Preparatory Seminars EQE course offered as on-site or online training

CEIPI is pleased to announce that the seminars preparing for the EQE 2024 will be organized as classroom training and also be available online.

Presentation

The CEIPI is organizing 5-day seminars preparing for papers A+B, C and D of the European Qualifying Examination.

These seminars are offered either as "Strasbourg seminars" or online.

Experience has shown that the "Strasbourg seminars" prepare candidates most efficiently for the examination, because they facilitate intense communication between tutors and participants and among the course participants. The CEIPI therefore recommends to give priority to the on-site training format. However, in order to also prepare those candidates for the EQE who cannot attend the on-site training, the CEIPI also organizes these courses preparing for the EQE 2024 as online training.

The seminar's European character is reflected in the international mix of tutors (qualified European Patent attorneys as well as agents of the EPO) and participants. Group-based work ensures discussion between the two. The seminars are organized in the three official languages of the EPO, English, German and French. Participants therefore need to well know one of these languages.

To fully benefit from these preparatory seminars in November 2023 (Papers A+B and C) and in January 2024 (Paper D), candidates are advised to also enrol for the earlier mentioned introductory methodology courses; it helps them to acquaint themselves at an earlier stage with the methodologies taught and sets them on track for preparing themselves better.

The working texts for the seminar are largely based on past EQE papers, updated and adapted if necessary. Both seminars will incorporate mock exams in the form of papers from former EQEs.

  • The seminar for papers A+B will cover the following topics: drafting claims and drafting an introduction to the description in Paper A; replying to a communication and preparing an amended set of claims in Paper B,
  • The seminar for paper C will deal with the following topic: drafting a notice of opposition.

The methodologies discussed in the introductory methodology courses will be reviewed and deepened, using a past paper, under the guidance of a tutor. The important topics like problem/solution approach, priority, inadmissible amendments and prior use will also be discussed further.

Participants will have the opportunity to apply the strategies and methodologies discussed by doing the A and B papers under mock examination conditions. For paper C, exercises are mixed with a mock examination C under exam conditions. Various approaches and suggested solutions will then be presented and discussed in the light of the Examiners' Reports and the "CEIPI-solution".

The seminar takes into account the specificities of the e-EQE.

  • The Seminar for paper D

The seminar aims to enable candidates to answer the legal questions substantively and within the time allowed. It serves as a final test for the EQE. The method involves independent work under the tutors' supervision, plus discussion of the answers. Candidates learn and practice the different approaches needed to tackle the questions of Part D1 as well as the more extensive question of part D2, and practise these techniques.

The seminars take place according to the following schedule:

A+B: from 13 to 15 (morning) November 2023 in Strasbourg or online
C: from 15 (afternoon) to 17 November 2023 in Strasbourg or online
D: from 08 to 12 January 2024 in Strasbourg or from 15 to 19 January 2024 online

For information purposes, you can download the programmes of November 2022 for the seminars A+B and C for the English-and German speaking participants and the programme of January 2023 for the seminar D below:

Enrolment

Applications to CEIPI will be treated on a first come, first served basis. If the courses are oversubscribed, names will be put on a waiting list.

The deadline for enrolments is 13 October 2023 for seminars A+B, C and D.

See our complete price offer 2023-2024


Enrolment form