Check out what past test takers have to say!
"The PLI patent bar exam course is absolutely worth the money. Starting from scratch with no IP law experience, in just a few short months I learned enough just from using the PLI course to pass the exam. The video lectures are integral to laying the foundation, and the practice exam questions in the post-course are truly where you will master the material. Studying for the patent bar seems like a daunting challenge, but with PLI it is possible for anyone to pass the test." -- Jacob Levenson, M.S. in Materials Science & Engineering; passed the Exam in October 2024.
"PLI’s patent prep course provided a complete toolkit to study for the exam. As a law student, the ability to work through the course on my own time and adjust my study pace was crucial. The practice material was very representative of the exam. I’d highly recommend the course to anyone!" -- Vidhu Joshi, Villanova University Charle Widger School of Law; passed the Exam in October 2024
"PLI did a fantastic job in helping me pass the Patent Bar on my first try." -- Tim Dabrowski, University of California - Berkeley School of Law; passed the Exam October 2024
"I read a suggestion from Reddit to enroll in the PLI course, and I couldn’t be happier with my choice for preparing for the patent bar. With no prior experience in patent law, I passed on my first attempt! It was a very hard exam, so there is no shame in taking it multiple times. I took my time with the course and really valued the insights from the fantastic instructors. You might question the price of the course, but in my humble opinion I believe that paying for the course upfront saves you both time and effort compared to studying independently—especially if you end up passing on your first try!" -- Mario Orozco, Mechanical Engineer; passed the Exam September 2024
"I would not have been able to pass the exam without PLI. I found the hard practice problems and quizzes for the different areas of the exam like Oaths to be very helpful. The practice exams were very helpful as well." -- Michael Metcalf, incoming law student; passed the Exam in July 2024
"The PLI course was essential for me to pass the Patent Bar. The Patent Bar is a very dry exam, and it would be difficult to study for without the structure of an organized course. The course provides hundreds of practice questions in a platform that mimics the exam software."-- Amanda Lang, Northwestern University School of Law; passed the Exam in June 2024
“The PLI Patent Office Exam Course is an excellent resource and studying it as advised by John White and Eugene Quinn is guaranteed to help you succeed. The practice exams are designed perfectly to help you prepare for the actual exam. When I had questions, John answered them promptly. Having access to the videos via the app has been a very helpful addition. I would recommend this course to anyone preparing for the Patent Office Exam. Thank you PLI!” -- Hemangi Pakala, MBBS, Ph.D., Office of Technology Ventures, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; passed the Exam in May 2024
"Passing the Patent Bar Exam on my first try would not have been possible without taking the PLI course taught by Mr. John White and Gene Quinn. Their talent and charisma along with their high caliber and level of expertise has enabled them to successfully distill and gracefully communicate the twenty-nine daunting chapters of the MPEP. Through concrete examples, detailed explanations of difficult concepts, and anecdotes, they made every class impactful and enjoyable. Their efficient delivery of information along with a well-designed schedule of assignments and practice exams via the online testing platform Patware have resulted in a course that will allow you to pass the Patent Bar Exam on your first try. Make sure to follow all their recommendations and advice and you will, without a doubt, succeed. Look no more for any other course or materials, if you are reading this and have found the PLI Patent Bar Course, take it now!" -- Dalgis Barras, PhD.; passed the Exam in April 2024
"If you are going to actually dedicate 50 hours a week to studying, you should set yourself up for success. PLI has patware software which, more or less, accurately simulates the exam. These practice questions are the best preparation you can get for the exam and will enable you to practice lookup, which is the key to the exam. Think of this as training for a battle, would you spend 50 hours a week practicing fighting with a stick when you know you will be handed a sword on the day of the battle? Or would you spend some money to practice with a sword that will weigh and feel the same as the one you'll use when your life depends on it? Obviously, this dramatizes the ordeal, but trust me, if you are spending that much time studying you are going to want to give yourself the best shot you have at passing on the first go." -- Reddit Post (Unsolicited), July 2024
“PLI was essential to helping me pass the Patent Bar. They broke down complicated information, so it was easy to understand and provided a ton of practice questions to help me prepare for the exam. I couldn't have passed without them!” -- Maggie Cooney, Boston College Law School; passed the Exam in March 2024
“Get the PLI course…. I tried to save money using a cheaper course. And I’ve now got to retake the exam. PLI is the gold standard.” -- Reddit Post (Unsolicited), March 2024
"Doubling down on PLI -- that course works. I passed the first time, and had plenty of time during the exam. I finished each section with uncertainty on only one or two questions and was actually able to answer some questions without reading the whole question - the PLI course prepares you very well.” -- Reddit Post (Unsolicited), March 2024
"I just passed recently with PLI. I had 0 knowledge of patent law prior to studying and it taught me everything I needed" -- Reddit Post (Unsolicited), March 2024
"Yes it is a lot of money. Yes it is absolutely worth it." -- Reddit User, March 2024
“I recently passed Patent Bar Exam and I am extremely happy to acknowledge that PLI has a great role in my success. PLI has exam-focused materials that not only helps to prepare for the exam but also promotes having a robust foundational knowledge in Patent Law that ultimately helps in the IP professional journey. Patent Bar Exam is not an easy exam, therefore it is prudent to invest in the right platform early on. PLI has plenty [of] on-demand lectures covering most MPEP chapters with emphasis on exam focused materials, and an enormous pool of [questions] in the course and post-course materials. The lectures by John White and Gene Quinn need a special mention as they have done a tremendous job explaining the subject matter in a readily comprehensible way. Last but not the least , another great advantage of PLI is Patware, the quiz platform, which format is very similar to the platform USPTO uses for Patent Bar Exam. From my personal experience, I can gladly share that my confidence was high after I completed the course, and took the quizzes. PLI is undeniably a major contributor that I passed the exam on my first attempt. I highly recommend the course without reservation.” -- Pamela Ghosh, PhD, Patent Agent, AskBio Pharmaceuticals: passed the Exam in February 2024
“When starting to study for the Patent Bar, there was one course that people kept recommending over and over—the PLI course. I ended up going with the PLI course and could not be happier that I made that decision. Studying for the Patent Bar is daunting but sticking to the program and making use of the post-course really prepared me for the actual exam. The course is worth the investment and will leave you prepared for test day.” -- Ethan Arrington, University of Miami School of Law; passed the Exam in December 2023
“This is my second career and I have taken many exams, but nothing even close to the Patent Bar. John, Gene, and Mark make it much easier. Follow their advice every step of the way and you will pass. I looked at other prep courses before and I can say with certainty that this is the best course along with John and Gene's teachings and advice to prepare you well to pass the test. PLI is focused on the material necessary to pass the exam. The detailed explanations for practice questions and repetition of the material are very helpful. Highly recommend it!” – Aleksandra Fortier, Ph.D.; Michelman and Robinson LLP; passed the Exam in December 2023
“I felt that the PLI Patent Exam Course prepared me well for taking the patent bar exam. By far the most valuable aspect of the course was the Post-Course practice tests. While some folks have remarked that the course lectures were dry at times, I appreciated John and Gene’s personal anecdotes and mnemonic devices to help remember specific details. Though the patent bar exam is not representative of actually practicing patent law, I felt that the PLI course lectures balanced exam-oriented content with everyday practice tips.” -- Margaret Robinson, Ph.D.; Quarles & Brady LLP; passed the Exam in December 2023
“PLI was tremendously helpful in my preparation for passing the Patent Bar. I generally find that once I grasp a concept I am able to apply it well, but it is very difficult to apply the rules required to pass this exam without ample opportunities to practice, due to the way the USPTO writes their questions. PLI's mini quizzes and practice exams are well tailored to the content of the real exam and provide an essential opportunity to practice applying the challenging material. I would sincerely recommend PLI to anyone looking to pass the Patent Bar.” – Alexander Yow, Texas A&M University School of Law; passed the Exam in October 2023
“Studying for the patent bar can be a daunting task, but Gene and John leave nothing to chance. The course also includes a comprehensive question bank with feedback, which was essential to my success.” -- William Spinola, Esq.; passed the Exam in September 2023
