There is no requirement that you hire a patent attorney, an inventor may file and prosecute the inventor’s own invention. However, preparing a useful patent application requires an understanding of: (1) the legal principles that should guide your strategic intellectual property protection plan; (2) the patent office rules and regulations; (3) the case law affecting the interpretation and application of the patent laws; and (4) the technical and scientific subject matter relating to the patent. While inventors are often leading experts in the technical subject matter, without expertise in the legal aspects, the likelihood of an inventor successfully prosecuting a valuable patent is exceptionally low. Pairing with a qualified patent attorney allows an inventor to combine the inventor’s technical expertise with the patent attorney’s legal expertise and experience. A good team with contributions from both the inventor and the patent attorney is the best way to achieve valuable and meaningful patent protection.