Sunday 9 October 2011

Is Pursuing a Career in Patent Law the Right Move for You?

Is Pursuing a Career in Patent Law the Right Move for You? Copyright � 2005 Lisa Parmley Intellectual Properties Enterprises, Inc http://www.PatentBarStudy.com



Did you know that you might be eligible to gain entry into
the field of patent law even without a law degree? The basic
requirements are a degree in a technology-related field and the
will to pass the Patent Bar Exam.

The field of patent law is wide open to Biologists, Chemists,
Engineers, Computer Scientists, and many other science and
technology professionals. And it's true; individuals with the
proper science or engineering degree need only pass the Patent
Bar to become registered Patent Agents.

Upon becoming a Patent Agent, you may gain employment writing and
prosecuting patent applications at law firms, technology transfer
offices, biotech or engineering corporations, and government
institutes.

>From there, you may decide whether or not to go on to law school
and become a Patent Attorney. In addition to writing and
prosecuting patents, a Patent Attorney can also litigate in
patent infringement cases.


The Perfect Skill Set

Patent law is the perfect field for many creative and talented
individuals since it requires so many qualities to be successful.

There is definitely a people-oriented side to a career in patent
law. This is especially true when you consider the "isolated lab
environment" most scientists and engineers are used to. Contrast
this with the fact that an inventor's hopes and dreams will be
riding on the invention and you will be there every step of the
way to help them achieve their goals. Obviously, a great deal of
interviewing and excellent communication is required in order to
adequately learn what was invented and write a patent
application.

Which brings us to the next point, patent practitioners must
also have excellent writing skills. Drafting a quality patent
application is tedious work that requires the absolute best in
written communication.

In addition, a strong background in either science or technology
is a must. You will have to understand exactly what has been
invented in order to write a quality patent application.

Lastly, as a Patent Practitioner, you should possess a thirst for
never-ending knowledge. You will be right on the cutting edge of
research and development and will always be exposed to new and
exciting discoveries virtually before anyone else!


The Dollars and Cents

It's the million dollar question. What might you expect to
make as a professional in the field of patent law? Well,
the pay scale varies from $45,000 up to $250,000+ for Patent
Practitioners and is determined by many factors (yes I realize
that's quite a span).

First, as we've already eluded, if you are a scientist or
engineer without a law degree you will be classified as a Patent
Agent after you pass the Patent Bar Exam. If you have a law
degree and are already considered an attorney, you will be
classified as a Patent Attorney upon passing the exam. As a
Patent Attorney with the same level of experience as a Patent
Agent, you will typically earn the higher income because in
addition to writing and prosecuting patents, you may also help
protect patents in a court of law.

Second, your degree level will help determine your pay. If you
have a Bachelor's degree in your particular area of expertise,
you will typically make less than someone with a Master's or a
PhD.

Third, your experience level will make a difference. Your
previous positions will count when factoring your salary. The
number of years you have worked as an engineer or scientist
will make a difference. The more experience you have, the more
valuable you will be perceived by the company. The longer you
have worked in the field of patent law, the higher your pay will
be as well.

Lastly, where you seek employment makes a difference in your pay.
Law firms typically pay the most, whereas a Technology Transfer
department at a University will usually pay the least.
Furthermore, the state and city you apply for work in will
also play a factor.


Hot Commodity

Businesses in the science and technology sectors regard patents
as their lifeline. Therefore, gaining status as a registered
Patent Practitioner can open many career doors for you.

Since the fields of research and intellectual property are so
intertwined, imagine the new career opportunities you would be
presented with if you were trained in both areas. Furthermore, as
a scientist or engineer, most of the qualifications necessary to
achieve registration as a Patent Practitioner have usually
already been met. It is likely that your only requirement may be
to pass the Patent Bar Exam. It is a difficult hurdle, but in
comparison to the time and money you already spent to become a
scientist or an engineer, the time and money necessary to pass
the Patent Bar Exam is reasonable.