“Simply put, the Patent Bar Exam Course offered by the Practicing Law Institute is paramount to passing the patent bar exam. In a world of convoluted court decisions, law interpretation, and overall bickering, PLI successfully distills these topics into the Patent Office’s view of the world, teaching only what is absolutely necessary and most probable to show up on the exam. Not only will you learn the law, but all the MPEP lookup strategies necessary to reach the infamous 70% pass threshold. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to step up their career as a patent attorney or agent.” -- Alexander Gentile, Patent Agent; passed the Exam in September 2023
“The course was perfect for me as a full-time graduate student. I went from no patent knowledge to passing in two months, just by studying after work with PLI's course. I found the course engaging and even humorous at times, which certainly helped with getting through the material.” -- Maxwell Furigay, Phd candidate, University of Pennsylvania; passed the Exam in August 2023
“I highly recommend PLI’s Patent Office Examination course. It is comprehensive, well-structured and has a large amount of practice questions, which are crucial for learning the material and developing mental stamina. Ultimately, if you do the course in its entirety, you should have no problems passing. After completing the on-demand course and all of the practice tests, I passed the patent bar on my first attempt and with over 1.5 hours remaining. I felt as if I automatically knew the answer to the vast majority of questions and there were only a handful where I needed to reference the MPEP. ” -- Aaron Bonansinga, Loyola University Chicago School of Law; passed the exam in August 2023
"I am a computer science engineer, coming to patent practice as a second career. The MPEP is deathly dry, but Gene and John did a great job of highlighting the parts that matter to the test-taker, with plenty of anecdote and character to make it memorable." -- Carolyn West, BS in CS; Hulsey P.C.: passed the Exam in June 2023
“PLI is truly a worthy investment. When they say that they are with you until you pass, they mean it. The bank of practice questions is practically bottomless, and the provided materials are excellent study tools. If you follow PLI's plan and take their tests/quizzes seriously, you will not have a problem passing.” -- Mike Merkelbach; Thomas Edison State University; passed the Exam in May 2023
“The PLI patent office exam review course was excellent and, I’m sure, was a significant contributor to my passing the exam on the first try. The course includes a huge amount of content and, while much of it is rather ‘dry’, the presenters John and Gene did a great job of making it interesting and keeping the pace lively. The post-course resources, including Patware, were very helpful in making the studying process organized and doable in a reasonable amount of time. Having all the practice questions, offered in the simulated exam environment, certainly made it much easier to prepare. I’d definitely recommend the PLI course to anyone planning on taking the PTO exam.” – Howard Pollack, Power Integrations, Inc.; passed the Exam in May 2023
“When I started looking for courses for the USPTO office exam, one of my colleagues highly recommended PLI's Patent Office Exam course over all the other courses. I am very happy to have heeded that advice. There is no doubt in my mind that the sole reason I passed on the first try was because of the quality of PLI's course. It is simply the best. The course is well structured with pre-lecture readings, video lectures, and no shortage of exam-difficulty practice questions and full-length practice exams. There are even bonus materials, not entirely exam material oriented, that will improve your confidence and performance on exam day. Much thanks to the entire PLI team!” -- John F. Hogarty Jr.; Texas Instruments, Inc.; passed the Exam in May 2023
“PLI really focused on the material necessary to pass the exam. The detailed explanations for practice questions are very helpful. As the PLI instructors say, trust the process and review both wrong and correct answers when doing practice problems. Highly recommend!” – Aviya Zaru, Emory University School of Law; passed the Exam in May 2023
“I would recommend the PLI Patent Office Exam course to absolutely everyone. This was my second attempt at taking the Patent Office Exam, but my first attempt using PLI’s course. I can confidently say that PLI’s course was necessary for my pass. The course material was very straightforward and thorough. The practice exams and answers alone are extremely valuable, and I would recommend that you complete as many of them as you can (and review your answers!). As someone who has tried to pass the Patent Office Exam without PLI, I am of one mind on this: PLI is the best practice course, bar none, that you can get. They even extended the duration of my course to accommodate my test date. Thank you to the entire PLI team!” -- Daniel A. Schultz, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP; George Washington University Law School; passed the Exam April 2023
“PLI's Patent Office Exam Course Online is immensely useful to anyone even without a legal background. The course is very well designed. Mr. White's lectures and anecdotes are very helpful in understanding the complex rules of the patent office. Patware simulates the actual exam environment. Repeating the tests multiple times before exam day helped me remember the key aspects thoroughly. The supplementary material at the end of the PLI binder is very helpful. If you want to pass the exam in the first try like me, PLI is the way to go!” -- Tanuja Kashyap, Ph.D.; passed the Exam in March 2023.
“The Patent office exam has a pass rate of less than 50%. Incredibly, that statistic includes those with law backgrounds and years of experience in the IP field. So if you’re like me, with a technical background and no prior IP experience, how can you possibly hope to pass the test? I struggled with that question until I found PLI’s patent office exam course online. I began their course in July, 2022 and passed the exam on my first attempt in March, 2023. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t easy. But the course prepared me for exactly what I needed to know. The materials and videos are top-notch. And you will not find more knowledgeable instructors. John and Gene are giants in the IP world. How knowledgeable? Think Elon Musk personally teaching you how to design a Tesla and then answering your email when you have questions. That’s the kind of expertise and “service after sale” PLI provides. I can’t recommend their program highly enough.” -- Dave Appenzeller, BSEE; Adams Intellex, PLC; passed the Exam in March 2023
“I took the USPTO’s examination to become a patent attorney on March 24, 2023 and passed it on my first try. This was possible because of the tools provided to me by PLI. The valuable insight provided by patent attorneys Gene Quinn and John White is more than worth what I paid for this review. Also, the exposure to PatWare, which submits you to test questions under test like conditions, is extremely useful in not only practicing questions, but timing yourself and observing how well you perform under test conditions and tracking your improvement. This is a worthwhile investment for the future of anyone who wants to be a patent attorney.” -- Sebastian Ramirez de Arellano, Esq.; passed the Exam in March 2023.
“The PLI Patent Office Exam Course provided all the tools I needed to pass the Patent Registration Exam on my first attempt. While the sheer amount of material tested on the exam is daunting at first, the PLI book, the online lectures, and the numerous practice exams helped me not only pass the exam but truly understand the material as well. If you take this course and do what John White and Gene Quinn tell you to do, you will be as prepared for the exam as you can possibly be.” -- – Michael Van Ryn, J.D. Candidate; passed the Exam in March 2023
“I could not have passed without the PLI Patent Office Exam Course. I followed the course’s instructions and passed on my first attempt. It’s a difficult test because they test not only the concepts, but also procedural details and dates that are impossible to remember, so you need a good study tool/plan. The lectures and the subsequent Post-Course were well organized and taught what I needed to know to pass. PLI provides all the tools you need.” -- Chavanin (Ray) Siripirom, Ph.D.; University of Nevada, Reno; passed the Exam in February 2023
“PLI was the critical ingredient to my passing of the USPTO registration exam. The instructors John and Gene were not only relatable and helpful but made a point to tie the lessons to the test and to my future practice. The book was focused on the items that really mattered to passing this extremely difficult exam. The questions in the post course were incredibly helpful to giving me the experience and confidence to actually take the exam. When my test day finally came, I felt fully confident in the training I had received from PLI. I couldn't have done it without them and their wonderful staff. Thank you PLI!” -- Matthew Welborn, University of Oklahoma College of Law; passed the Exam in February 2023
"After a bit of research on how to prepare for the Patent Bar, all roads kept leading to PLI's Patent Bar Exam Course as one of the best ways to pass the exam. While the binder is incredibly helpful and useful for studying, I think what helped me pass the Patent Bar Exam was done by thoroughly completing the PLI Patent Bar Exam course and question bank. By completing most of the questions in the course, I was able to calmly take the exam with composure (until I saw the preliminary pass screen). Thank you to PLI, especially to John and Gene!" -- Jeff Yostanto; Goe Forsythe & Hodges LLP; passed the Exam in January 2023
“The PLI course was my north star for studying for the USPTO registration exam. PLI continued to provide access until I passed.” -- F. Paul Silverman, PhD; passed the Exam in January 2023
“The PLI course was uniquely critical to my success on the patent bar. I found the style of lectures, including answer explanations, to be incredibly helpful in breaking down complex concepts and bolstering my grasp of the rules. PLI’s methods reinforce understanding and retention, and provided me the flexibility to balance work and study. Thank you, PLI!” -- Nora Titus, UC College of the Law San Francisco, Haynes and Boone, LLP; passed the Exam in January 2023.
