2026 Patent Prosecution Boot Camp - 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.

Full agenda coming soon!

Tentative Program Agenda & Schedule

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

Application Preparation - Including:

• Initial ‘Inventor’ Interview and Invention Disclosure
• Inventorship
• Patent Search and Opinions
• Filing Formalities
• Overview of Design Patents
• 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 § 101 / §112 Rejections
• Responding to § 103 Rejections
• Restriction Elections / 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:

• 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.

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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