If you are thinking about submitting a patent application, you might be thinking about hiring an intellectual property attorney. Even though you certainly are not required to hire a lawyer to help you with this, doing so can be smart. However, you might be concerned about how much this is going to cost. Hiring a patent attorney can be expensive, but it does not have to be. These are a few tips that can help you cut costs when hiring one of these lawyers.

1. Provide as Much Information as Possible

Your lawyer is going to need a lot of information about your idea. In the days before you meet up with your lawyer, take the time to gather up as much paperwork and information about your idea as possible, and jot down anything that you think your attorney is going to need to know. Then, you can help ensure that you supply as much information as possible at your first meeting. This can help cut down on the hours that you can be billed for, which can save you money. Plus, it'll make it easier for your attorney to get started on your case and to get things moving in a timely fashion.

2. Create a Rough Draft

Your lawyer is probably going to charge you a whole lot more if he or she has to draft up your entire patent application versus just reading over one that you have created yourself and making suggestions or improvements. Do your research, and take the time to draft up your own application. Then, let your lawyer look it over. That way, you can save money, but you can still benefit from legal advice as well. It's a win-win.

3. Consider Hiring an Attorney from Another Area

Since patent law is federal law, you don't necessarily have to hire someone in your area. If you live and work in a big city with a high cost of living, consider hiring an attorney from another area where the cost of living is cheaper. This can help you save a lot in legal fees.

As you can see, there are a few ways that you can shave down costs when hiring a patent lawyer. If you'd like to have legal assistance during the patent application process but don't want to spend a fortune, keep these three tips in mind, and you could be surprised by how much you can save.