is stressful to the person doing it, but it can be reall… more

I hate waking up on Monday morning and having 10 emails on my plate I need to respond to in 0.1. Yes I get an hour of billable credit (for now) in nearly half the time but I'm exhausted by the … more

Is it worth it to transition from Patent Agent to Patent Attorney? I’m currently a Patent Agent with a Ph.D. and have been at the same law firm for 5 years. How much more work/hours is expected from a… more

Junior associate trying to lateral - my conflicts check had roughly 30 entities on it and I'm facing issues at the new firm. How likely is this going to be going forward in other jobs? I could s… more

Curious if anyone here works in DC? I'm in NYC but thinking of making a move. I wondered what the field was like in DC comparatively, and what your lifestyle looks like out there? WLB any differen… more

I’m thinking of making the switch to patent lit. I’ve heard it’s more profitable with more stability regardless of how the economy is doing. I also think it seems more interesting and varied. Anyone h… more

Does anyone have a suggestion for a foreign associate in Egypt? I am not happy with our current one.

Not exactly a prosecution question, but can agents argue in front of the PTAB? I would assume they can for Appeals but it’s less clear to me if they can for IPRs or if they need an attorney present. O… more

Do you feel hard to hit hours if you are doing prosecution work only?

Patent attorney who has worked inhouse thus far (c/o 2017). Had a law school summer job in patent pros. Done a wide range of IP work (but not tons of patent pros) & other transactional work. I wan… more

Could anyone share the bonus amount they get as a patent agent?
For reference, I work in big law and got 15% salary. I have no idea how much other agents are getting at my firm or other firms.

Filling out a conflicts form and at my current firm, where I've been working for barely more than a year, I have billed to 475 matters/apps spread out over 20 clients. 🫠 yet I still feel like I… more

For those who have done both litigation and prosecution, how would 1850 pros hours compare to 2000 lit hours? Are these comparableish?

Does anyone actually like the USPTO's Patent Public Search online? I have attended the online training webinars and still cannot find what I am searching for. The old system was fine and it worked… more

Hi all, I’m a 5th year associate practicing commercial litigation. In October of 2022, I passed the USPTO Registration Exam and received my Registration No. in December. I only have a bachelors degr… more