This course focuses on the primary legal and procedural requirements for preparing and prosecuting patent applications under federal law. The course is designed to introduce students to the main legal doctrines of the patent preparation and prosecution practice, as well as the strategic considerations underlying the lawyering process in this area of intellectual property law. A core component of this course is the use of simulations that require students to complete both written and oral assignments that emulate actual legal practice in patent preparation and prosecution, and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Students will receive extensive feedback on assignments in order to enhance active learning of legal skills, legal writing skills, and professional development. Among the assignments, students may practice drafting patent applications, responding to office actions, performing patentability searches, and preparing client letters. This course counts toward completion of the Experiential Learning Requirement.