The term “Patent Attorney” generally refers to intellectual property lawyers admitted to engage in patent practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Patent attorneys must be admitted to practice law in at least one state, the District of Columbia, or a US territory, have a technical background or education and pass the USPTO registration examination.
Patent attorneys in California prepare, file and prosecute patent applications, provide patentability opinions or legal advice about the licensing of an invention, appealing a decision by the Patent Office, suing for patent infringement, and defending against patent infringement allegations.
San Francisco Lawyer Referral Service - The Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) is a community based non-profit service sponsored by the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF). Since 1946, the lawyer referral service has helped the public find a qualified attorney throughout San Francisco County in a variety of practice areas. The LRIS has also expanded it service into Marin County, CA.