Insider Tip #1 - If you're looking for and actively interviewing patent attorneys to help you file for a patent, go to the USPTO website and do a search on Issued patents.
http://patft.uspto.gov/
If you click on Quick Search, there will be two fields for you to do some basic searches. Where it says "Term 1", input the main name of the law firm you are interviewing and then in "Field 1" there is a drop down box...just click on "Attorney or Agent" and click on "Search". This will pull all the issued patents that the law firm has handled. Make sure to open each patent to confirm that the firm you are looking for is listed as the Attorney, Agent or Firm: (this is usually found directly under the "Primary Examiner" listed for the patent. It may take a few times to refine your results so that you are only getting that exact firm, but with a little sleuthing, you can find the patents...
In general, the more patents from their clients that they have issued, the better. It means they have been in the game for a fair amount of time....and have a lot of experience in the complex jousting that goes on between patent law firms and the USPTO Examiner who is responsible for making the decision on your patent...and for them resulted in patent approval for their clients It also gives you a good idea of the type of patents they have worked on in the past, including design or utility patents...if their area of specialty seems to be complex software or laser technology, it might not be a great fit for you if you if your invention is a consumer product like a new tool or houseware.
Patent attorneys are not inexpensive...so if you want your invention to have the of best chance of getting approved, and are going to spend a fair amount of money in hopes of achieving protection for your invention by the US government, go with an experienced patent attorney that has already received many patents for products that are most closely related to yours...
http://patft.uspto.gov/
If you click on Quick Search, there will be two fields for you to do some basic searches. Where it says "Term 1", input the main name of the law firm you are interviewing and then in "Field 1" there is a drop down box...just click on "Attorney or Agent" and click on "Search". This will pull all the issued patents that the law firm has handled. Make sure to open each patent to confirm that the firm you are looking for is listed as the Attorney, Agent or Firm: (this is usually found directly under the "Primary Examiner" listed for the patent. It may take a few times to refine your results so that you are only getting that exact firm, but with a little sleuthing, you can find the patents...
In general, the more patents from their clients that they have issued, the better. It means they have been in the game for a fair amount of time....and have a lot of experience in the complex jousting that goes on between patent law firms and the USPTO Examiner who is responsible for making the decision on your patent...and for them resulted in patent approval for their clients It also gives you a good idea of the type of patents they have worked on in the past, including design or utility patents...if their area of specialty seems to be complex software or laser technology, it might not be a great fit for you if you if your invention is a consumer product like a new tool or houseware.
Patent attorneys are not inexpensive...so if you want your invention to have the of best chance of getting approved, and are going to spend a fair amount of money in hopes of achieving protection for your invention by the US government, go with an experienced patent attorney that has already received many patents for products that are most closely related to yours...
This is the first in a series of Inside Tip blogs - "Helping You Bring Your Idea to Market"
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