Becoming An Intellectual Property Attorney – What You Need To Know
The human mind has an incredible ability to come up with beautiful ideas and turn them into something fixed and tangible which can be extremely useful to mankind. Human intelligence is responsible for the invention of new technologies, products, and services that contribute to personal and economic growth. The human mind has an almost endless capability of creating things. But, despite the many masterpieces that the brain can invent, there are still some people who copy and infringe other’s original inventions and use them for personal economic gain. When it comes to intellectual property issues, an intellectual property attorney is the best person to call.
An intellectual property attorney, or also known as an IP lawyer, is a special lawyer that deals with legal issues involving copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. They act as legal advisors and advocates to inventors, writers, photographers, film directors, musicians, and others that create knowledge and information.
Before one can become an intellectual property attorney, one has to attend many years of schooling and training. Just like other types of lawyers, IP lawyers need to complete high school and get a 4-year undergraduate degree. Since intellectual property laws usually involve commerce, information technology, and engineering, it is recommended that you get a bachelor’s degree in these areas. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, candidates must pass the (LSAT) Law School Admission Test so they can be admitted to a law school. Then, after attending law school, aspiring attorneys must pass the bar exam given by the state they choose to practice. And lastly, one must obtain a license in patent bar after passing the state bar exam.
An intellectual property attorney’s average annual salary is around $89,000 to $134,000. If you are just starting out in your career as an intellectual property attorney, your beginning salary can range from $73,000 to $110,000. Of course, you can expect your salary to increase as you gain experience. After being employed for sometime, your pay can become as high as $160,000 yearly.
If you would like to become an intellectual property attorney, be sure to get as much education on IP laws and try your best to hone your investigative and interpersonal skills.