---
kind: "section"
citation: "37 C.F.R. § 11.704"
title: "37"
number: "11.704"
heading: "Communication of fields of practice and specialization."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/37/11.704"
---

# §11.704. Communication of fields of practice and specialization.

- (a) A practitioner may communicate the fact that the practitioner does or does not practice in particular fields of law.
- (b) A registered practitioner under [§ 11.6(a)](/cfr/37/11.6.md?p=a) who is an attorney may use the designation “Patents,” “Patent Attorney,” “Patent Lawyer,” “Registered Patent Attorney,” or a substantially similar designation. A registered practitioner under [§ 11.6(b)](/cfr/37/11.6.md?p=b) who is not an attorney may use the designation “Patents,” “Patent Agent,” “Registered Patent Agent,” or a substantially similar designation. A registered practitioner under [§ 11.6(d)](/cfr/37/11.6.md?p=d) who is an attorney may use the designation “Design Patent Attorney.” A registered practitioner under [§ 11.6(d)](/cfr/37/11.6.md?p=d) who is not an attorney may use the designation “Design Patent Agent.” Unless authorized by [§ 11.14(b)](/cfr/37/11.14.md?p=b), a registered patent agent or design patent agent shall not hold themself out as being qualified or authorized to practice before the Office in trademark matters or before a court.
- (c) [Reserved]
- (d) A practitioner shall not state or imply that a practitioner is certified as a specialist in a particular field of law, unless:
  - (1) The practitioner has been certified as a specialist by an organization that has been approved by an appropriate state authority or that has been accredited by the American Bar Association; and
  - (2) **The name of the certifying organization is clearly identified in the communication.**
- (e) Individuals granted limited recognition may use the designation “Limited Recognition” but may not hold themselves out as being registered.

## Notes

### Amendments

[78 FR 20201, Apr. 3, 2013, as amended at 86 FR 28467, May 26, 2021; 88 FR 78650, Nov. 16, 2023]

### Source

Source: 78 FR 20201, Apr. 3, 2013, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 500; 15 U.S.C. 1123; 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), 32, 41; Sec. 1, Pub. L. 113-227, 128 Stat. 2114.

### Source

Source: 69 FR 35452, June 24, 2004, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[78 FR 20201, Apr. 3, 2013, as amended at 86 FR 28467, May 26, 2021; 88 FR 78650, Nov. 16, 2023]