From Sketch to Submission: An Attorney’s Guide to Speeding Up Figure Prep

Why Figure Preparation Deserves Attorney Attention

Patent figures aren’t just technical—they’re legal. When drawings are slow to create or hard to update, that delay can ripple through intake, drafting, and prosecution. Yet many attorneys remain dependent on tools or teams that slow the process.

There is a better approach: using a simplified drawing workflow in Visio, tailored for patent work.

A Practical Drawing Tool That Fits Legal Practice

Microsoft Visio is rarely considered a legal tool. But when tuned specifically for patent figures, it becomes a practical asset:

• Attorneys can learn it quickly, without prior drawing experience
• It avoids the complexity of CAD while offering full control
• It supports direct figure creation, revision, and annotation
• It integrates cleanly into existing firm workflows

This makes it possible to go from intake discussion to approved sketch to formal figure—without unnecessary steps or delays.

Working With Photos and Screenshots Made Simple

Patent attorneys frequently handle photos, screenshots, and UI mockups. In Visio, these become editable parts of the figure:

• Images can be inserted, scaled, cropped, and visually positioned
• Reference numbers and lead lines can be added over images directly
• Attorneys can make visual points clearer without separate graphics tools

This removes friction from cases involving software, electronics, or physical devices—where visual materials are often part of the record.

Control Over Format and Longevity

A core problem with relying on outsourced drawings is loss of access. Proprietary file formats, lost source files, or unavailable drafters can make even small edits difficult years later.

Using Visio:

• Figures remain in an editable format
• Attorneys and staff can return to the source anytime—even a decade later
• No vendor lock-in means flexibility over time

This long-term accessibility isn’t just a convenience—it’s a safeguard for ongoing prosecution, family filings, or litigation.

Enabling Partial In-House Workflows

Not all figures need to be done entirely in-house—but having drawing capability unlocks new workflow options:

• Add or remove reference numbers without redrawing
• Make adjustments directly before filing
• Handle quick changes post-invention disclosure
• Reduce rounds of communication with drafters

This lowers cost, reduces turnaround time, and gives attorneys more control over accuracy and detail.

Focused Training for Legal Professionals

Generic Visio training is not useful for patent work. Patent Drawing School addresses this by narrowing the scope:

• Only features relevant to patent drawings are taught
• Legal professionals learn how to create, annotate, and edit figures quickly
• Assistants and support staff can be trained with the same focused methods

This means drawing knowledge becomes part of the firm’s skill set, not a bottleneck.

The Bigger Impact: Predictable, Faster Prosecution

When attorneys understand both the drawing tool and the drawing process:

• Sketches become faster to produce and refine
• Filings face fewer objections or delays
• Revisions during prosecution can be made without waiting
• Communication between legal and technical teams improves

The end result is a more predictable, faster, and cost-effective prosecution process.