Intellectual Property Lawyers work closely with businesses, guiding them through the process of acquiring, protecting and using intellectual property such as patents and copyrights.
Is intellectual property law growing?
Why IP Law Is Growing
As long as invention and innovation exist, IP lawyers will be needed to procure the rights to new ideas and protect the ownership of existing creations. Even recession affects other law practices, intellectual property law typically continues to thrive because people do not stop imagining.
What is intellectual property law like?
Intellectual Property law deals with laws to protect and enforce rights of the creators and owners of inventions, writing, music, designs and other works, known as the “intellectual property.” There are several areas of intellectual property including copyright, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets.
What type of lawyer does not go to court?
There are many types of lawyers that rarely (if ever) go into court, as the scope of their work does not require it. These may include estate planning lawyers, labor lawyers, personal injury lawyers, and bankruptcy lawyers.
Should I Become an Intellectual Property Attorney?
IP lawyers often help clients protect their ideas or products from being used by third parties. This involves knowledge of and application of laws governing copyrights, patents, trademarks and trade secrets. Other duties might include writing legal documents, researching laws to reference in legal documents, negotiating settlements and arguing a client’s case before court.
Career Requirements
Degree Level | Juris Doctor (J.D.) |
Degree Field | Law |
Experience | 1 to 5 years of experience |
Licensure | Licensure required in all states; satisfactory exam scores and registration required to practice IP law with the USPTO |
Key Skills | Critical thinking, analytical reasoning, negotiation, research, writing and problem-solving skills |
Salary | R 2067970.55per year ( median salary for all intellectual property lawyers) |
Below are steps to Become An Intellectual Property Lawyer In South Africa
Step 1: Get a Bachelor’s Degree
The first step towards getting into a law school is to have a bachelor’s degree. It doesn’t matter what undergraduate degree program you take; law schools are not that fussy about the major you have. However, they tend to lean more towards majors in business administration, political science, and legal studies.
Step 2: Maintain a High GPA
Law school is quite competitive. Compared to other disciplines, law schools receive thousands of applications from prospective students. The only way to ensure you are among the top of the list is to get high GPA scores. There are no two ways here about it.
Besides the GPA, specific disciplines within intellectual property law require you to have at least a C in the sciences. This might prove that you have excellent technical training and can keep your head afloat when you navigate the murky waters of patent and trademark infringement.
Step 3: Take the LSAT Exam
Every ABA-compliant law school will need your LSAT score before they can admit you. So you have to prepare for and sit the LSAT exam. This exam assesses your ability to read and your reasoning prowess. It usually comprises of five multiple-choice sections and an essay.
The best way to ensure you get the most out of your LSAT exam is to find out the minimum LSAT score for the school you want and work towards getting the right score. There are a ton of resources that can help you improve your LSAT score. These include private tutors or just online research and study.
Step 4: Get a Law Degree
The most crucial step towards becoming an intellectual property lawyer is getting your law degree.
While the school you go to greatly matters, it makes sense to apply to law schools where you have a higher chance at acceptance. Ivy league schools have a very competitive application process because of the high number of applications they receive.
Step 5: Get Licensing by Sitting for a State Bar Exam
Once you obtain your law degree, you will not be allowed to practice until you get a license. You can only do so after you pass the state bar exam. Every state in the SA has this requirement.
Aside from taking the bar exam, you will also need to take a professional responsibility exam as well as obtain admission to the state bar association. Bear in mind that there is no standard state bar exam.
How much do intellectual property lawyers make in South Africa?
The average pay for a Patent Attorney is ZAR 1,533,515 a year and ZAR 737 an hour in Johannesburg, South Africa. The average salary range for a Patent Attorney is between ZAR 1,057,395 and ZAR 1,938,558. On average, a Doctorate Degree is the highest level of education for a Patent Attorney.
How much do intellectual property lawyers make a year In South Africa?
The average IP lawyer in the South Africa makes a median salary of R 1948274.82a year, or R 937.01 an hour. Entry-level salaries start at R 982351.38 annually, and the top experienced lawyers earn upwards of R 3173750.60a year.
Are intellectual property lawyers in demand In South Africa?
There is a demand for IP lawyers all over the country, including the New York area. In addition, areas with high concentrations of technically advanced companies, such as Silicon Valley in California, also tend to have a high demand for IP lawyers.
Is intellectual property law growing In South Africa?
Why IP Law Is Growing
As long as invention and innovation exist, IP lawyers will be needed to procure the rights to new ideas and protect the ownership of existing creations. Even recession affects other law practices, intellectual property law typically continues to thrive because people do not stop imagining.
What is intellectual property law like?
Intellectual Property law deals with laws to protect and enforce rights of the creators and owners of inventions, writing, music, designs and other works, known as the “intellectual property.” There are several areas of intellectual property including copyright, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets.
What are the 4 types of intellectual property In South Africa?
Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, and Trade Secrets – Four Types of Intellectual Properties.
What are the laws that protect intellectual property In South Africa?
The three main areas of intellectual property law that innovators use to protect their ideas are Trademarks, Patents, and Copyrights.
How do you account for intellectual property In South Africa?
Intellectual property in accounting
In accounting, intellectual property is considered an intangible asset, and, when possible, should be recorded as such on the balance sheet. Copyrights, trade marks and patents should be recorded on the balance sheet and other financial statements at or below, cost price.
Why should I study intellectual property law In South Africa?
It is undeniable that IP law can expose you to more intellectual and finer aspects of human experience, especially creativity, art, and innovation as opposed to say capital markets, project finance, criminal law, or M&A! Every piece of intellectual property has some creative aspects to it.
How does intellectual property law work In South Africa?
Intellectual property rights are the rights given to persons over the creations of their minds. They usually give the creator an exclusive right over the use of his/her creation for a certain period of time.