Join the Intellectual Property practice at Mintz as a Technical Advisor or Patent Agent, and take your first step on a dynamic and engaging career path. Technical Advisors and Patent Agents work closely with experienced IP attorneys to help entrepreneurs, universities, and companies acquire, protect, and enforce patent rights for their technological advancements.
Patent Professionals
Roles and Resources
Work alongside our attorneys and clients on cutting-edge patent prosecution and enforcement.
Use your technical background to support national and global patent litigation.
Technology Areas
Our diverse IP Practice covers a wide range of emerging and established technologies and industries:
Life Sciences
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Biochemistry Biosimilars Biotechnology Cell therapy Diagnostics Drug delivery systems Gene therapy |
Immunology Medical devices Nanotechnology Pharmaceuticals Stem cell and molecular biology Tissue engineering Vaccine and antibiotic development |
Technology
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Action sports Big data Business methods Clean technologies Cloud computing Consumer electronics Enterprise and network software Financial services |
Image / graphics Medical devices Medical monitoring and IT systems Networks and connected devices Open source software Optics Signal processing Telecommunications |
Professional Development
Mintz offers extensive professional development opportunities to our Patent Agents and Technical Advisors. Mintz Levin Professional Development (MLPD) provides training in areas such as current trends in patent prosecution practice, hot topic updates, and on-your-feet practice to help you transition from academia to the legal industry. We offer over 100 classes each year, taught by both our attorneys and external consultants.
Some of our professional development programs include:
- Writing
- Patent Preparation and Prosecution
- Creating a Personalized Business Plan
- Creating Your Business Plan
- Participation in Industry-Specific Practice Development Groups
- Ethics
- Supervisory and Mentoring Training
MLPD is an Accredited Provider of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) in New York and California. Qualifying MLPD programs are designed to deliver CLE credit to participants with state bar requirements.
FAQs
What is the difference between a Technical Advisor and a Patent Agent?
Technical Advisors and Patent Agents both possess exceptional knowledge in their areas of practice — patent prosecution or patent litigation. The difference between a Technical Advisor and a Patent Agent is that a Patent Agent has passed the Patent Bar and is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Patent Agents are admitted to practice before the USPTO and can work on patent litigation and patent prosecution matters. Patent Agents who focus on patent prosecution perform a variety of patent-related activities, such as patent application drafting, correspondence with global patent offices, opinion drafting, freedom-to-operate analysis, and due diligence work.
Technical Advisors are typically not admitted to the USPTO and generally work on patent litigation matters. Technical Advisors who focus on patent litigation use their technical experience to provide support for enforcement or defense of patent rights nationally and globally. Technical Advisors at Mintz are strongly encouraged to pass the Patent Bar and become registered Patent Agents.
Are Patent Professionals required to attend law school?
Not all Patent Professionals attend law school. Many Technical Advisors and Patent Agents enjoy rewarding careers as Patent Professionals, while others attend law school with the intention of becoming a patent lawyer. Each year Mintz makes the commitment to pay for law school and related expenses for a select number of Patent Professionals. This decision is made by firm management and depends on many different factors, including but not limited to the quality of the patent agent’s work, input from members he or she works closely with, his or her area of technical specialty, and the needs of our clients in that technical area. Patent Agents and Technical Advisors must have been employed for at least one year at the firm and must have already passed the patent bar in order to be considered for our law school program.