In today's unpredictable job market, expanding your skills makes
sense, especially when this can be accomplished for a relatively
low expense and little time. Compared to getting a degree,
setting aside even a full year (although it can be completed in
much less time) to learn about the patent prosecution process and
take the Patent Bar Exam is very reasonable. Especially when you
further consider the fact that it will open an entirely new
career door for you. Whether you wish for a complete job change
or the desire to become more marketable for technology based
companies, gaining skills is always a smart move to make.



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Lisa Parmley of Intellectual Properties Enterprises, Inc. Check-out http://www.PatentBarStudy.com to learn more about
the Patent Bar Exam and how you can start your career as a
Patent Practitioner.

For more information click here

Obama's "Moms Return to school" Federal Grant - Making Dreams Come to Reality

The "Moms return to school" federal grant is one of the best bills that have been introduced by president Obama. Teen moms and single mothers, who didn't complete their education, are at the heart of America's new president. The new legislation offers mothers the chance to return to school or even go to college with the aid of appropriate federal financial support.

The economic recession has touched almost every American, especially middle classed citizens. Accordingly, more young aged moms are quitting school to comply with obligations of motherhood. However, college degrees can surely reward those mothers with better paying jobs and can positively influence their beloved ones. The new federal grant can fund scholarships for both on campus and learn-from-home education programs; hence, opening horizons for all mothers even those who are short on time. Moreover, the new bill has further lowered the cost of learning by exempting those mothers from some education tax rates.

If you are a young mother you can now qualify to receive more than 5000 bucks of fund aid to help you return to school and complete your degree. The money can be spent on school fees, books or even internet bills if you choose to adopt an online degree program. Almost any young mother who hasn't completed her studies is eligible.

The new bill secures funds for online learning programs; thus, encouraging hesitant mothers to learn while in their pajamas. So, if you can learn at home without having to leave your kids, why wouldn't you earn a college degree?

Filling a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) is the most important step for qualifying for the newly increased education grant. You can fill the form online after determining your dependency status. No specific confidential data is required but only information is needed to determine if a mother is a candidate or not for receiving the new education grant. How easy is that! However, take care the internet is full of scams. Sites may ask for payment for a service that is freely provided by the federal government. On the other end, some true online programs can offer you up to 10000 dollars worth scholarships.

The new "Mother return to school" education grant is expected to allow more than two hundred thousand mothers to complete their studies. The bill is a social achievement that surely will have a positive influence on the life of every young American mother.

Did you know you can get a $10,000 nursing scholarship for moms just for registering? Apply right now for free: http://scholarshipformoms.info.

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Lance Wallach

IRS Audits 419, 412i, Captive Insurance Plans With Life Insurance, and Section 79 Scams



June 2011

By Lance Wallach

The IRS started auditing 419 plans in the �90s, and then continued going after 412i and other plans that they considered abusive, listed, or reportable transactions, or substantially similar to such transactions.

In a... Read >



How to Get Fined $100,000 by the IRS and Lose Your License - Accountants, Insurance Agents



By Lance Wallach, CLU, ChFC and Ira Kaplan, Esq., CPA, MBA

Over the past decade, business owners have been overwhelmed by a plethora of arrangements designed to reduce the cost of providing employee benefits and taxes, while simultaneously increasin... Read >



How to Avoid the 6707A Abusive Tax Shelter Penalty



You were in a 412i retirement plan or 419 welfare benefit plan and either did not file, filed improperly, or did not file with your state. Accountants or other advisors will probably be fined as material advisors. This means that you are subject to a la... Read >



Guaranteed Ways to Get New Clients and Become Very Successful



The new way to get more business is through psychology. I work in the insurance industry and one thing that I have noticed is that many insurance relevant messages never get heard. They�re the wrong messages sent to the wrong target markets.

Ask your... Read >



Participate in a 419 or 412i Plan or Other Abusive Tax Shelter? You Could be Fined $200,000 Per Year



Can you or your business afford to pay the IRS $200,000 a year?

Did you get a letter from the IRS threatening to impose this fine? If you haven't already, you still may. Consider yourself lucky if you have not because this means that you have more tim... Read >



Being Audited by the IRS?



