Robbins says inventors in even the smallest towns around the country can dial in with a local number. Robbins' well-known passion for independent inventors comes through when talking about the service. Agents can do most everything that a patent attorney can do except represent you in court, or in any other legal proceedings. Patent agents often practice as graduate mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, chemists, biologists, etc., prior to becoming patent agents, whereas patent attorneys usually get the technical degree only for the purpose of qualifying for their license, and usually have no hands-on experience in their second discipline. In big cities like New York, their fees will be even higher.
Many patent agents charge about half of that.
This means that if you must go to court for any reason, you will have to pay to re-educate a litigating attorney about the background of your invention, and then spend upwards to a million dollars in a typical suit. So, for most of us, litigation is completely impractical. Agents are distinguished from attorneys. Many agents work for law firms or corporations, and may not practice after hours and on weekends. Phone several and ask.