“Everyone I know advised me to take the PLI course, and I can see why! John White and Gene Quinn are excellent teachers. The Patware section of the course was tremendously helpful. By the time I got to the exam, I didn’t need to look up many answers, and I knew exactly where to look in the MPEP for those that I did search for. Never would have passed on the first try without this course. Thank you!!” -- Tenaya Newkirk, PhD, Cozen O’Connor; passed the Exam in December 2022
“The PLI course was great for me. It helped me structure my preparation in a way that made sense, and the practice questions were as tough or tougher than anything I encountered in the exam itself. Highly recommend.” -- Roland Rivera, Esq., Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC; passed the Exam in November 2022
“The PLI course was extremely helpful. The way that it walks you through the content and makes it easier to understand is key to passing the exam. There is just so much information and it’s good to have it summed up into what you need to know. This made it easy for me to be able to look up information on the exam as well.” -- Kyle Martin, University of Dayton School of Law; passed the Exam in October 2022
“I would 100% recommend taking this course to anybody planning on taking the patent bar exam. The course provided a clear roadmap to what you need to know to pass (and, just as importantly, what you don’t need to know), and I would have been lost without it. After learning the material, the post-course practice exams gave me the repetition and confidence I needed to pass on my first try!” -- Samual A. Locascio, PhD, Morrison & Foerster LLP; passed the Exam in September 2022
“I am filled with a sense of appreciation for the dedication and care of the PLI team in live sessions and webinars, and the online course. I went in with the fear of failing, but the PLI system of study worked. I couldn't have done it without the PLI Patent Office Exam Course and the great team of instructors and support.” -- Ahmad Khoshnevis, Esq., Compass IP Law; passed the Exam August 2022.
“PLI was the key for taking the USPTO Registration Examination 1-and-done for me! After having it recommended by a friend who wished he had used PLI to study prior to his first time taking the test, I knew it'd be my best chance on a tight timeline. The course is laid out exceptionally well, and has a logical flow to it beyond merely how sections are presented in the MPEP. It even integrates some humor into otherwise arid dry content - I nearly fell off my chair laughing on at least 2 occasions. John White uses perfect diction and speaks audibly, making his portions easy to remain attentive to. I also found taking advantage of the massive question bank incredibly rewarding, where I could take countless practice tests on my own schedule (you're able to decide from which section(s) of the MPEP you want questions to come from, how many questions to generate, how long your test taking allotment of time is, and whether you want to stick to questions you've previously answered incorrectly or ones you haven't seen yet). The additional support John offers in providing his email and personally answering any questions you might have was also a great resource. The course works if you apply yourself adequately and the results speak for themselves!” – Kyle Dombeck, Northwestern University; passed the Exam May 2022.
“I began studying to take the Patent Office Exam to become a registered agent and immediately found that studying on my own was not going to allow me to pass the exam, seeing that almost every resource available is outdated or incomplete. I enrolled in PLI’s Online Patent Exam Course, went at my own pace, and with their test simulations, written materials, up-to-date exam questions, and the online guidance from Gene and John, I was able to pass the exam. I believe that PLI’s Patent Office Exam Course is worth every penny and shall I say, a necessary tool to those looking to take the USPTO Registration Exam.” -- Mitchell Georgia Hoard, B.S. in Engineering, Mechanical; Passed the Exam June 2022
“Having tried several other study options unsuccessfully, I can say that PLI is the gold standard for patent bar exam preparation. The combination of the lectures and the Patware exams were exactly what I needed to learn key concepts and strategies for success on exam day. And PLI stands by their promise to extend access until you pass.” -- Lukas Pfannenstiel, PhD, Patent Agent, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP; passed the Exam in March 2022
“I could not have passed the Patent Registration Exam without the PLI Patent Office Exam Course. During the lecture portion of the class, I felt overwhelmed with the amount of material that I felt I needed to know to pass the exam, but after moving on to the Patware portion of the course, I really started to feel comfortable with the materials. When I went in to take the test, none of the questions surprised me because Patware prepared me for every question that was asked. I either knew the answer or knew exactly where to look up the answer in the MPEP. John, Gene, and the rest of the team do an amazing job creating and updating hundreds of questions that are very similar to the ones on the actual exam.” -- Michael Cohen, Santa Clara University School of Law; passed the Exam in March 2022
“When I asked what the best patent exam prep course is, all my friends who have passed the exam told me to choose PLI. Although it is much more expensive than other courses, if you consider the value of your time and the costs of retaking the exam, you will 100% find PLI worth the bucks. I passed the exam on my first try, and the question bank, the PLI book, and the courses have significantly helped my preparation and boosted my confidence in passing the exam.” -- Wei Wu, Texas A&M University School of Law; passed the Exam in March 2022
“PLI made studying for the registration exam very straightforward. Coming right out of graduate school, I expected to have a hard time transitioning from science and research to patent law, but that wasn't the case. …[PLI has] learning the basics of patent law and prosecution down to a science. Between the binder and lectures it was as close as I could imagine to having a personal tutor for the exam. The mini exams were great practice…. The way they updated the 2002 and 2003 exams was also uncanny. I can't recommend them highly enough. Keep up the good work!” -- Russell Burkhardt, PhD from Cornell; passed the Exam in March 2022
“I really appreciated the PLI course as it simply taught me all the topics in the exam and the format of the exam. I really appreciate going through a lot of the practice questions as I saw quite a few on the exam and it gave me practice to do some lookup on the exam (or take my best guess).
Thank you so much for a wonderfully made online course that I could take with me anywhere.” -- Jonathan Picker, Ph.D., Texas A&M University; passed the Exam in March 2022
“I have been studying for the patent office exam using the PLI course since finishing graduate school. John White and Gene Quinn are excellent at translating the crazy MPEP language into plain English to help you really understand. After finishing the course, Patware is perfect for prepping for the exam and experiencing real exam questions. When you're finished with each practice exam there's an amazing explanation about the answer. This is, in my opinion, the best way to prep for the exam. I love that PLI gives you access to the course until you've passed the exam. Just don't use this as an excuse to procrastinate. The sooner you take the exam the better!” -- Samantha Summer, Ph.D.; Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick; passed the Exam in March 2022
“The PLI Patent Office Exam Course was a vital part of passing the Patent Office Registration Exam on the first try. The materials were organized in a straightforward, easy to understand manner and the lectures from John and Gene reinforced that information in an engaging and entertaining way. The Patware system was excellent at providing realistic practice questions with feedback to guide my study strategy. When I sat for the exam I felt prepared and confident and am thankful to PLI for helping me achieve this goal.” –Dana J. Vouglitois, Esq., University of Miami School of Law; passed the Exam in January 2022
“The PLI Prep course took me from knowing less than nothing on patent matters to passing the exam within 6 weeks on my first attempt. The PLI course material and PatWare examination simulation software were crucial to my success and I highly recommend PLI as the gold standard for the USPTO Registration exam.”-- Omar Radwan, University of Southern California; passed the Exam in January 2022
“While preparing for the Patent Bar Exam, the study materials provided in the PLI Exam course proved to be invaluable. Between the on-demand video lectures, the practice tests, and 3-ring binder, I had all materials necessary to prepare for and pass the exam. The video lectures helped to form a basic understanding of the MPEP which was further cemented after taking the practice tests and reviewing chapters within the 3-ring binder. Additionally, the PLE staff were polite and responsive throughout the whole process. I would highly recommend PLI to anyone planning to take the Exam.” – Ryan Weaver, Technical Analyst, Erise IP; passed the Exam in January 2022
“The MPEP is a beast. It's just tons of pages, and they are all dense, to the point that I think it would be almost impossible to go through on your own. The PLI course shows you exactly what you need to do and helps you set up a timeframe for doing it. If people are worried about the cost, it is quite expensive, but the time saved and stress avoided by passing the exam on the first try make it well worth it in my opinion. I have no idea how I would have prepared without the PLI course, but I imagine it would have taken at least triple the time.” -- Zach Grinovich, J.D. Candidate, Texas A&M School of Law; passed the Exam in January 2022
“PLI was essential to my success on the patent bar exam. I followed the protocol and fortunately passed the test on my first attempt. The protocol is everything; follow the protocol, pass the test. PLI gives you the tools and structure to maximize your study efforts without losing valuable time to untested topics. PLI also gives you the confidence you need going in to what is no doubt a difficult and intimidating exam (even once you’re fully prepared). I worked full time while studying, so if you are in a similar position expect to spend at least a few months with the material before it really crystallizes well enough for you to sit for the exam….Thank you, sincerely, to John, Gene and PLI for a really excellent course that has helped me achieve an important step toward my professional goals.” -- Brent Resh, William S. Boyd School of Law, UNLV; passed the Exam in December 2021
“The PLI Patent Office Exam Course is LEGIT! John and Gene are 100% correct — with this program, you don’t need to look for exam preparation material elsewhere. I had no previous legal or patent training/background. All I did is follow the program and do what John and Gene directed us to do. Consequently, I passed the patent bar exam on my first try with only two months of studying. Highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to take the patent bar exam.” -- Bor-Kai Hsiung, Ph.D., The University of Akron; Passed the Exam in December 2021
“PLI was essential in helping me pass on my first try. The program is well structured and provides an incredible bank of test questions (several of which were similar or even identical to the questions I saw on the actual exam). I highly recommend this course for anyone who wants to save themselves time and stress….If you follow the course and put in the work, you will be ready by exam day.” -- Paige Smith, Ph.D. candidate, Carnegie Mellon University; passed the Exam in November 2021
“The patent registration exam is quite difficult. There's a ton of really nit-picky questions and "it depends" answers. It's like Civil Procedure on steroids. The PLI course walks you through the ridiculousness that is the MPEP and then gives you all the practice you can possibly endure. By the time I got to the exam, I was mainly just bored of having to look up yet another obviousness-factor question in chapter 2100. I've never been so bored while taking an exam. But I wasn't stressed and I passed, so yes, I highly recommend the PLI course.“ -- Alexis Ramsey, Ropes & Gray LLP; passed the Exam in November 2021
