In order to become a patent attorney or patent agent it is necessary to take and pass the Patent Bar Examination. To find out what degrees are allowed to appear for the exam visit this link. http://www.ipwatchdog.com/patent-bar...ualifications/
Looks like you're talking about the requirements for becoming a US patent attorney.
I guess he assumes Switzerland is a place somewhere in the USA
Damn! I thought I’d left the US behind when I renounced too.
From watching colleagues come and go around me over the years, it is pretty clear that good patent attorneys with a technical degree + experience can earn a boatload of money in the big companies in Romandie: Nestlé, Philip Morris ( ), etc. Without having precise figures to hand, I'm talking 200k rather than 100k. But, as usual, the exact figure depends on ... the usual suspects.
Hopefully this thread is not too old to resurrect.
I'm interested in becoming a patent agent here in CH, but I'm not really sure where to begin. I know you need 3 years of experience before you can take the EPO patent bar - so what is a typical position during those 3 prior years, and what qualifications are needed? Where should I begin my search for those positions? (and I'd be very grateful if some of the patent agents on these forums could mention specific job openings)
My research project for my PhD isn't producing many results, and I'm thoroughly disinterested in continuing on for years with Post-Docs and such.
I've got "technical qualifications" covered:
A BSc in Biotechnology, from the University of California, Davis.
A MSc in molecular biology, from the University of Zürich
I'm currently doing a PhD in Cell biology at the University of Geneva (I think if a job offer came up now, I'd take it and quit the PhD, but I might stick it out to the end and then try to find a patent related job).
As far as language skills:
English is my native language, and I'm begrudgingly learning French (as my girlfriend speaks fluent French). I know some basic German from my time in Zürich - but for technical issues, I'm limited to English.
Experience:
For a year between my BSc and MSc I worked for a small biotech startup. My time was split 50% in the lab, 50% at a desk doing stuff like assisting in grant preparation, and assisting in patent related matters. The latter involved things such as reading the letters from the patent attorney and/or referenced prior art, then talking to the scientists. I would then summarize the distinctions that we could/should use to fight a novelty (or rarely, an obviousness) objection, and reported to the the head (VP of R&D... but that title seems inflated given how small the R&D section was) on how I thought we should direct the PA to respond,.
I'm familiar with the types (design/utility) requirements (novelty, utility, enablement, and non-obvious), and pretty familiar with the process (in our case, we had a lot of divisionals, and only 1 new application during my time there).
At this point, I think I could pass the US patent bar (I've looked at previous tests online) - should I try? I assume it would look good on my CV.
In conversations/debates with people, I often use technicalities, and get told that I should have been a lawyer....
For citizenship, I could probably have citizenship in an EU country at about the same time I'd be eligible to take the EPO patent bar.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
[QUOTE=UserNamesAllTaken;2017111]Hopefully this thread is not too old to resurrect.
I'm interested in becoming a patent agent here in CH, but I'm not really sure where to begin. I know you need 3 years of experience before you can take the EPO patent bar - so what is a typical position during those 3 prior years, and what qualifications are needed? Where should I begin my search for those positions? (and I'd be very grateful if some of the patent agents on these forums could mention specific job openings) You need three years' experience under the supervision of a qualified European Patent Attorney before you can sit the EQE. You appear to have the right technical qualifications - in fact, you seem well suited to Basel Big Pharma. Have a look at the Novartis site - they actually have a trainee programme which will train appropriate candidates to the right standard.
https://sjobs.brassring.com/2057/ASP...&jobid=1939005
My research project for my PhD isn't producing many results, and I'm thoroughly disinterested in continuing on for years with Post-Docs and such.
I've got "technical qualifications" covered:
A BSc in Biotechnology, from the University of California, Davis.
A MSc in molecular biology, from the University of Zürich
I'm currently doing a PhD in Cell biology at the University of Geneva (I think if a job offer came up now, I'd take it and quit the PhD, but I might stick it out to the end and then try to find a patent related job). Drop a line to perfume company Firmenich, one of the world's Big Two - you never know. Its R&D HQ is in Geneva (Meyrin, I think). The other biggie, Givaudan, has its R&D near Zürich, and there are no positions currently available (I have contacts...). I hear whispers along the grapevine that Nestlé might be looking, but for qualified people. As someone else said, if you can square your conscience with working for the world's biggest cause of preventable death, Philip Morris has a sizeable IP department
As far as language skills:
English is my native language, and I'm begrudgingly learning French (as my girlfriend speaks fluent French). I know some basic German from my time in Zürich - but for technical issues, I'm limited to English. That's the essential one. No patent attorney can live without it. However, it does mean that Swiss private practice may be out of bounds, unless a firm needs your particular technical expertise - generally they'll be looking for someone who can handle at least one of the local languages (and be able to draft patent applications in it). However, Swiss industry, especially the chemical industry, couldn't care less about the local languages - they must have English. And the EQE has now got rid of the silly requirement in Paper C (opposition) that one had to read one document in a language other than the one in which one was doing the exam
Experience:
For a year between my BSc and MSc I worked for a small biotech startup. My time was split 50% in the lab, 50% at a desk doing stuff like assisting in grant preparation, and assisting in patent related matters. The latter involved things such as reading the letters from the patent attorney and/or referenced prior art, then talking to the scientists. I would then summarize the distinctions that we could/should use to fight a novelty (or rarely, an obviousness) objection, and reported to the the head (VP of R&D... but that title seems inflated given how small the R&D section was) on how I thought we should direct the PA to respond,.
I'm familiar with the types (design/utility) requirements (novelty, utility, enablement, and non-obvious), and pretty familiar with the process (in our case, we had a lot of divisionals, and only 1 new application during my time there). This sounds like US practice, which, in many ways, is quite different from European practice, AIA notwithstanding. However, you seem to have a grasp of basic matters, which would certainly help.
At this point, I think I could pass the US patent bar (I've looked at previous tests online) - should I try? I assume it would look good on my CV. I'd say it would be pointless. I know the US Patent Bar exam is a pretty trivial little thing, but, because of the different laws, it wouldn't really get you anywhere, and I don't think anyone would be particularly impressed. If you want to tackle the EQE, just be warned that it's no pushover - you will be confronted by some of the toughest exams you've ever faced.
In conversations/debates with people, I often use technicalities, and get told that I should have been a lawyer....
For citizenship, I could probably have citizenship in an EU country at about the same time I'd be eligible to take the EPO patent bar. Strictly speaking, it is not necessary - the President of the EPO is empowered to make exceptions to the requirement that a Professional Representative must be a national of a Contracting State (not necessarily an EU country - Switzerland, Norway, most of the Balkans and Turkey are all EPC contracting states). However, this is relatively rare, and the old rule of thumb used to be that you had to wait for 10 years post-qualification before the EPO would even look at you. However, it has been done and there is a small group of non-EPC country prof. reps. - there are even at least two Japanese.
Again, your particular situation seems to scream "Industry". Swiss private practice want people who can immediately represent clients before the EPO, and without the nationality requirement on passing the EQE, you couldn't do that. Industry couldn't care less - moreover, as your employer is probably the applicant, you as an employee can represent the applicant, regardless as to whether you are or aren't qualified - even at EPO oppositions/appeals (been there, done that).
Can anyone point me in the right direction? Hope that's helped a wee bit. If not, feel free to come back with specific questions, or PM me.