2017 Report of the Economic Survey

AIPLA Report of the Economic Survey 2017

SUPPORT STAFF AND SERVICES

 The median number of support staff (secretarial, clerical and other non-billable staff) devoted primarily to the support of the IP practice in 2016 was 6.0. The median number of support staff per IP attorney was 0.6.  These values are similar to those reported in 2015, and 2013 where the median number of support staff engaged in IP practice for all responding firms in 2014 was 7.0, and 6.0 in 2012. Also, the median number of support staff per IP attorney was 0.7 in 2014, and 0.6 in 2012.  The median number of USPTO-registered patent agents was 2.0 – the same as on the 2015 survey. In addition, there were 2.0 technical assistants and 4.0 paralegals – also the same as reported in 2015.  The median average salary for patent agents was $108,808.

AVERAGE NUMBER OF SUPPORT STAFF DEVOTED PRIMARILY TO IP PRACTICE IN FIRM (P. F-12, Q13) By Number of Attorneys in Firm in 2016

1.3

One

1.6

Two

4.9

3-5

6.1

6-10

13.4

11-30

44.0

31-100

64.4

101 or More

22.1

All Respondents

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

64