PPC Professional Standards & Competencies 3

Question 1

Which of the following BEST describes a patent paralegal's duty of confidentiality?

Accepted Answer

It covers all information relating to client representation, regardless of how it is obtained

Answer

The duty of confidentiality broadly covers all information relating to a client's representation, regardless of labeling or source.

Question 2

A paralegal's supervising attorney instructs them to backdate a patent application to avoid a prior art reference. The paralegal should:

Accepted Answer

Refuse to comply and document the refusal

Answer

Backdating legal documents is fraud; a paralegal must refuse unethical instructions and document the refusal regardless of who gives the order.

Question 3

The continuing education requirement for maintaining the PPC certification is primarily intended to ensure that patent paralegals:

Accepted Answer

Stay current with developments in patent law and professional practice

Answer

Continuing education requirements exist to ensure certified paralegals keep their legal knowledge and skills current.

Question 4

When a client contacts a patent paralegal directly to ask for legal advice on claim scope, the paralegal must:

Accepted Answer

Redirect the client to the supervising attorney for legal guidance

Answer

Interpreting claim scope is a legal question that requires attorney guidance; paralegals must redirect such inquiries to the supervising attorney.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a paralegal demonstrating professional competency in docketing?

Accepted Answer

Cross-checking calculated deadlines against multiple sources and confirming with the supervising attorney

Answer

Professional competency in docketing requires cross-verifying deadlines through multiple sources to minimize error risk.

(PPC) Patent Paralegal Certification Practice Test