The Patent Workforce Is Attracting Fewer Attys, More Agents

Deirdre Wells, director in Sterne Kessler’s Trial & Appellate Practice Group, spoke to Law360 on hiring trends in the patent field and the decline in the number of new attorneys registering with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) bar. Data from the USPTO’s Office of Enrollment and Discipline suggests that law firms are relying more on patent agents than patent attorneys, for prosecution work.

Wells, who chairs the firm’s recruiting committee, said the firm has “noticed that fewer people with advanced technical degrees are pursuing law school.”

She adds, “However, in addition to law school recruiting, Sterne Kessler has had a strong track record of recruiting graduates immediately after they earn their advanced degrees and providing them with comprehensive training in patent law.”