“PLI was excellent in preparing me for taking the patent bar exam. Patware is great and easy to use. When it came to exam day I was more than prepared and comfortable to take the exam and passed on my first try. Highly recommend” -- Alexander Karana, Associate, von Briesen & Roper, S.C.; passed the Exam in October 2021
“As a scientist with no prior legal training, I can confidently say that the PLI course was crucial to my passing the patent bar on the first try (a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as John says). My only regret is not buying this course sooner - save yourself months of wasted effort with other programs! The reading was divided into about 25 manageable, plain-English sections. I strongly recommend listening to all of the lectures…. They are engaging, funny, and, I believe, essential for those without legal training. Finally, the people teaching the course are super helpful and responsive to emails. I probably emailed John more than 20 times with questions and always received prompt, thorough answers. The patent bar is a hard exam, but you can pass with PLI!” -- Steven Hanna, IP Specialist, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati; passed the Exam in October 2021
“I had never studied law before attempting this exam, but the PLI course made the subject not intimidating at all. The lectures were engaging, and their Patware system was monumentally helpful.” -- Pawel Rzucidlo, Iowa State University; passed the Exam in October 2021
“The PLI Patent Office Exam Course gave me the tools and the encouragement I needed for success on the exam. I found the practice questions and explanations especially helpful for a better understanding of the concepts and to get myself ready for test-taking conditions. Also, the advice to devote more study time to particular sections for the MPEP was a great contributor to my success on the exam.” -- Nancy Varghese, Nova Southeasten, Shephard Broad College of Law; passed the Exam in October 2021
"The On-Demand PLI Patent Office Exam Course was an exceptional program that allowed me to confidently pass the Registration Exam." -- Moriah S. Smoot, Esq., The University of Alabama School of Law; passed the Exam in October 2021
“After researching the various options for USPTO registration exam courses I settled upon the program offered by Practicing Law Institute. Though more expensive than some programs, it had a solid history and I was not disappointed.… I followed the program as outlined; put in the recommended hours of study and was fortunate to pass on the first sitting. The exam was definitely challenging and the PLI course, true to its word, prepared me for test. I would recommend this course for anyone preparing to sit for the USPTO exam.“ -- Evan Cook, Esq., Northwestern California University School of Law; passed the Exam in September 2021
“John and Gene’s wonderful guidance, Patware, and the course material made THE difference. I [at first tried] to study on my own. Knowing what I know now, I should’ve just bought the program to start with. Too, John through Patware is available to give ample feedback on questions that may not make sense—that helped me quite a bit. I appreciate it all.” -- Dr. Will T. Altmiller, Pharm.D., MBA; passed the Exam in September 2021
“I passed the Exam on my first attempt right before my 3L year of law school. The structure and pacing of the course were exactly what I needed. I didn’t have to worry about what or how to study next; I only had to focus on what John and Gene recommended. The amount of material is daunting, so having constant reassurance from two professionals made me feel confident going in on exam day. Trust this course, and John and Gene will get you where you want to be.” -- Matthew Kramer, Michigan State University - College of Law; passed the Exam in August 2021
“This exam is difficult, and that's putting it nicely. Especially coming from a technical background, the legal field will seem foreign to most of us. This is why the PLI Patent Office Exam Course is the gold standard for aspiring patent agents and attorneys. The course is rich with incredibly helpful videos and webinars, an in-depth workbook, and awesome mentors that move attentively through the dense legal material to explain all the complex nuances. Not only did this course help me pass the exam on my first try, but it taught me invaluable study habits and exam taking techniques for my first year of law school. The course is balanced in a way that best prepares you for the exam questions and retaining the information for the long-term. I was spared several hours of studying this semester because of the general legalese and patent law I have learned through PLI. This program was worth every penny and I have recommended it to everyone who has asked me about my experience taking the exam. Thank you to Mr. White, Mr. Quinn, and the rest of the PLI team for your support!” -- John J. Healy, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University; passed the Exam in August 2021
“PLI was worth every penny! By the time I finished the PLI course, the patent bar actually felt easy in comparison. While the lectures are excellent, the best benefits of the course by far were the questions in the test bank and the ability to contact the lecturers directly with questions. I highly recommend taking the PLI course!” -- Kailee McMahon, JD candidate, Loyola University New Orleans; passed the Exam in August 2021
“The PLI Patent Office Exam Course was vital for me to pass the Exam. Before signing up for the PLI Course, I looked at a number of study aids from other companies, none of which were reviewed highly by users. The PLI Course, on the other hand, gets great reviews. The binder hits all the necessary topics, without diving too far into the weeds for test purposes. The video lectures really helped to supplement the binder material. But, above all else, the test question bank from PLI was my number one key to success on the Exam. By exam day, I knew what to expect and felt comfortable because I learn best through practice. In my opinion, no other study aid will prepare you to take the Exam as well as PLI's course.” -- Kevin Gilligan, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law; passed the Exam in August 2021
“In a fast 2.5 months, PLI fully prepared me for the exam, and I would highly recommend it to anyone planning on taking the exam. It provided the structure and rigidity I needed in order to pass the exam. I can guarantee that I would not have passed studying on my own.” -- Seth Mancuso, Dority and Manning, P.A.; passed the Exam in August 2021
“In hindsight, the entire course was as practical as possible. For those considering taking the patent bar, I highly suggest using the PLI Patent Office Exam Course.” -- Randy Nguyen, UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law; passed the Exam in July 2021
“I cannot overstate the quality of this program. The customer service, software, and instructors are excellent. I took the on-demand program in 2020/21 and felt very prepared for test day. I passed the Patent Bar June 2021 on my first attempt. I highly recommend this program. Graduating law school in 2020 with the California bar date ever changing, I needed more calendar time to access the patent bar course. PLI granted plenty, no questions asked, no stress for me. Also, when I couldn’t figure out some aspect of the software, PLI got right back to me. The lecture course and practice test software are great. It works on both my ancient iPad and new iPhone. The lectures are well organized and load right where you leave off. The introductory program puts your baseline knowledge right where it needs to be. I emailed the instructors many questions. Their replies were thought out and detailed. John even reached out to discuss a particularly big and tricky issue over the phone. Do exactly what John and Gene say, and you will pass. Do the work, the reading, and the practice questions. They’ll tell you which study materials deserve more time. Following directions will pay off on test day. The course even covers stress reduction regarding logistics of actual test day-the night before, the lunch break during, etc. These guys also make the prep process fun. I will look for future courses they teach.” -- Iain Hill, Esq.; passed the Exam in June 2021
“PLI Course was super helpful. Reviewed the online course, took all the practice exams until I got over 90 in all of them, and boom! Thank you!” -- Ricardo Joseph, Patent Agent, Burns Levinson LLP; passed the Exam in June 2021
“The PLI Patent Office Exam Course Online helped me pass the exam with little prior knowledge of patent law. A friend who also had just begun practicing patent law recommended the program to me, and thankfully I listened to him. At the time I had no practical experience in patent law and was a 1L in law school. Without the course I would have been overwhelmed and lacked structure to study efficiently. The course does a great job outlining the important sections of the MPEP and accurately explaining the number of study hours required. I enjoyed the online format as I could study how and when I wanted, as well as adjusting the speed of the lectures when I re-watched certain subjects. I would, and have, recommended this program to anyone looking to pass the Patent Office Exam.” -- Mark Adamaszek, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law; passed the Exam in June 2021
"With high-quality video materials, in-depth testing materials, and stellar customer support, the Practising Law Institute's Patent Office Exam Course is the best resource to pass the Patent Bar on your first try!" -- Nathan Depew , Depew Engineering; passed the Exam in May 2021
“ PLI promises to stick with you until you pass and I can attest that is a commitment they stand firmly behind. Thank you PLI!” -- Lorne Forsythe, Patent Engineer, Ford Motor Company; passed the Exam in May 2021
“I went through the entire PLI patent exam prep program, and took all of the practice exams offered in PatWare. I felt well-prepared for the exam, but I was still very nervous on the morning of the exam. However, I quickly settled in to the exam as I faced a several questions that were very similar from the practice exams, and I was able to confidently answer new questions without MPEP look-up. I had enough time at the end of each half of the exam to quickly check 5-8 answers via MPEP look-up. The MPEP search strategies covered in the PLI prep program allowed me to quickly check my answers. I passed the exam in March 2021, and I feel very confident that I passed with good margin thanks to the PLI patent exam prep program. The patent exam is a long, rigorous test – I highly recommend taking the PLI patent exam prep program and completing all of the practice quizzes and exams so that you can pass the exam on your first attempt.” -- Chase Hemmelgarn, Patent Agent, TS Tech Americas, Inc.; passed the Exam in March 2021
“The PLI Patent Office Exam Course allowed me to pass the patent bar on my first try. When I started studying for the exam I had been a patent scientist for about 1.5 years, a career I started right after earning my Ph.D. (I do not have a law degree and only learned about careers in patent law during graduate school). The course did a great job of pulling out the important information from the MPEP and making the material easily digestible. I really appreciated the different methods of presenting the material (i.e., practice questions, reading materials, and videos). This allows for effective learning by various types of learners. I particularly appreciated the large amount of practice questions and that the reason why an answer choice was right or wrong was explained for each question. I even saw a handful of the practice exam questions on my actual exam. I would highly recommend this course, especially if you are new to patent law.” -- Dr. Ashley Cowie, Ph.D., cellular biology/neuroscience; patent agent at Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP; passed the Exam in March 2021.
