A lawyer’s signature on a document filed in the USPTO represents that, to the best of the signor’s knowledge, formed after a reasonable inquiry, the paper is not being presented for an improper purpose; the claims and other legal contentions are warranted by law; the allegations of fact have evidentiary support; and the denials of […]
In this part, we continue to address some of the ethical risks involving delegation of intellectual property legal services to non-lawyer paraprofessionals. Ethical Responsibilities of Practitioners Regarding Paraprofessionals The USPTO ethics rules state the responsibilities of practitioners over non-practitioners as follows: First, a practitioner who is a partner, and a practitioner who individually or together with
The Ethical Risks of Paraprofessionals Providing IP Legal Services (Part 2 of 2) Read More »
“Individual commitment to a group effort–that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” –Vince Lombardi Every successful IP lawyer, whether a solo practitioner or a senior partner in a mega-firm, has one thing in common: a great support team of secretaries, legal assistants, technical advisors, and paralegals.
The Ethical Risks of Paraprofessionals Providing IP Legal Services (Part 1 of 2) Read More »
An attorney’s suspension from the practice of law is not unlike a jail sentence. Not literally, of course. The suspended attorney is free to do anything they otherwise could do when they were not suspended, with the exception of practicing law. Many practitioners believe that once their suspension period has run its course, the practitioner is “released,” the suspension is automatically lifted, and
Is OED’s Indefinite Delay In “Reviewing” Reinstatement Applications Constitutional? Read More »
On May 15, 2015, the USPTO Director issued an Order suspending Seattle, Washington-based patent and trademark attorney Nam D. Dao for six months for allowing multiple patent and trademark applications to go abandoned without client knowledge or consent, engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, and failing to cooperate with the Office of Enrollment and
USPTO Suspends Patent Attorney For Neglect, UPL And Failure To Cooperate Read More »
Intellectual Property law firms often receive substantive documents, including original applications and amendments, with “instructions” from their client to file the paper in the USPTO, essentially as is. And just as often, IP counsel dutifully follow their clients’ orders and simply have a non-lawyer “clean up” the document so it “looks” right and, without any substantive
IP Counsel Who Blindly Follow Client “Instructions” Risk Loss Of Law License Read More »
