Prescribed Subject Groups

The nine topic groups required by the relevant Commonwealth legislation for registration as a patent attorney or a trade marks attorney are all listed below:

Group A – (A1) Legal Process and (A2) Overview of Intellectual Property

Group B – Professional Conduct

Group C – Trade Marks Law

Group D – Trade Marks Practice

Group E – Patent Law

Group F – Patent Practice

Group G – Drafting of Patent Specifications

Group H – Interpretation and validity of Patent Specifications

Group I – Designs Law

The successful completion of topics A, B, C and D will enable a candidate to seek registration as a trade marks attorney in Australia.

However, in order for a candidate to seek registration as a patent attorney, the successful completion of all the above topics must be demonstrated.

The above topic groups are covered in post graduate courses in intellectual property accredited by the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board which are currently available at the following Australian tertiary institutions:

Monash University (topics A to E)

University of Melbourne (all topics)

University of Technology, Sydney (all topics)

Queensland University of Technology (topics A, C, E and I).

Exemptions from any topic may be available if a topic of similar scope and standard has been passed. For example, the topic of Legal Process (A1) may have already been completed as part of a law degree. However, practical experience alone is not sufficient for an exemption to be granted.

The Secretary of the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board may be contacted as follows:

The Secretary
Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board
PO Box 200
WODEN ACT 2606
Telephone 02 6283 2345
Facsimile 02 6285 1048
Email: secretary.ttipab@ipaustralia.gov.au
www.ttipattorney.gov.au

Information concerning any exemptions and the approval of academic qualifications can be obtained from the Secretary of the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board.