“PLI is the premier course for studying for the patent registration exam. No other course is as detailed oriented and comprehensive. PLI teaches you to spot issues and to think critically for important topics concerning Patent Law.” -- Daniel B. Cafferata, St. Mary's School of Law; passed the Exam in March 2021
“The PLI Patent Office Exam Course helped me to pass the exam on the first try and I couldn’t have succeeded without it. The course was able to break down complex topics into digestible chunks and the combination of online videos, textbooks and webinars provided by the team ensured that the information was completely understood before the exam. I would highly recommend this course to everyone especially students like me who haven’t obtained a law degree.”--Osa Renko, Indiana University, McKinney School of Law; passed the Exam in February 2021
“As a first-generation attorney who was unfamiliar with the patent law field, passing the USPTO registration exam seemed impossible. After a lot of research, I enrolled in the PLI course and studying for the exam could not be easier! All you need to do is put in the time and be present. I am now a registered patent attorney and will be recommending the PLI course to anyone who dares ask.”--Folashade Oladipo, American University Washington College of Law; passed the Exam in February 2021
“PLI was hands down the BEST market product to study for the patent bar. I say this as a woman who tried [another course] before coming to law school only to find it was sorely lacking. I'm so glad I switched, put in the effort over winter break, and passed in February of my 3L year. My school (UNH Law) offered a generous group discount on top of the normal student discount. I highly recommend … PLI to anyone who wants to become a patent agent or lawyer.” -- Shireen Bhatia, University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law; passed the Exam in February 2021
“Thank you to John, Gene, and the rest of the PLI Team for helping me pass the Exam on my first attempt! The reading and video materials distilled and synthesized the MPEP and other tested information and provided much-needed context in a way that made the entire experience feel much less daunting, and the dry humor and witticisms interjected every now and again (especially in the videos) kept me going when I needed a motivational boost. The Patware software was an exceptional asset for gauging my comprehension of the material and strategizing for exam day, and being able to ask questions at any time gave me an overwhelming sense of comfort. Seriously, if you want to take this Exam only once, you should absolutely use the PLI Course!” -- Taylor Lain, William & Mary Law School; passed the Exam in February 2021
“Without PLI's course on patent law…I never would have passed the patent agent registration exam, and I was a patent examiner for 34.5 years, and a primary examiner for 21 of those years. They literally have a thousand plus questions on all the nuances of the MPEP. This course is an absolute necessity for passing this very difficult exam. I can't recommend this course enough.” -- Creighton Smith, JD; passed the Exam in January 2021
“I felt the program was comprehensive and accurate in respect to what to expect when taking the test. The large bank of example questions and practice tests were very similar in substance and style to the exam. Following the instructions and taking the recommended amount of practice test should make test takers confident they will pass the exam.” -- Alec Fraser, University of Oklahoma School of Law; passed the Exam in January 2021
“PLI’s Patent Office Exam course really helped me get a great understanding of the material quickly and easily. Without the course, studying for the exam would be a much more difficult undertaking than without it. The exam is already quite a difficult exam to pass, and I felt that PLI gave me the best possible chance to pass it on my first try. The reviews are true; PLI’s course really does work! I did everything they told me to do (e.g., read everything, go back and read it all again, practice questions, etc.) and it worked out in my favor. I am confident that anyone who takes PLI’s course, no matter what experience level they may possess with patents, will be able to pass the exam on their first try. I could not recommend PLI anymore, John and Gene are great.” -- Gage E. Moore, Patent Intern, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP; passed the Exam in January 2021
“Just wanted to write a quick e-mail and say that I passed the test! I couldn’t have done it without the PLI course and your help responding to my questions! I learned a ton from the course, not only stuff that helped me pass the test, but things that deepened my understanding of patent law and give me a perspective that will be useful in the long run. John and Eugene’s lectures were tremendously helpful for parsing together the disjointed language in the MPEP, and the study questions were quite helpful in taking all that jumbled up knowledge and settling it down into an organized, navigable system of information that my mind could comprehend and successfully weed through.”--Craig A. MacMillan, BA Physics; passed the Exam in September 2020
“Thank you all SOOOOO much! The course was awesome! I passed on my first try, with very little prior knowledge of patents! I did everything you said to do...The post-course materials and practice problems were great, as were the explanations regarding the right and wrong answers. Thank you again for putting up with my questions and for sharing your institutional knowledge. It was a grueling summer endeavor and the worst test I have ever taken. However, you made it all very hopeful with well-timed encouragement.” -- Tamara Palmer, Willamette University College of Law; passed the Exam August 2020
"Just wanted to let you know that I passed the exam today, on my first attempt!! Thank you SO much for all the help. Your review course is amazing, especially for those who have had zero exposure to patent law prior to studying! I looked at other programs, but ultimately decided on PLI as it was significantly more focused and specifically told me which areas were important for passing the exam. I would never have passed without the lectures, practice exams (which were updated for AIA unlike many other programs), and review sessions." -- Kristen Wong, Altitude Life Science Ventures; passed the Exam in August 2020
“I am happy to let you know that I passed the registration exam on my first attempt! The written materials were excellent and comprehensive, but the video lectures from John and Gene really helped in explaining the background of the law and examination procedure. Having experts discuss the intent and history is so valuable in understanding why and how everything is organized. Also, Patware was very useful in preparing myself for the computerized exam experience. Thank you!” -- Adam C. Dick, Software Product Manager; passed the Exam in August 2020
“PLI’s patent office exam course did a great job in helping me understand patent prosecution and the MPEP, at a pace that worked for me. I found the detailed answers to the questions in the practice exams to be the most helpful in my learning, as they allowed me to understand the correct answer for any question I got wrong. Overall, the course gave the knowledge I needed to pass the exam and greatly improved my work in the field of patent prosecution.” -- Joe Jarrell, Patent Agent; Foley & Lardner; passed the Exam in August 2020
“I loved having the online recordings easily accessible so that I could re-watch or pause videos as needed. I passed the exam the first time which was exactly what I was hoping to achieve by investing in this course. I would recommend taking this course to anyone hoping to pass the exam.” -- Ann Bernert, University of Florida College of Law; passed the Exam in August 2020
“The PLI course worked great the first time, as advertised! …. The Patware software with the practice exams were the key to passing. Practicing those gave me the ability to test my knowledge and simulate the exam as best as possible. It may be possible to pass the exam with the content of the binder alone, but Patware made the process 5 times easier.” -- Mitchell Tuck, University of Georgia College of Law; passed the Exam in July 2020
“The PLI course gave me the tools I needed to pass the patent exam. The instructors know what you need to master, know pretty well, and just as importantly, what you do not need to know, in order to pass. All of my substantive questions were answered quickly and thoroughly, which allowed me to move onto the next topic without lingering questions. The test is hard, but the program works. Trust the process and work hard and you will pass!” -- Michael Holihan, University of San Diego School of Law; passed the Exam in January 2020
“The PLI Patent Office Exam course was integral in my passing of the exam on my first attempt. I really put a lot of trust in the method that John and Gene developed, and it played out well. I believe as long as you are being honest with your studying and taking the steps that John and Gene recommend, the Exam is easily passed on the first attempt. Trust the process… John and Gene will get you through it!” -- Gabriel Magallanes, Ph.D., Cooley LLP; passed the Exam in December 2019
“Having the PLI course to structure and guide my studying and the practice questions was key to understanding the MPEP and passing the exam. The roadmap the course provides is invaluable and saves a lot of wasted time reading through the MPEP without understanding how to apply what you are reading. I recommend following the course and the post course instructions to the letter and you will be ready." -- Jenifer Lake, BS Chemistry; passed the Exam in December 2019
“For someone without any previous patent experience, this course helped me immensely. The lectures were easy to follow and helped me understand the concepts. The practice exams and quizzes were so helpful and worth the cost of the course themselves.” -- Stefan Brooks, PhD, UC-Irvine; passed the Exam in December 2019
“PLI's plethora of patent law resources, including practice exams, memorable lectures, and plenty of feedback opportunities, made it possible for me to pass the USPTO exam on my first take. I am grateful to PLI for its time and attention to patent law students like me.” -- Jodutt Basrawi, Univeristy of New Hampshire School of Law; passed the Exam in December 2019
