What Does A Patent Paralegal Do?

Patent administration is one of the most interesting and highest paid areas of legal administration. Qualified patent paralegals (also called patent specialists or patent secretaries) are in high demand, and quite commonly earn fifty to seventy-five thousand dollars a year. A patent paralegal works with one or more patent attorneys or agents, and handles all the administrative work involved in the long and complex process of patenting inventions, either at a law firm or within the patent department of a corporation or university. This usually involves a lot of correspondence between the patent attorney and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Virginia. Much of the correspondence takes the form of legal documents, drafted and filed in accordance with Federal patent rules. It's a profession that requires intelligence, initiative and good organizational skills. Regular paralegals cannot do this work. It's a specialty of its own that requires a considerable degree of training. There's a lot to learn, but experienced patent paralegals are often given a great deal of responsibility for day-to-day patent matters, and with that comes a commensurate degree of respect and financial reward. 

 How Can I Become A Patent Paralegal?

There's a huge demand for patent paralegals, but amazingly enough, no college or university credential is (yet) required or expected. This may well change. Many of the more experienced patent paralegals entered the field from general secretarial or administrative work, often, but not always, in a law firm. Almost all traditional training has been done as an informal apprenticeship, with the trainee receiving instruction from a senior paralegal or an attorney. A few sporadic live seminars have sprung up around the country, but because of the complexity of the subject matter, these seminars have either been very long, requiring live attendance after work and on weekends, or they are presented more as a short review for experienced patent paralegals than a complete course. No previous course has provided a convenient but thorough step-by-step guide to US and foreign patent administration, until now. Most importantly, the IPLegalEd course teaches you to understand patent procedures, not just how to fill out forms.

 What Will The IPLegalEd Course Teach Me?

The IPLegalEd course is the first complete self-contained course designed to teach you how to handle the administrative side of patent practice. Whether you're taking it to refresh your skills, catch up on new or infrequently used rules, or are embarking upon an entirely new career, you'll find all you need to know right here. To see a complete course outline  Click Here

 The course will provide you with complete, clear, step-by-step directions to guide you through the often bewildering maze of patent administration procedures, showing you how to fill out forms, docket dates and prepare documents for filing with the Patent Office. In short, we teach you how to confidently handle everything necessary to support one or more patent attorneys - either at a law firm, corporation or university.

 I've been a patent assistant for quite a while, what will this course do for me?

This course will provide you with a valuable and comprehensive refresher of your skills, help you remember what you've forgotten, and will bring you up to date with all the new rules.

 I'm pretty new to the patent field, what will I learn from this course?

If you have some, but not a lot of, experience, the IPLegalEd course will provide a clear, step-by-step guide to patent administration, and teach you all that you need to know to confidently handle the administration of a patent portfolio, in a law firm or in a corporate patent department.

 I'm a complete novice to patent work, is this course too advanced for me?

You'll be just fine! Of course, the less experience you have, the more time you may want to spend on certain sections. The IPLegalEd course has been designed so that you can stop, start, or repeat sections as often as you wish. The course requires no specific prior knowledge, and has been carefully designed from the ground up to explain all terms and principles that you will need to understand the more complex elements of patent administration.

 What's the value of the IPLegalEd certificate?

The IPLegalEd course is not just about getting a certificate - it is about becoming an excellent, highly competent, and sought after patent paralegal. The IPLegalEd certificate provides a valuable and recognized formal qualification awarded for having successfully taken the course and passed the final exam. It is not simply a certificate of completion. It is nationally recognized and the course is fully approved for 60 units of paralegal CLE credit by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. The IPLegalEd course has been designed and written by expert practitioners to be the very best course possible - the gold standard of patent paralegal education.

 Are Printed Reference Materials Provided?

Yes. The entire text of the course is designed to be downloaded and printed out to provide a useful working reference with step-by-step instructions covering all aspects of patent administration. This text can be used as a study aid and practice forms book throughout the course, as well as a valuable reference guide on the job.

 What Happens If I Have Questions?

Unlimited, expert support from patent professionals is available on-line. Additionally, the course has been carefully designed to anticipate and answer the most common questions that you may have.

 Does My Computer Have To Be "on-line" To Take The Course?

No. The course is designed to be downloaded to your computer and / or printed out, so you do not have to be logged on to study. In fact, if you choose to print out the course, you do not even have to use a computer to study. Only the quizzes and the final exam must be taken and graded online.

 Can I Repeat Sections If I Need To?

You can stop, start, or repeat sections and quizzes as often as you need. For the quizzes, only your most recent score is recorded.  The final exam may be retaken up to three times (see below).

 Will There Be Tests?

Yes. The IPLegalEd course is an interactive course, designed to teach, reinforce and test your knowledge. A multiple-choice quiz is given at the end of each course section. When you've completed all the sections, there is a final exam. A score of 70% or above is required to pass the course, and a certificate is awarded upon passing.  If you do not pass the final exam within three (3) attempts, you will be allowed to retake the final exam an additional three times for a fee of $200. 

 How Long Will The Course Take?

The entire course should take about 60-100 hours, possibly longer if you are a novice. Additional time may be required for review of the materials. You have 100 days from registration to complete the course, so you should have plenty of time.

 How Long Do I Have To Complete The Course?

You will have 100 days from the date of registration to complete the course, including taking and passing the final exam. This should be plenty of time (only about 3-4 hours per week). If, however, you are unable to complete the course in that time, you may contact us to obtain an extension for a fee.

 Is There A Deadline For Registration?

No. Registration is ongoing, and you can register at any time you like, 365 days per year. Simply use the on-line registration process found on the IPLegalEd homepage.

 How Much Does The Course Cost?

The cost of the entire course is $1975.

 Refund Policy?

A full refund will be given promptly if, for any reason, you find that after having signed-up, you cannot use the site or cannot do the course. In order to get a refund, you must contact us, explain the problem, and specifically request a refund within one week (7 days) of signing up.

 Can I Pay In Installments?

Yes. We do have installment plans for individual registrants. If a corporation or law firm is paying, the installment plan may not be used. Please contact us for details.

 Is The  Course Accredited By Any National Organization?

Yes. The IPlegalEd course is fully accredited by NFPA (The National Federation of Paralegal Associations), and is endorsed by the IP Society of Silicon Valley. 

 Who Uses The IPLegalEd Course?

The IPlegalEd Patent Paralegal Certificate Course is used by top international corporations, law firms and government departments. Some of our clients include:

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INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS

Australia

Canada

Japan

Saudi Arabia

 
About IPlegalEd

IPlegalEd.com was created in 2000 by a patent attorney, Adam Bell, and his long-time patent paralegal, Crystal Susa. Both are actively engaged in the daily practice of patent law and administration.