The role of the patent attorney is often misunderstood and as such many inventors believe it to be better to simply register their patents directly.

Just as many inventors fail as the patent attorney has an important role to play. For one the patent attorney helps to assess whether the invention is patentable, helps with patent description, specifications, and also to find out whether there has been a similar application already handed in or approved.

The lawyer is qualified not only in law, but also in engineering or a relevant area and as such has the qualifications and know-how to identify important aspects such as the obviousness of an invention, whether it falls under patent law or should in fact fall under copyright or designs etc.