The timing of patent prosecution can vary significantly depending on the number of communications with the examiner. The goal of the USPTO is to issue the first Office Action within 14 months of the application filing date, and subsequent Office Actions within four months of each response submitted by the applicant.
Patent prosecution is the process of drafting, filing, and negotiating with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in order to obtain patent protection and rights for an invention.
To practice patent law, you would register with the USPTO. This involves submitting an application and passing the multiple-choice exam, also called the patent bar exam. Some coursework or experience in science or engineering is a prerequisite for this exam, but a bachelor's degree may be adequate.