“I had no experience with Patent Law whatsoever and I am a non-native English speaker. The PLI program is definitely what helped me pass the Patent Bar Exam on the first attempt, and without it, I was doomed to fail. ...[I]f you follow what John White advises you to do, your chances to pass are very high. The course is very organized and helps not only pass the exam but also understand patent law to be prepared for the real world. The on-demand videos with the three-ring binder as John calls it are on point and contain all the info needed. Once you are done with that, the Patware software PLI is the absolute most helpful tool with all the practice questions bank, there are over 2000 questions and the answers are explained right there, which helped me close the gaps after studying the three-ring binder and watch the videos. In summary, you have to put the work in and there are no short cuts, but the PLI course guides you through the entire process to have the confidence that you will pass on the first attempt, and make this exam a once in a lifetime process.” -- Wassim Mahrouka, M.Sc.Eng., Purdue University; passed the Exam in December 2019
“I found PLI Patent Office Exam Course is very helpful. As a person without any patent experience, I don't think I can pass this exam without studying PLI course. Especially, I want to thank Mr. John White who is such a wonderful and smart teacher. I love his lecture and post course exam explanation a lot. No matter how easy the question I asked was, he would answer it patiently. I really appreciate his help.” -- Jiajia Cai, PhD; passed the Exam in December 2019
“The PLI course is a 'one-shot, one-kill' solution to passing the patent exam. It closely tracks the types of questions that you’ll see on the actual exam. The robust post-course support means you’ll arrive on exam day confident that you’ll be successful.” -- Ross J. Randall, Emory University School of Law; passed the Exam in November 2019
“Thank you and PLI for making it possible for me to pass on the first try! The Patent Office Exam Review program is one of the best and most well-put-together courses that I've ever attended. I fully recommend it. There is an immense level of attention to detail, the study strategy is provided, and the accompanying resources are more than enough to successfully pass through the exam even for someone that never had any previous knowledge of patent law, like me.” -- Kamil Wojdyla, BS in Biological Sciences, DePaul University; passed the Exam in November 2019
“Taking the PLI Patent Office Exam Course is critical to making sitting for the Patent Bar Exam a 'one and done experience.' John and Gene do an outstanding job of teaching everything you need to know to pass the exam in a thorough, yet engaging way. PLI’s Patware was an outstanding supplement to the course that helped build my confidence heading into exam day. I can’t thank PLI enough for putting together this outstanding course!” – Drew DeRubeis, Patent Engineer, Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America; passed the Exam in November 2019
"PLI's support staff was excellent to work with and generously extended my access to the course so I could take the patent bar exam when I was ready. I took the exam at a busy time in my life and I had to juggle multiple work and family obligations at the same time, but I was able to pass the exam on the my first attempt by following the PLI study plan and utilizing the hundreds of questions they provided in Patware. Because Patware keeps track of how you score on questions from specific MPEP chapters, I was able to know what chapters I needed to study more, but I also knew when I was ready to take the patent bar exam. I highly recommend this course to anyone who is looking to take the patent bar exam with limited time to study." -- Alexander Lemke, University of Tulsa College of Law; passed the Exam in November 2019
“PLI allowed me to extend my enrollment in the online course and sent updated materials throughout. After spending the necessary time, I passed the exam on my first real attempt. As others have mentioned, the course is fantastic for understanding but the most valuable part is definitely PatWare. Being able to go over many questions and get feedback on areas to review made the actual test date so much easier. I knew many of the answers without looking them up and knew exactly where to find the answers that I was not sure about. I have to give a special shout out to John, who answered all of my "I do not understand why I missed this question" emails in the middle of the night with clear and concise explanations! The course is worth every cent and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone interested in taking the registration exam.” -- Paul Sherman, Seattle University School of Law; passed the Exam in November 2019
"I'd like to say that the PLI course was extremely helpful, and was no doubt what helped me pass this exam. The lectures were very clear and informative, and the question bank was a goldmine. I quite frankly don't understand how people pass without taking a course like this one. I can't even begin to express how happy I was to see my passing results when I took the test for the first time." -- Pranav Katti, Cardozo School of Law; passed the Exam in November 2019
"I...was one of the exam takers that had absolutely no knowledge of patents or prosecution prior to taking the PLI course. ...I passed the exam entirely on what was in the PLI course folder and from listening to the lectures and following the instructions when given them." -- Andrew Westmuckett, PhD, University of London; passed the Exam in November 2019.
"The Patent Office Exam Course from PLI was vital in passing the 'Patent Bar.' Reading the MPEP and studying practice questions alone simply was not enough to accurately understand and retain the information necessary for the exam. The Patent Office Exam Course presented the material in a clear manner, and only after attentively following the course materials and assignments was I successful on the exam. I highly recommend PLI to those preparing for the 'Patent Bar.'" -- Bryan Mulkern, BYU School of Law; passed the Exam in October 2019
"The lectures provide a lot of great tips, and gives you a good idea of what to expect on exam day, and what material to focus on when studying. The Patware software is invaluable, not only to give you actual past exam questions to work on, but will allow you to recreate (as much as possible) actual exam conditions. And, they give you very detailed answers to all the questions so you know why you got the questions correct or incorrect, and tells you where the answers are located in the MPEP which will be invaluable on exam day. If you follow the advice of the instructors and do all the practice questions you will pass on the first try." -- Michael Sundin, Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner; passed the Exam in October 2019
"As a chemist by training, I came into this course without any background in law, much less in patent law. I attended the live course, but with the lectures available online and question bank of the [2]000+ questions (which is updated for AIA + PLTIA) on Patware, I was able to learn and digest the material at my own pace, which was great as a full time research scientist. I highly recommend anyone who is trying to pass the patent bar to attend the PLI office Exam Course. Thanks PLI!" -- Allen Chan, zNano Water Tech; passed the Exam in September 2019
"[T]he PLI practice exams in Patware are on point and accurately reflect what you will encounter on the exam. I felt well prepared, was able to answer most questions cold, and knew right where to go in the MPEP for the ones I had to lookup. Thanks PLI!" -- Clark Oberembt, University of Texas School of Law; passed the Exam in September 2019.
“The course very accurately predicted the subjects that were tested and the depth at which those subjects would be tested. I felt as though I wasted no time on the many areas of the MPEP that were not tested and I learned exactly what I needed—how to take and pass the test. I would recommend this course to anyone else considering taking the patent bar exam.” -- W. Matthew Pierce, Perkins Coie LLP; passed the Exam in August 2019
"PLI perfectly prepared me for the patent bar exam. I passed at first try! In general, the exam is very hard, and therefore you need a course that is well-organized and easy to digest. I think PLI course meets these objectives. Personally, I found it very helpful that I was able to attend both: online and live courses. I used the live course as a way to review the material and clarify some problematic issues. John is an incredible lecturer, he keeps you engaged all the time!" -- Katarzyna ("Kate") Kostro, Fordham University School of Law; passed the Exam in July 2019
"The PLI patent bar course took out a great deal of stress for me- it tracks not only your progress, but also your pace with the program. Additionally, the numerous practice tests helped me feel more than comfortable after completing the necessary studying. I cannot stress enough how helpful this course was.” -- Malissa Magiera, Indiana University McKinney School of Law; passed the Exam in July 2019
“PLI’s live course and outstanding post-course support, along with a great deal of study and practice exams, were the keys to passing Patent Bar on my first attempt.” – Roger D. Whitley, PhD Chemical Engineering, Air Products; passed the Exam in July 2019
"Thanks to the PLI Patent Office Exam Course, I was well prepared for the Patent Office Exam and could enter the exam with as much confidence as possible in the context of such a significant test. That confidence increased after the first few questions, which were not only in a familiar format, but related to content that I had become comfortable with during the PLI course. I was able to answer most questions immediately, and I knew exactly where in the MPEP to look up the information I needed to answer the remaining questions. I will be comfortable recommending the PLI course to friends and coworkers, and I think that anyone considering the Patent Office Exam would be well advised to take the PLI course and to take it seriously.” – Jeremiah Stoddard, Thomas Jefferson School of Law; passed the Exam in June 2019
“I came into this course with no background in patent law. Thanks to the folks at PLI, I was able to learn the content and pass on my first attempt in less than 6 months! For those considering the course with no background, I encourage you to go with PLI. I did exactly what they said (including the recommended number of questions on Patware), and I felt prepared on the day of the exam. Much thanks PLI!” – Tim Rutkowski; PhD in Genetics, post-doctoral fellow at Emory University; passed the Exam in May 2019
“PLI truly is the gold standard and provided all I could ask for. Most specifically, the Patware feature is AMAZING! The vast gamut of questions and detailed feedback was extraordinary. By the time I took the course, I was more than ready to pass by flying colors. PLI patent bar review course is truly the best course available.” – Scott B. Amankwatia, UNH School of Law; passed the Exam in May 2019.
