Pages 212-214

REPRESENTATION

CEIPI/epi

Basic training in European patent law

1. Past European Qualifying Examinations have shown that many candidates, whilst knowledgeable on questions of detail, lack a firm grasp of the basics of the EPC andits practical application. For some years now CEIPI and EPI have been working together to devise a basic training scheme in European patent law which not only meets candidates' needs but is also feasible.

2. Joint CEIPI/EPI basic training courses in European patent law take two years, starting in the autumn of each year.

3. 28 Courses able to accommodate a total of about 270 students are currently available in the following 26 cities:

4. The basic training scheme, which is also intended to help candidates to prepare the European Qualifying Examination, lasts two years and is designed to accompany the professional practice, starting shortly after the future patent specialist has begun training with a professional representative or patent department. Following a reorganisation of the syllabus, students may now also be admitted to most courses after the first year.

5. The basic training courses will take the form of private study instructed and actively supported by local "tutors", all experienced specialists in European patent law, who twenty evenings a year for three hours at a time will discuss topics and cases previously prepared by participants, answer questions and set further topics for study. The success of the "tutorial" depends on the active co-operation of the trainees with their own presentations and case studies.

6. To accustom students at an early stage to giving quick answers to points of law (Paper D of the Qualifying Examination) and enable them to monitor their performance, it is planned to present them every six months with about 12 to 17 such points from the subjects covered by the syllabus, to be answered under examination conditions.

7. The list of topics to be covered will encompass the whole European Patent Law and Qualifying Examination syllabus and indicate the reference material to be used. Training material as well as publications and further documents will also be made available. The tutors receive special training material.

8. Tutors' meetings take place two days every year at Strasbourg University to discuss in the light of experience how best to structure the courses.

9. On completion of the basic course, candidates are expected to round off their training and prepare for the Qualifying Examination through private study. Special courses are avail- able, such as the EPI tutorials (OJ EPO 1994, 214) and the one-week CEIPI seminars in Strasbourg (see notice in OJ EPO 1993, 586) and a variety of national courses.

Readers are reminded that the basic training course does not dispense with the need for further intensive study for the Qualifying Examination; it provides candidates with no more than a broad grounding in European patent law and its international ramifications.

10. It is planned to hold course seach year beginning in September or October at various centres in the Contracting States if there is a mini- mum of three participants in each case and suitable tutors are available. The cost will be FRF 6 500 per person per year (FRF 13 000 for the two-year course).

11. To enable the next round of courses to be organised in good time, those interested are asked to contact CEIPI as soon as possible and in any event not later than 1 July 1994 at the following address (from which further details can also be obtained).

The CEIPI Office may give you any further information you need.

Mme Blott et Mme Huck-Behrens,
CEIPI
Université Robert Schuman
1, Place d'Athènes Boîte Postale No. 66
F-67045 Strasbourg CEDEX
Tel.: (+33-88) 61 43 75
Fax: (+33-88) 60 37 10