Activities 1) Discussing inventions and processes with inventors or manufacturers. 2) Studying and analyzing scientific or technical documents, including previously granted patents, to assess whether an invention is new and innovative; 3)Writing detailed descriptions of inventions in precise legal terms (patent drafts); 4) Advice on modifications or extensions to the definition of the invention; 5) Applying for patents from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) 6) Preparing responses to reports from patent examiners; 7) Ensuring application and renewal deadlines are met; 8) Working with solicitors and barristers to defend or enforce UK patents; conducting litigation in proceedings at the EPO or in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC), formerly the Patents County Court; 9) Advising overseas agents on applications for foreign patent applications; instructing on whether business activities will infringe someone else's patent rights; 10) Dealing with assignments of patent when a patent is sold or transferred; keeping up-to-date with legal developments in the intellectual property field; advising on other intellectual property rights, e.g. designs or trade marks; tutoring and mentoring trainee patent agents