“I took two other...much cheaper...prep courses, and PLI was well worth the price. A bargain, in fact. Far superior.....If you are serious about passing the Patent Bar Exam the first time, this is the course you must use to study.” – Peter Nowak, MS in Ceramic Engineering; May 2019 NY course
“The course was well structured, clear and thorough. I feel way more confident and prepared to take the exam now. Highly recommend.”– Natalie Pugmire, BYU Law; live NYC course May 2019
“Frankly I don’t know how folks could pass that test without taking a course like that offered by PLI. Succinctly points to what you need to know...." – Andrew Walsh; Raytheon, PhD in Physics; passed the Exam in May 2019.
“I think that the PLI course was immensely helpful in my passing the patent exam on the first try. I think that the lectures were well done and the question bank was truly what helped the most. Being able to practice with hundreds of questions, some of which I did see on the exam, was very helpful. I am glad that I chose to use the PLI course and would definitely recommend it to anyone seeking out courses to take. It was well worth the money.” – Alexandra Fuchs, Texas A&M School of Law; passed the Exam in April 2019.
“It is not cheap but it is worth every dollar....The instructors of the live course are knowledgeable and dynamic; never boring. They cover a lot of material in a short time but it rarely felt rushed. Further, the material was thorough when it needed to be and shallow when appropriate. The post course guidelines and instructions were accurate and helpful. The test-mode practice exams were most helpful, particularly reviewing the exams for the explanations of the correct and incorrect answers. Lastly, the continued support long after the live course was invaluable. I continued to email PLI with questions long after (6 months) I took the live course and John (or someone) replied usually within a few days. I highly recommend PLI's patent exam prep course.” – Aaron Ward, PhD student, UCSD; passed the Exam in April 2019.
“The PLI Patent Office Exam Course was absolutely critical to my success on the Patent Bar. Without the helpful lectures from John and Gene, I would not have had the foundation necessary to answer the extremely difficult exam questions. The most helpful aspect of the PLI course is Patware. Since Patware gives feedback about the number of correct answers according to each MPEP chapter, I was able to understand which chapters I needed the most work on in the final days before the exam. The Patware feedback was also helpful during my exam, because it signaled the type of questions I should look up.” – Kathryn Albanese, Villanova University School of Law; passed the Exam in April 2019. Without the helpful lectures from John and Gene, I would not have had the foundation necessary to answer the extremely difficult exam questions. The most helpful aspect of the PLI course is Patware. Since Patware gives feedback about the number of correct answers according to each MPEP chapter, I was able to understand which chapters I needed the most work on in the final days before the exam. The Patware feedback was also helpful during my exam, because it signaled the type of questions I should look up.” Kathryn Albanese, Villanova University School of Law; passed the Exam in April 2019.
"PLI helped me to increase my confidence before sitting for the Exam and pass the Exam on my first try. Practicing on Patware prepared me with an actual exam situation in terms of pacing myself and anticipating exam questions style. I’d recommend this highly focused course to anyone who wants to pass the exam.” – Azie Aziz, Technical Advisor; passed the Exam in April 2019.
“PLI Patent Bar Review course has the perfect recipe to pass the exam. Nothing less and not too much. Just perfect.
The PLI course captures the most important concepts tested on the exam. This is extremely important since you could study the entire MPEP and still find it difficult to pass. The simulated tests in Patware ensure that you can manage your time during the exam.” – Rahul Vartak, Genentech Inc.; passed the Exam in March 2019.
“PLI took the planning out of preparing for the Patent Exam. The lectures and overall structure covered all of the material in a manner that I could digest. The practice questions took the program to the next level and really helped me master the information. By following the schedule, and trusting the PLI process, I was able to pass the exam the first time while also working full time.” – Marcus Childress, Air Force JAG; passed the Exam in March 2019.
"I am thankful to PLI for its intensive course. I...attended law schools before I took PLI, but I have no hesitation in admitting that PLI was the crucial factor in setting up strategies and preparing for this challenging bar exam!" – Ypsita Demunshi, LL.M.; passed the Exam in February 2019.
“The course was extremely helpful. I passed on my first try. I doubt that result would've been possible without PLI. I even saw a few questions on exam day that I had previously seen on PLI practice exams. Money well spent. Thanks PLI!” – Nicholas Bortz, UNH School of Law; passed the Exam in February 2019.
“During my externship at the USPTO in Summer 2018, most of the professionals I met recommended PLI’s Patent Exam Prep Course over the other available courses because it is taught by a former patent examiner, John White. John and Gene translate the MPEP into plain English and provide excellent explanations of numerous practice questions. The supplemental sections are updated for the most recent MPEP and USPTO changes. These sections accurately track the always-changing exam. Ecstatic to pass on my first try!” – Devin Vaage, California Western School of Law; passed the Exam in November 2018.
“In terms of the course's value, it was well worth the fee in my view. The online lectures were engaging and enjoyable in addition to being an excellent jumping off point for study, and the course printed materials and available updated exam questions illustrated key elements of practice and using the MPEP that helped me pass the exam. The practice test question answer explanations were among the more powerful learning tools for my study.” – Matthew Toussant. Senior VP of Product and Content at CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society; passed the Exam in October 2018.
“I would strongly recommend PLI to anyone who is preparing for the patent bar exam. Mr. White and Mr. Quinn really have the knack not only about the patent bar exam but also the patent law practice. The lectures are focused on key points which guide you through the MPEP smoothly. The Patware program allows you to reinforce the knowledge you learned from the lectures, and gives you the flexibility to learn on your own pace. The PLI course is a MUST to lay a solid foundation for you to start in the patent field. I am so grateful of PLI that helped me to pass the patent bar exam!” – Caitlyn Sun, Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering; passed the Exam in September 2018.
“PLI provided me with everything I could have possibly needed to pass the patent office exam first try. The program did an excellent job preparing me, someone with zero experience in patent law before the exam, with what I could expect to be on the exam, what would definitely not be on the exam, and what to specifically focus on....What really makes this course worth it is the hundreds of practice questions they equip you with. I did every question, most of them twice, in PatWare and was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable and familiar I felt in the real exam. The two almost mirrored each other. Definitely would recommend!” – Matt Modderman, University of Akron School of Law; passed the Exam in August 2018.
