Free Patent Attorney Timesheet Template
Patent attorneys bill across a range of activities including patent drafting, prosecution, freedom-to-operate analysis, and portfolio management, each carrying different complexity and time requirements. A timesheet that maps hours to specific matter references and jurisdictions allows clients to track the cost of their IP portfolio by patent family. Professional liability requirements in most jurisdictions also make contemporaneous time records essential.
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What should a patent attorney put on a timesheet?
A patent attorney timesheet records hours by matter reference and activity, with the date, the task, and the time spent, often in short increments. Note the matter, the jurisdiction, and whether the work was drafting, a search, or an office action response. Detailed, dated entries support the bill and meet the breakdown clients expect.
Typical line items
- Date of work
- Matter or file reference
- Activity (drafting, search, office action, advice)
- Jurisdiction or patent office
- Time spent (in increments)
- Billable or non-billable flag
- Hourly rate
- Running total for the matter
How the work is charged
Patent attorneys usually log time by the hour in short increments against each matter and jurisdiction. The timesheet feeds the bill, whether charged hourly or set against a fixed fee for a filing or response.
Payment terms and deposits
A timesheet supports an invoice rather than collecting payment itself. Firms commonly bill recorded time monthly or on a filing milestone, so keep entries dated and described well enough for client review.
Tax and compliance
If you are registered for sales tax or VAT, that applies on the invoice the timesheet supports, not the timesheet itself. Official fees and cross-border rules vary, so confirm what applies to your work.
Frequently asked questions
How do I record time for a patent application that spans multiple jurisdictions?
Create a separate timesheet entry for each jurisdiction where distinct work is performed, for example EP drafting, PCT filing, and US national phase entry. Each jurisdiction may have a different matter code, and separating them makes it easy to invoice by patent family and jurisdiction.
Should I bill separately for time spent on office action responses versus original drafting?
Yes. Prosecution work is distinct from drafting and often requires different levels of analysis. Separate entries for original application drafting, examiner interviews, and office action responses give the client a clear picture of where prosecution costs are concentrated.
Can I charge for time spent monitoring competitor patent filings for a client?
Yes. Patent landscape monitoring and freedom-to-operate surveillance are billable professional services. Record the technology area being monitored and the databases reviewed so the client can see what the surveillance work covered.
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Read the complete timesheet guide to see how to log hours and turn a tracked timesheet into an invoice.
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