Abusive Insurance, Welfare Benefit, and Retirement Plans

By Lance Wallach

The IRS has various task forces auditing all section 419, section 412(i), and other plans that tend to be abusive. These plans are sold by most insurance agents. The IRS is lo... Read >



Why You Should Not Own Mutual Funds



Why You Should Not Own Mutual Funds
By Lance Wallach

Taxes take a large bite out of taxable mutual funds. Recent tax-break laws will end in 2010 and it would be smart for mutual fund investors to keep an eye on one of the main drags on pe... Read >



IRS DEADLINE OF OCTOBER 15 TO DECLARE FOREIGN SWISS ACCOUNTS



By: Lance Wallach

The Internal Revenue Service will extend until October 15th its limited amnesty program for U.S. taxpayers with undeclared income on foreign accounts, according to government officials.

The special voluntary disclosure program wa... Read >



Abusive Insurance, Welfare Benefit, and Retirement Plans



Abusive Insurance, Welfare
Benefit, and Retirement Plans
By Lance Wallach
The IRS has various task forces auditing all section
419, section 412(i), and other plans that tend to be
abusive. These plans are sold by most insurance agents.
The IRS is lo... Read >



Avoiding Circular 230 Malpractice Traps and Common Abusive Small Business Hot Spots, by Sid Kess



New and Bestselling
AICPA CPE Self-Study Courses
Best Sellers - March 2008
Avoiding Circular 230 Malpractice Traps and Common Abusive Small Business Hot Spots, by Sid Kess
Author/Moderator: Lance Wallach, CLU, CHFC,
Publisher: AICPA

Excerpts hav... Read >



Selling life insurance policies for profit



AccountingToday January 8-28 2007
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER FOR THE TAX & ACCOUNTING COMMUNITY

Selling life insurance policies for profit
By Lance Wallach


Insurance policies with rising or re-appearing premiums can often cause th... Read >



Retirement plans come under new IRS scrutiny



Long Island Business News, June 15, 2007


Retirement plans come under new IRS scrutiny

Lance Wallach



Businesses should be aware that the Internal Revenue Service is increasing its examinations of companies' retirement plans,... Read >



NATP members propose new tax law changes



TaxPro Journal

Fall 2008


If I Were President…
NATP members propose new tax law changes

Change. Americans have heard a lot of rhetoric over the past few months from politicians who are no longer satisfied with the status quo. Though you'd b... Read >



National Society of Accountants Speaker of the Year!



LANCE WALLACH, CLU, CHFC_________________

68 Keswick Lane
Plainview, New York 11803
Phone: (516) 938-5007 / 935-7346
Fax: (516)938-6330
Email: lawallach@aol.com
www.vebaplan.com

National Society of Accoun... Read >



Journal of Accountancy



Journal of Accountancy
September 2008

Abusive Insurance and Retirement Plans
Single-employer section 419 welfare benefit plans are the latest incarnation in insurance deductions the IRS deems abusive.

By Lance Wallach
Parts of this article are f... Read >

Remove conditions on residence � Form I-751

If you received a Green Card through marriage and came to the United States on a K1 visa, you would have received a Conditional Permanent Resident card that is valid for two years. When this two-year conditional period ends, the permanent residence status will expire and you may be deported or removed. To avoid such things, 90 days or less before the conditional residence expires, you should file Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence. On approval, the conditional status will be removed and you will receive your new Permanent Resident card that will be valid for the next ten years.

When to file Form I-751
You should file Form I-751 within 90 days before your conditional green card expires. And when you submit your petition to remove your conditional status, it is advisable to file it at the early end of the 90-day period. Also note not to file Form I-751 before the 90-day period because if you file too early, the USCIS will return your I-751 application.

Who May File Form I-751
If you are still married, file Form I-751 jointly with your U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse through whom you got the conditional permanent status. If you have dependent children (on a K-2 visa) who got their conditional permanent status when you got and they entered the U.S. within 90-days of your arrival, you can include their names in your petition form. If your children got their conditional status 90 days after you obtained or adjusted your status OR if the conditional permanent parent dies, they have to file Form I-751 separately to remove their conditional status.