“Thanks to PLI, I passed the patent office exam on my first try. I couldn’t have done it without the PLI Patent Office Exam Course. The live course was a great starting point. John and Gene have a wealth of knowledge about the patent office that is shared. The course material and practice exams were invaluable. I followed the PLI post live course game plan and it paid off.” – James Harrington, BS Chemical Engineering; passed the Exam in August 2018
"To efficiently pass this exam, you’ll need to use a prep course. There are a bunch out there, but everyone I talked to recommended PLI…and now I know why! PLI’s resources, especially the practice questions and full length (updated) tests, gave me all the preparation I needed to pass the test on the first try.” – Christopher Schardon, PhD, Licensing Associate, UT Southwestern Medical Center Office for Technology Development; passed the Exam in August 201
“Everyone I know who has passed the patent bar used PLI and highly recommends it. Taking the PLI course is one of the best investments of my career. The course thoroughly explains and highlights the important material for the exam. Without the insider view PLI provided in the course, I would not have passed on my first try.” – Julianne Campbell, Vanderbilt Law School; passed the Exam in July 2018
“The in-person class was just what I needed to jump-start my study. After the course, the Patware exam software allowed me to see how I was doing compared to other students and where I should focus my study. I’m pleased (and relieved) that the course and tools helped me pass the exam on my first attempt!” – Joshua Molho, Director, Engineering, Bio-Techne Corp.; passed the Exam in July 2018
"I do not think I am the typical individual who sits for the patent bar—twenty plus years removed from my undergraduate years and a practicing attorney for the past five years, principally in areas other than patent law. The USPTO exam is unlike any other test I have taken, and I cannot imagine having taken it without the PLI Patent Office Exam Course. Their success speaks for itself—the passage rate in 2017 was 44%; PLI alumni passage rate is double that. It is the best preparation possible for an exceptionally (and overly) complicated test." – Michael Armstrong, Lewis Rice LLC, passed the Exam in June 2018
“Quite simply, I would not have passed the patent bar exam without PLI. I was prepared to put in the time, but working full-time and being a parent of three children meant that I needed some guidance. This course has only one goal: to get you to pass the patent bar exam. It does its job admirably. I put in the hard work, and PLI provided the guidance through a combination of excellent lectures, study guide materials, and answers to my questions. There may be other courses out there, but there are no other courses with Patware®. The opportunity to face exam level difficulty questions, in exam-like conditions, gave me the confidence to take the exam without panicking. There is no other course I would recommend.” – Jordan Michael Bauman, PhD in Oil and Gas Technology, Norwegian Patent Agent at Acapo AS (Norway); passed the Exam in June 2018
“I found the PLI Patent Office Exam Course invaluable for succeeding on the first attempt. Prior to taking the course, I had little to no exposure to patent practice. I needed a course that I could take at my own pace, while working and going to law school. While the volume of material seemed daunting at first, the course broke it down into digestible pieces, providing useful feedback and reinforcement throughout the process. The PatWare exam simulation software was reasonably realistic. Practicing with PatWare made exam-day less stressful.” – Lawrence Hoff, WMU Cooley Law School, Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn LLP; passed the Exam in June 2018
“The course helped me tremendously during my exam preparation. The lectures and studying material build up a solid foundation of basic knowledge of patent law and rules that pertains to the exam. And Patware simulated exam questions are of essence. Through the mock exams on Patware, I acclimated myself to the real exam environment and learned how to strategically answer the questions and flip through MPEP for answers. The learning experience of PLI Patent Office Exam Course made me much less nervous and more confident on exam day. I couldn’t have passed the exam without the course on my first try. Thank you so much!” – Lingyin Ge, Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology; passed the Exam in June 2018
"What I found most helpful in the PLI Patent Office Exam Course was the ability to create custom practice exams based on MPEP Chapters. Not only was this helpful for improvement in certain areas of the MPEP, but it also meant I could focus on the more heavily tested areas." – Erick Lopez, LL.M. student at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, IL; passed the Exam in June 2018
“Don't let anyone tell you the exam is easy - it's not. You need the steady, reassuring guidance of John and Gene to walk you through the complexity of the MPEP and lead you to your successful test result. I simply could not have passed on the first try without this course.” – David Old, Ph.D. in Chemistry; passed the Exam in June 2018
"Thank you! I admit I was very skeptical about how I would perform on the test and wasn’t sure I was prepared, but I was very happy to see after completing the test that I had passed. I did all the recommended practice questions in the course and listened to the test strategy advice. Specifically, I think proper pacing and getting some familiar questions on the exam that allowed me to select the correct answer almost immediately are the factors that made the difference in getting the passing score.” – Ryan Adam Davis; University of Pittsburgh School of Law; passed the Exam in June 2018
“I walked into PLI’s Patent Office Exam Course with no experience in and little exposure to how to navigate the MPEP. I left the live course with confidence and much-needed familiarity with the topics that will show up on the test.” – Robert Bollier, George Washington University Law School; San Francisco course June 2018
“I experienced far fewer sleepless nights and panicked sweats when envisioning the exam after I signed up for the course and began the pre-course material! Very informative and soothing.” – Caroline Belt, Mintz Levin; San Francisco course June 2018
“I would highly recommend this course to anyone who needs to prepare for this exam.” – Chadwick T. Holeman, Devon Energy; San Francisco course June 2018
“I don’t think I would’ve passed without the course. The response to questions as I was working through the practice tests online was really helpful. Having been out of school for many years, I think nerves got the best of me on the first try (I only missed by 4 points) and I ran short of time, but the second time, after one more run through of the material, went much better. Having both attended in person and watched the online course was key for me – running through all of the lectures and practice material twice!”– Diane Retallack; PhD in Microbiology and Immunology; passed the Exam in May 2018
“PLI’s Patent Office Exam Course was invaluable in helping me pass the exam on my first try. The Course made it easy to prepare because I simply had to follow the schedule. I’d highly recommend PLI.” – Samuel Cockriel, J.D., George Washington University Law School; passed the Exam in May 2018
“I would like to thank PLI for the patent bar review course because I certainly would not have passed without it. It was very helpful to already be familiar with the testing software prior to sitting for the actual exam. The lectures helped explain complex rules and laws in a way that was understandable and detailed enough to pass the exam.” – Nicholas Marcello, St. John's University School of Law; passed the Exam in May 2018
"Early on in my studies for the Patent Bar Examination I selected the wrong study guide, and it wasn't until I purchased the PLI Patent Bar Study Guide that I was able to successfully pass the examination. The PLI Study Guide is outstanding! Thank you!" – John W. Lippert III, Ph.D.; Falati Intellectual Property Law & Management Consulting; passed the Exam in April 2018
"If you are considering taking the patent bar exam, I would highly recommend PLI’s Patent Office Exam Course. The online version of the course conveniently gave me the flexibility to prepare for the exam without disrupting my personal and professional responsibilities. The lectures, reading materials, and practice exams were extremely beneficial and provided me with the deeper understanding necessary to pass the exam. This course also helped to develop confidence in my understanding of the topics and ability to practice before the USPTO." – Adam Kurzynski, John Marshall Law School; passed the Exam in April 2018
"...PLI was an invaluable resource as the course provided the insight, knowledge, and training resources that enabled effective practice and subsequently, performance on the exam.” – Brett Zirkle, doctoral student, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine; passed the exam in April 2018
"I was nervous about taking the patent bar exam before law school, but I made the decision to use the PLI homestudy course to prepare. PLI took me from having no patent law or legal background to passing the exam on my first try. The Patware software gave me thorough experience taking the test before test day, so I was confident going through the exam." – Lucas Yordy, Vanderbilt Law School; passed the Exam in April 2018
“The PLI Patent Course was fantastic. I can say I walked into the exam feeling super prepared for all the tricks, and curve balls. In fact I had several questions on my actual exam that were in PLI materials. I did all of the PLI practice questions and exams, and most importantly I reviewed the questions I got correct and incorrect. Certain concepts were drilled into my head such that I did not need to waste time looking them up. In sum, listen to John White and Gene Quinn, do all the questions PLI gives you, review the correct and incorrect answers, register for exam and pass. Super happy that the beast of an exam is behind me and GLAD I trusted the PLI process.” – Ulysses Williams III, Esq., Howard University School of Law; passed the Exam in March 2018
“I have been practicing intellectual property litigation for the past eight years at a large NY firm, and recently decided to finally go ahead and take the patent bar exam to further my practice in front of the PTAB. It’s been quite a long time since I’ve taken an exam, and because I am a litigator, I was not particularly familiar with many of the PTO practices on which the patent bar would test. My firm strongly supports us taking the USPTO exam, and suggests taking the PLI Patent Office Exam Course specifically (and will pay for us to do so). I was incredibly happy that I took the course! The lectures were more than simply informative; the way they repeat key concepts again and again really gets the information into your head. The practice questions were appropriately difficult, and made the exam itself feel much easier by comparison. The supporting study materials were also extremely helpful, particularly the final section that distilled those highly-tested specifics into easily-remembered lists ....In short, I would highly recommend taking the PLI Patent Office Exam Course before taking the patent bar, both for new and experienced practitioners. Without a doubt, it made a tremendous difference and kept me to an intensive study schedule. Thank you!” – Rachael Bacha, passed the Exam in March 2018
“I had put off taking the test for 10+ years, and now I wish I hadn’t, because to be honest it wasn’t all that hard with the proper preparation." – Amy Wells, Paralegal, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP; passed the Exam in March 2018
"PLI has a focused and organized course that gives you the best chance of passing on the first try- like I did!” – Alex Salmu, Faurecia, Senior Patent Engineer; Thomas M. Cooley Law School; passed the Exam in February 2018
"There is no other program like this out there and I am so glad I used PLI to achieve success. I would recommend it to anyone wishing to pass the USPRE because it is a great investment in your career and future." – Bamidele Johnson, Howard University School of Law; Passed the exam in January 2018