In light of malpractice risk and increasing workload, it is vital for practitioners to work effectively and efficiently. This manual provides a tool for promoting the quality of application conduct by enhancing mindfulness of the practitioner to procedural options available at any given point during the application protocol. It will aid the practitioner in anticipating the Patent Office's actions, as well as elevate the practitioner's awareness of options available in prosecuting an application. Table of Contents: Part One: Domestic Filing Practice Introduction - Patents: The Weak and the Strong Sources of Domestic Patent Law Pre-Filing Activities & Considerations Filing Post-Filing Post-Grant Part Two: Foreign Filing Practice Introduction: Patent World Sources of International Patent Law and Regulations Principal International IP Accords Pre-Application Activities and Considerations Application/Prosecution Foreign Filing Strategies Part Three: International Biotechnology Patent Applications Introduction: Patents for Life Domestic Biotechnology Patent Applications International Biotechnology Patent Application Indexes Appendix