In case you do not file jointly, you may apply for a waiver if you can prove that you entered the marriage with honesty and good intentions, but your spouse subsequently died and you can show that you entered the marriage in good faith, but the marriage ended because of divorce or annulment. You can also get a waiver if you can show that you entered the marriage in good faith and have remained married, but have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by your U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or the termination of your status would result in extreme hardship.
In cases when you are asking for a waiver you should submit adequate proof to support your request.. For example, copy of you divorce decree or police, court or medical proof that you were abused or a death certificate showing that you spouse died.

Your package should include a completed and signed Form I-751 and a copy of your Conditional Green Card. And also two passport-style photographs for you and children applying with you. Additionally two completed fingerprint cards (Form FD-258) for you and any children applying with you and evidence showing that the marriage is a bonafide one and that it was entered in honesty and in good faith. Do not forget to send the filing fee.

If you are a conditional permanent resident and your card is lost, stolen or mutilated, you can get it replaced by filing Form I-90.

You should file Form I-751 within 90 days before your conditional green card expires. If you are a conditional permanent resident and your card is lost, stolen or mutilated, you can get it replaced by filing Form I-90


For more information click here

Hays Law Center

Hays Law Centers| Essential Tips and Tricks When Applying For Loan Modification



Each and every American dreams of owning a house, many will do anything just to purse this very concrete dream of all time. You may pass on a that very scrumptious car offer but when it comes to house offers, the lower and wonderful it is, the more likely... Read >



Hays Law Centers| Shares With Us Important Tips and Tricks On How To Avoid Home Foreclosure



They say that you can always let your car be taken by the bank but not your home. Due to the very tough financial crisis that most of us experiences right now, more and more houses are getting foreclosed by the bank. See that there hundreds and thousands ... Read >



Hays Law Centers: Loan Modification Can Save Your Home!



Not every one of us can actually own a home, depending on your current financial status and credit history; you may or may not be able to finance a home. For the rich and famous, this dream may come as easy and counting one two and three but for us who do... Read >



Hays Law Centers: How To Get Your Loan Modification Approved



We cannot deny the fact that maintaining a house is a true financial crisis. Of course it is truly exciting and very much electrifying at first especially that you will shop your own furniture, design your own room, personally pick the new theme of your h... Read >



Hays Law Centers: Explains To Us Loan Modification In A Very Simple Language



Worrying about high mortgage rates? Do you have a bad credit background? Are you a delinquent homeowner who is at risk for foreclosure? What about rejects and disapproval from other loan programs? These things are sure to be stress seekers on each and eve... Read >

The How and Why of Participative Leadership

As a business owner, one of your biggest challenges is to lead your team well. Should you focus on employee participation at the cost of business goals? Or do you "show them how it's done" and expect the team to follow your lead? Is there a different approach for every situation?


In this piece, we'll take a look at a particular leadership style - "participative leadership" and its benefits.

Leadership means different things to different people. However, a generally accepted definition is that it "is a process that takes place in groups in which one member influences and controls the behavior of the other members toward a common goal."

While every leader creates his or her mantra of leadership, most leadership practices fall into one of these categories. Try and figure out your style!

Directive Leadership: You have the first and last word, and the group merely follows instructions. Do we sense a secret longing to be in the army!

Supportive Leadership: You create warm, personal relationships with your team members in order to coax their best efforts.

Participative Leadership: Group members are involved in the decision making process right from the start, by contributing their ideas and suggestions. You're a strong believer in team work.

Achievement Oriented Leadership: You give your team a goal and they work independently towards achieving it. Either you're plain lazy, or more likely, have a high degree of confidence in your team's ability.

For now, let us take a closer look at Participative Leadership

A person who follows the participative leadership style will get a buy-in from group members on most changes and important decisions, before implementing them. However, the leader is still the final decision making authority. Remember, participative leadership is not about reaching consensus - if you keep looking for universal approval, you'll never get anything done.

Some people feel that participative leadership is a "female thing" and makes you look soft. Let's set the record straight - using this style is not a sign of weakness, in fact, it's a strength that your team will respect you for.
When does participative leadership work?
While it's not practical to change your approach with every situation, you might like to try participative leadership under specific conditions. Say you're working on an assignment where you have limited expertise but your employees collectively have a lot of knowledge and experience. Using participative leadership is likely to create a win-win for both - they will feel included and you'll make better informed decisions. And if you're the owner of a start-up firm, getting buy-in on key issues from your core team members could prove invaluable.

