Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys

If you have the necessary qualifications you may consider a career as a Patent or Trade Marks attorney.

Chartered Institute for Patent Attorneys (CIPA)

CIPA is the professional and examining body for patent attorneys (also known as patent agents) in the United Kingdom.

European Qualifying Examinations

Patent attorneys who want to represent applicants before the European Patent Office (EPO), must sit European qualifying examinations to establish whether they have the required aptitude and knowledge.

The examinations are held throughout Europe in March every year. The examinations are organised and conducted by an Examination Board consisting of EPO employees and members of the EPI. The Board is assisted by an Examination Secretariat. Further information on the European qualifying exams is available from the EPO.

We host the examinations in the United Kingdom (UK) on behalf of the EPO, taking care of the domestic arrangements at the examination centre. For example, seating, checking identification papers, co-ordination of the delivery of papers between the UK and the EPO.

Announcement of the European Qualifying Examination 2010

The next European qualifying examination will be held from 2 - 4 March 2010. Further information including the conditions of enrolment has been published in the Official Journal of the European Patent Office (OJ EPO 2009, 347)

UK Examination Centre (Bristol)

Candidates can indicate their preference for an examination centre when enrolling. It is expected that, as in 2009, the examination will again be held at The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Bristol and that according to the anticipated number of applications all candidates wishing to sit at the centre in Bristol will be able to do so.

Times of Examination

Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA)

ITMA is the professional body for trade mark attorneys in the United Kingdom.