What are the likely career prospects and working conditions for an engineer-turned-patent agent?
Opinions vary widely. Patent agents tend to be rather passionate about their work–you either love patent law work or you hate it. There is less age discrimination among patent agents than is found in engineering. Patent work tends to be located in relatively few places–the East Coast (Boston through Washington, DC), the West Coast, a large area around Chicago, and a few other smaller pockets. There are roughly 2,000 patent agents in the U.S. and roughly 20,000 patent attorneys. Patent agents may not be seen as “equals” by patent attorneys. Being a patent agent requires scrupulous attention to detail and excellent communication skills. Don’t even think of a career as a patent agent if dealing with civil servants leaves you feeling frustrated and angry.
