2026 Patent Prosecution Bootcamp - Arlington, VA

Providing the patent prosecution skills you need to excel at your job! 

This is a must-attend program for new or junior lawyers, patent agents, technical advisors, IP Specialists, or international practitioners. This program will help you speak the language of the USPTO and US practitioners when sending instructions on a US case or when receiving instructions on a local case.

Join us in at AIPLA Headquarters in Arlington, VA for this 3-day patent prosecution seminar. 

Now in its 26th year, AIPLA’s Patent Prosecution Boot Camp is a comprehensive, CLE-accredited seminar that includes instructional lecture-style sessions with practical tips on U.S. and international patent preparation and prosecution, as well as hands-on interactive workshops that will walk you through drafting claims and responding to office actions. To ensure that the workshops are relevant to your practice, they are held in smaller groups according to technology backgrounds: (1) Biotechnology/Chemical, (2) Electrical/Software, and (3) Mechanical.

Day 1 focuses on preparation of a patent application. 
Day 2 focuses on prosecution of the application to grant. 
Day 3 is a half-day program dedicated to more advanced topics such as petitions, appeals, post-grant proceedings, and international practice.

Thank you to our sponsor!

If you would like to sponsor this event, please email Lisa Beller for more information.

Tentative Program Agenda & Schedule

Wednesday, March 5  (8:30 am - 5:30 pm)

Application Preparation - Including:

• Initial ‘Inventor’ Interview and Invention Disclosure
• Inventorship and Filing Formalities
• Patent Search and Opinions
• Overview of Design Patents
• Proper Use of AI
• Application Drafting and Provisional Applications
• Afternoon Hands-on Claims Drafting Workshops
  • MECHANICAL
  • ELECTRICAL
  • BIOTECH/PHARMA/CHEMICAL
• Networking Reception (5:30 - 6:30 pm)
  

Thursday, March 5 (8:30 pm - 5:30 pm)

Prosecution of a Patent Application - Including:

• Responding to § 102 / §103 Rejections
• Responding to § 101 / §112 Rejections
  
• Restriction, Elections and Double Patenting
• Continuations and RCEs
• Examiner Interviews & Knowing the USPTO

• Afternoon Workshops: Responding to Office Actions
  • MECHANICAL
  • ELECTRICAL/SOFTWARE
  • BIOTECH/CHEMICAL

Friday, March 6 (8:30 am - 3:30 pm)

Digging Deeper: Petitions, Appeals, Post-Grant Proceedings, and International Practice - Including:

• Petitions and Appeals
• Prosecution Tips from a Patent Litigator's Perspective
• Issuance, Term, Certification of Correction, Disclaimers & Maintenance
• Ethics, IDS & Duty of Candor
• PCT Filings and International Patent Prosecution
• Program concludes at 3:30 PM Eastern

Registration includes access to the event app, all conference materials and CLE processing, continental breakfasts, the networking reception, and lunch on Wednesday & Thursday.  The registration fee does not include travel or hotel costs.

Registration Fees

AIPLA Regular Members:  $495
AIPLA In-House Corporate and Solo Practitioner Members: $395
AIPLA Junior or IP Specialist Members: $295
AIPLA Government, Academic, & Student Members: $99

Non-Members: $895 - join as an AIPLA member, and be eligible for the registration rates above.

Venue & Hotel Details

The Boot Camp will be held at the
AIPLA Headquarters
1400 Crystal Drive, Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22202

Special discounted parking rate of $25 per night at the Crowne Plaza. 
Complimentary Shuttle to and from Reagan National Airport

The Crowne Plaza is located directly next door to AIPLA's headquarters.  Please note that AIPLA does NOT use an third party vendors to assist with booking rooms.  If you receive any communication from a third party, please contact us and let us know at aipla@aipla.org.

Parking is also available at AIPLA's headquarters building, operated by Metropolis Parking.  Daily rate is $20.
We are also metro accessible, with the Crystal City Metro Station on 18th and Bell Street (Yellow and Blue Line).

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