Can I get a patent without a lawyer?

Yes, you can apply for a patent “pro se,” that is, on your own without a lawyer. Inventors often file and prosecute a patent on their own, rather than through the use of a patent attorney or a patent agent. While the obvious advantage of this approach is that the inventor can save the considerable fees charged by patent attorneys and agents, there is also a greater risk that the inventor’s application may be rejected because the inventor is not as familiar with the ins-and-outs of the process. However, the process of applying for and receiving often turns more on the technical issues, rather than on the legal issues. So if you understand the technology underlying your invention and can provide a detailed description of all aspects of it, it is entirely possible for you to seek a patent on your own.

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