Can I learn to be a participative leader?

Sure! Leaders are made, not born. Here are some of the important tips offered by experts:

Encourage group values: Allow the group to establish values and thereby take ownership. Of course, these will have to support the firm's objectives.

Share vision: Participative leadership is all about sharing, starting with your dreams for the firm. Let your employees know where they're headed.

Create a healthy environment: It is your responsibility to create an environment based on trust and mutual respect. Give your employees their space. No growth is possible without it.

Equip the team: No point taking their inputs, if they don't have the necessary skills for the job! Ensure they have the tools and the training.

Organize and energize: Not every speech needs to be "rah rah", but it's important that you nurture and motivate your employees. Get those juices to flow!

Take and give feedback: Two-way communication is the cornerstone of participative leadership. Be generous with praise and objective with criticism. Talk, but also listen.

Expect accountability: Since your employees are given more responsibility, they must be accountable for their actions. At the same time, don't turn into a control freak!

If you are interested in knowing more, take a look at which features a wide selection of books on leadership.

What's in it for me?

Participative leadership is not all about feeling good about yourself. It can take you through many challenging business situations.

Implementing change: Regular involvement of the team prior to introducing the change will ensure that they're already prepared for the transition. This works better than a separate "buy-in meeting" that other types of leaders might resort to.

Encouraging risk taking: A senior manager from a global telecom company relates how he used participative leadership to encourage employees to think out of the box, while charting their company's growth plan.

Solving technical problems: If you need to get a group of gruff, technically qualified people to solve a complex problem, a participative leadership style will help draw out their combined expertise.

So, is participative leadership the best?

There's probably no answer to that one. Each style works better in a specific situation and vice versa. Participative leadership is no different - while we've talked about the benefits, it's equally important to recognize those instances where it won't work. A situation that requires firm control and immediate action - like say, a disaster site, certainly cannot afford a consultative approach. To be an effective participative leader, you must also develop an astute judgment for when not to use it!







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Convention Focused on Repossession Properties Prevention

Several industry experts and top government officials discussed the repossession properties crisis at the 2009 Rainbow PUSH convention which was held in Chicago, Illinois.The conference, with the theme "A more perfect union-targeted stimulus: The key to reconstruction," is aimed at initiating the reconstruction process of the country during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.Experts who attended the 38th annual convention agreed that there were some positive developments in the current housing market. But the overall outlook is still not encouraging. They believed that more trouble is looming unless some changes could be made to protect homeowners from the repossession properties crisis.At the conference, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan said that working in partnership would greatly help in keeping the American dream alive.He added that the federal government has so far offered a quarter million loan modifications under its Making Home Affordable program. However, he said that more servicers across the country are still needed to boost the government's foreclosure prevention efforts.Meanwhile, Rainbow PUSH Coalition president and founder Reverend Jesse Jackson expressed his concern about the lack of modification that may help troubled borrowers from avoiding repossession properties. He said that many homeowners may be able to pay for their properties if lower rates are available for longer loan terms.Participants at the conference said that a second wave of repossessions is imminent, and this time the crisis will be driven by massive job loss. According to Jackson, an estimated 600,000 jobs are lost every month, adding that it is wrong to force automobile companies into bankruptcy.He said that the effects of 20 million repossession houses and increasing student loan crisis are outpacing whatever progress the Obama Administration's economic stimulus program has so far made.Nakitra Bailey of the Center for Responsible Lending said that job losses are expected to spread across communities where residents thought they are safe from foreclosures.Reverend Otis Moss Jr. of the Olivet Baptist Church pointed out the need for intervention from lending institutions and the Congress.On the other hand, Attorney General Lisa Madigan of Illinois said that her repossession properties prevention hotline has received about 14,000 calls this year. She said that her office hired HUD-approved housing counselors and they do actual loan modification work. Her office also refers troubled borrowers to other housing counselors certified by HUD. Joseph Smith has been educating buyers on the finer points of Repossession Properties Prevention at ForeclosedPropertiesData.com for over five years.

For more information click here