Patent Lawyer
Protects industrial and intellectual property rights, advising clients on designs, inventions, trademarks, data and software.
Overview
A Patent Lawyer is mainly responsible for protecting the legal status of industrial or intellectual property rights. They advise their clients on design, invention, trademarks, know-hows as well as data, software and hardware protection mechanisms.
Where they work
- Law firms
- Automobile industry
- Pharmaceutical sector
- Research organizations
- Publishing houses and others
Work environment
It is a desk job. Local travel is a part of the job profile. You will not handle a team. You are likely to work over 40 hours in a week. Added to this you will have to spend a substantial amount of time on research and studying cases.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have good communication skills
- You like to analyse problems and situations
- You like to have clear instructions to follow
- You pay attention to details
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in any stream.
- 2Complete a Bachelor's degree (LLB) in Intellectual Property Rights.
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Bachelor's degree followed by a Master's degree in the same or related subject.
Forms, exams and applications
For admission to law colleges the card names entrance exams such as CLAT, AILET, LSAT, MH CET Law, TS LAWCET, AP LAWCET, DU LLB, PU LLB and SLS AIAT. Exam names, eligibility and dates change — check the official notification.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Law. This list of institutes is indicative only. Please check if a private institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC before applying.
Government institutes
- National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- University of Delhi, New Delhi
- Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Government Law College, Kozhikode, Kerala
- Indian Institute of Legal Studies, Dagapur, Siliguri, West Bengal
- Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani, Uttarakhand
- National Law University, Sonipat, Haryana
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Law College Dehradun, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
- Desh Bhagat University, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab
- Christ College of Law, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- NEF Law College, Guwahati, Assam
- Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Army Institute of Law, Mohali, Punjab
- Ashoka Law College, Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir
- G. D. Goenka University, Gurugram, Haryana
- BMS College of Law, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- IILM University, Gurugram, Haryana
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Counsellor
- 2Senior Counsellor
- 3Attorney
- 4Corporate Counsel
- 5General Counsel
Expected income
₹41,500 – ₹2,50,000 per month or more
The figures are indicative and subject to change. The card's source is a PayScale page for patent attorneys.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Lawyer/Law Officer/Advocate
Trained and licensed to advise, represent and advocate for clients in legal matters.
Corporate Legal Advisor/Compliance Officer
Makes sure a company's processes and procedures comply with the law and with its own internal standards.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Science, Arts, Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to analysing.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Meenakshi Khurana — Described in the source as a partner and patent attorney at Khurana & Khurana and IIPRD, with over 13 years of experience in patents. Her work covers patent application preparation and prosecution, patent infringement and validity opinions, freedom-to-operate (FTO) and patent licensing studies, and counselling clients on global patent strategies.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 777 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Patent_Attorney/Salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
To act as a registered patent agent before the Indian Patent Office you must also pass the Patent Agent Examination, which has its own eligibility, including a degree in science, engineering or technology — check the official website of the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. An LLB is a general law degree; intellectual property is usually studied as a specialisation within a law degree or at LLM level. The institute list is the same one printed on the Human Rights Lawyer card, with the same corrections: Law College Dehradun, listed under government institutes, is a private college and is shown under private institutes, and Uttarakhand Open University is headquartered in Haldwani rather than Dehradun — verify on the official website.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.