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How to Find a Patent Attorney

by H. Michele Thomas

Overview

Navigating the legal system without an attorney is a difficult task, especially in a complex area such as patent law. If you have an invention, you'll want to protect your rights with a patent granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. According to the American Bar Association, patents are property which may be sold and licensed. The patent application process is long and arduous; so, follow these steps to find a patent attorney to help ease the process.

Step 1

Go to Martindale.com. A link is provided in the Resources section of this article.
Step 2

Select "Law Firms" or "People" from the "Search For" drop-down box under "Find Lawyers & Firms." You may decide to perform two separate searches, one for Law Firms and one for People, to ensure you have several patent attorneys to choose from.
Step 3

Select "Intellectual Property" from the drop-down box under "Practice Area." Patent attorneys specialize in patents, which fall under the umbrella legal area of Intellectual Property. Other areas in Intellectual Property include copyright, trademarks, and trade secrets.
Step 4

Enter your city and state, state only, or country. You also may or may not check the box next to "Show Only Sponsored Peer Review Rated." Selecting this box may significantly reduce the number of results returned. Peer review rated attorneys and law firms have been evaluated by other attorneys or judges who rate them on ethics and legal ability.
Step 5

Click "Search." Results provide profiles and contact information for attorneys and law firms specializing in Intellectual Property, which includes patents, in your area.

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Another source for finding a patent attorney is the Get Legal Attorney Locator at Getlegal.com. Your local bar association also may provide free attorney referrals.
Another source for finding a patent attorney is the Get Legal Attorney Locator at Getlegal.com. Your local bar association also may provide free attorney referrals.
Attorney locator services such as Martindale and Get Legal do not guarantee the competency or ethics of attorneys listed in the service. It is your responsibility to determine whether the attorney or law firm you've located is suited to your needs. Before entering an attorney-client relationship with any attorney or law firm, you should ask questions regarding the attorney's educational background and licensure. You also should consult the American Bar Association's Directory of Lawyer Disciplinary Agencies to locate your state's lawyer disciplinary agency. Contact the agency to verify the license status and disciplinary history of the attorney you are considering to select.
Attorney locator services such as Martindale and Get Legal do not guarantee the competency or ethics of attorneys listed in the service. It is your responsibility to determine whether the attorney or law firm you've located is suited to your needs. Before entering an attorney-client relationship with any attorney or law firm, you should ask questions regarding the attorney's educational background and licensure. You also should consult the American Bar Association's Directory of Lawyer Disciplinary Agencies to locate your state's lawyer disciplinary agency. Contact the agency to verify the license status and disciplinary history of the attorney you are considering to select.