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 United States 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.