Here are some pointers on how to minimize your legal fees.
1. We prepare patent applications in Word. Use “Tools/Track Changes” if there are some wording changes you would like to make in your patent application. Some clients like to call us up and say: “OK, on page 1, paragraph 3, I’d like to change “attached” to “connected.” On page 2, let’s change “prior art filters are easily plugged” to “some prior art filters are easily plugged if not changed frequently,” and so on. We have had clients who spend an hour on the phone going over editorial changes in their patent application, using our lawyers for secretarial dictation services, who seem surprised when they are billed for such time. Doesn’t it make more sense to use the “track changes” feature of Word to suggest these types of changes?
2. Use our website for status reports. Just visit https://clientaccess.smithhopen.com whenever you wonder what the status of your case is. Clients have full read-only access to all deadlines, billing, work product and case materials.