How to become an Intellectual Property Lawyer

Provides legal advice, prepares and drafts legal documents, and conducts negotiations on behalf of clients on matters associated with protecting intellectual capital, utilising patent law, copyright law and licensing.

Main tasks

• Provides legal advice to clients on matters related to intellectual property
• Prepares and drafts legal documents such as patent applications, copyright registrations and licensing agreements
• Conducts negotiations on behalf of clients to protect their intellectual property
• Advises clients on the enforcement of their intellectual property rights
• Assists clients in resolving intellectual property disputes through mediation, arbitration or litigation
• Provides guidance to clients on the commercialisation and monetisation of their intellectual property
• Researches and analyses intellectual property laws and regulations

Ways in

• University: Law & Justice degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $145,756 a year
• About 12,900 people work in this job group now, and about 15,500 are projected by 2035. (+20.4%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Intellectual Property Lawyer?

Ways in include: Law & Justice degrees.

How much does an Intellectual Property Lawyer earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $145,756 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is an Intellectual Property Lawyer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 20% by 2035, from about 12,900 to about 15,500 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become an Intellectual Property Lawyer?

Usually. 97% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Intellectual Property Lawyer?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04