Patent law is the only area of law that has very specific requirements for its lawyers. Anyone with a bachelor's degree in 12th Century Chinese Theater can go to law school, take a few continuing education classes and hold themselves out as a divorce lawyer, personal injury lawyer or criminal lawyer. The various Bar associations have requirements to gain the designation of "specialist" but only in the area of Patent law is there a second Bar and second Exam. The Bar allows anyone to practice in any area, almost regardless of training, EXCEPT Patent. To be admitted to the Patent Bar the candidate must have an undergraduate degree in some engineering field, pass the Bar Exam, and then sit for the Patent Bar Exam and pass that before becoming a Patent Lawyer. Only the most dedicated attorneys ever get admitted to the Patent Bar and with good reason. The Patent process is wrought with arcane rules, unintentional tricks and traps.

I hold separate bachelor's degrees in both accounting and economics, I've passed two consecutive Bar Exams in two separate states, been admitted to several jurisdictions and there is NO WAY IN HELL I would try file a patent without hiring a Patent Lawyer!