Patent attorney
Also known as
Work environment
- Usually work regular business hours but may work extra hours
- Usually work in offices and courts and may travel locally or nationally to visit clients
- Need to be organised, identify and solve problems and communicate well
Salary information
Typical tasks
- Advise on copyright for new inventions
- Explain copyright and patent law options
- Prepare and file patent applications
- Manage patent approval process
- Track patents and renewals
- Enforce patent rights against misuse
- Protect patents from misuse
- Negotiate patent usage deals
- Keep up to date with New Zealand patent law
Outlook
Patent work is shaped by innovation in fields such as biotechnology, software, clean technology and advanced manufacturing. In New Zealand, businesses and researchers use intellectual property to protect and commercialise new ideas, often in international markets. Digital tools and artificial intelligence are speeding up some patent searching and document work, while complex inventions still need careful legal and technical analysis.
What employers and industry want in graduates
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
- Ability to understand complex scientific or technical ideas
- Clear, precise writing and communication
- Attention to detail when reviewing documents and claims
- Sound ethical judgement and respect for confidentiality
- Ability to explain intellectual-property issues in plain language
Professional registration
Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board
mail.ttipab@ipaustralia.gov.au
02 6283 2345
AUT programmes
The above is a suggestion only and a starting point. You may need to meet other criteria or take additional steps to work in this career.
Further study options
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This data is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahtu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Some of the information has been modified by AUT. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this data.