Miami Patent Attorneys & Lawyers for Hire

Why Hire a Patent Lawyer?

Filing a successful patent application requires researching current technology, similar filings, and case law. If you don't want to spend months doing this sort of research, it's best to hire a patent attorney who already knows all of this information and uses it every day.

A patent attorney has a law degree, has passed the patent law bar exam, can prosecute applications on your behalf in front of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and can represent you in patent litigation or infringement cases.

Another question to ask yourself when considering working with a patent lawyer is do you have the time to do this yourself? In addition to all of the research that needs to be done, it can take one to three weeks to fulfill all of the obligations that come with filing a patent.

Do you feel that there is a possibility of infringement on your inventions or ideas? Then you should definitely hire a patent attorney. You may only get one opportunity to apply before infringement occurs, so you want to get it right the first time. A patent attorney can ensure that your intellectual property is properly protected by filing complete applications that meet every deadline.

How to Find the Best Patent Lawyer

There are just over 40,000 registered patent attorneys and agents who can practice before the USPTO. This means that finding a suitable patent attorney in the Miami area could prove to be a challenge. Be sure to consider options in the surrounding counties. Patent law is federal, so you do not need to hire a lawyer in your immediate area unless being able to meet in person is very important to you. 

• Ask for recommendations: Go to local inventor groups, speak with businesses in your industry who have used patent lawyers in the past, talk to someone at the Florida State Bar Association, the Miami Lakes Bar Association, Miami Beach Bar Association, the South Miami Kendall Bar Association, or at the Dade County Bar Association for recommendations. Getting a recommendation from someone who has actually used that patent lawyer and can speak of their success is a great place to start.

• Contact several patent attorneys: You don't have to go with the first person you speak with or the first one that is recommended to you. Keep searching until you have a handful of attorneys with the skills and experience to help you protect your invention. Do some research on them and then get in touch to set up a time to discuss your patent ideas.

• Contact the USPTO Office: You can get in touch with the USPTO and speak to someone in the office of Enrollment and Discipline to make sure that the lawyers you are looking into are in good standing with the USPTO. You don't want to hire someone who does not have a good relationship with the USPTO since they will be the agency that evaluates and approves your patent.

• Meet with the attorneys: If they are in the Miami area, meet in person. If they are located further away, schedule a phone interview. This is when you can ask them questions, but it's also where you need to be able to explain your invention. Come prepared. Make sure you have researched other patents that are similar to yours and can explain why yours is different enough to warrant a patent.

• Choose the attorney the best fits your business: You know you want to choose an attorney with experience filing patents, but it's equally important to find someone with experience in your industry and knowledge of your invention. Don't forget the importance of being able to work well together since this is a relationship you are going to have for an extended period of time. Remember, the best patent attorney for you is the one who can secure a patent for your unique invention.

Questions for Patent Lawyers

• Do you have experience working with independent inventors? If the attorney is only used to working with big companies, they may not be used to working one-on-one with an individual whose inventions are close to their heart. 
• Do you have experience in the area of my invention? Have they filed patents in the past for inventions that are in the same field as yours? Having someone who understands your invention and has experience working with the USPTO on similar patents can put you in excellent standing when seeking approval for your patent.
• What are your fees? How much will this cost in addition to the cost of the patent application? How will you be charged; by the hour or in some other way? Will you be able to pay in installments? Will someone else in the firm also be working on your project? If so, what will their fees be? Be clear on every cost before signing on with a firm.