Category Archives: Professional Skills

Treatise Update – Faber on Mechanics of Patent Claim Drafting (Seventh Edition)

Faber on Mechanics of Patent Claim Drafting spotlights proven claim drafting practices and techniques that have been firmly established by patent authorities and custom. The treatise provides full coverage of U.S. Supreme Court and other court decisions critical to claim drafting. It is an indispensable guide for patent specialists/intellectual property attorneys, corporate counsel, patent agents, patent officials, and inventors.

This new release updates and expands the treatise with practical information and commentary on a variety of issues affecting patent claim drafting. Highlights include:

Chapter 1

  • Abstract ideas: For complete analysis and implications of XY LLC v. Trans Ova Genetics, see §§ 1:4.8 and 1:5.7.
  • Software Inventions: See §§ 1:4.2[A] and 3:29.7 for treatment of Rain Computer, Inc. v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Chapter 2

  • Claiming contrary positions: See new § 2:15 for a discussion of Infinity Computer Products, Inc. v. Oki Data Americas, Inc., and how inconsistent statements by the patentee in the prosecution history could limit the scope of the claim language or render the claims invalid.

Chapter 3

  • Words of approximation: Section 3:19 is updated with a discussion of Par Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Hospira, Inc., in which the Federal Circuit said that “about” means approximately and is determined by using a functional approach, avoiding a strict numerical boundary, and confined to what one skilled in the art would consider to be “about” in the current case.
  • Singular and plural elements: § 3:11 discusses the meaning of the phrase “a plurality of.”
  • Means plus function: See new § 3:29.7[A] for a discussion of the implications of claiming elements in terms of function performed rather than physical structure in order to cover a broader range of structures.

Chapter 5

  • Product-by-Process Claims: Section 5:2 looks at Biogen MA Inc. v. EMD Serono, Inc., noting that the Federal Circuit is expanding product by process to cover a method of treatment claim that includes a product-by-process limitation.
  • Design claims: Section 5:4 notes that the patent office is considering whether design protection should extend to digital designs that do not require a display screen or other tangible article to be viewable.

Table of Authorities and Index

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New Edition! Thinking Like a Writer: A Lawyer’s Guide to Effective Writing and Editing

PLI Press is proud to announce the publication of Thinking Like a Writer: A Lawyer’s Guide to Effective Writing and Editing (Fourth Edition).

A longtime favorite among PLI customers, this book provides practical advice to help lawyers strengthen their writing skills by “thinking like a writer” as effectively as they already think like a lawyer. It highlights guiding principles for writing clearly about complicated material and establishing credibility with demanding readers, and then turns those principles into specific techniques that apply to many types of documents and audiences.

  • Part I introduces the approach and principles that can guide lawyers in “thinking like a writer.”
  • Part II applies the guiding principles to a document’s organization.
  • Part III applies guiding principles to specific types of legal writing: letters, memoranda, and emails; briefs; and judicial opinions.
  • Part IV applies the principles to the smaller scale of paragraphs and sentences.
  • Part V applies the principles to the editing process, for both self-editing and editing the work of others.

Throughout, chapters include before-and-after examples to demonstrate how writing and editing can be improved by following the advice offered in the book.

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PLI PLUS subscribers can access this title through their subscription.

New Title! Stepping It Up: A Guide for Mid-Level Law Firm Associates

PLI Press recently published Stepping It Up: A Guide for Mid-Level Law Firm Associates, the latest title in the career development series.

Aimed at associates in their third to sixth years of practice, this book provides guidance on how people in large firms can successfully make the transition from junior associate—by “stepping up” their performance to meet the increasing expectations that partners have of associates with several years of experience. Chapters are written by various legal professionals, including law firm chiefs, in-house counsel and senior associates, who share their experiences and perspectives, along with clear examples, of what is expected of mid-level associates.

This book addresses a broad-range of skill development, including:

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New Title! Succession Planning and Retirement Strategies for Law Firms and Lawyers

PLI Press is pleased to announce the publication of a new treatise on professional skills:

Succession Planning and Retirement Strategies for Law Firms and Lawyers showcases the perspectives of both law firm management and individual partners in order to mitigate the discomfort of retirement conversations and help develop effective transition plans that meet the needs of all stakeholders.

Written by a certified career/life management coach with more than three decades of experience working with the legal profession, this book is designed to help all participants address assumptions, thoughts, and emotions around aging and retirement to influence transition outcomes in a positive manner. It contains numerous tools and exercises to help guide discussions and planning.

Among the specific topics covered are:

  • Strategic plans designed to launch retirement discussions
  • Aligning talent management strategies with life cycle
  • Impact of compensation and culture on succession planning
  • Mindset of aging partners
  • Designing post-practice life
  • Tending to physical, mental and emotional well-being
  • Collaborating for better outcomes

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PLI PLUS subscribers can access this title through their subscription.

New Title! An Associate’s First Year: A Guide to Thriving at a Law Firm

An Associate’s First Year: A Guide to Thriving at a Law Firm is a new published title from PLI Press.

There is more to thriving as a new law firm associate than doing great legal work. Associates must also demonstrate commitment to law firm values; capably manage up and down within their firm; successfully interact with people of different generations, cultures, and backgrounds; champion diversity and inclusion; work smartly and efficiently; contribute to innovation within their firms; manage their workloads; continually learn about their clients’ businesses; and so much more.

An Associate’s First Year, edited by Jennifer L. Bluestein and featuring contributions from more than a dozen experts—including partners, professional developments directors, law firm associates, and other legal industry professionals—provides new associates first-hand insights and guidance on:

Each chapter is full of practical suggestions to help new associates navigate their first year of practice at a law firm.

If you would like to order a print copy, please email libraryrelations@pli.edu.