Hopefully Phil, another patent attorney or someone experienced in getting patents done can read this.
It's fun ragging on bad clients and people trying to get patents who have no idea what's going on but I'd like to know what an "ideal" client would be like. I'm in the process of filing for my first patent and I want to know what it means to make the process go as smoothly (and cheaply) as possible. I'd like, if possible, an answer more detailed and expansive than "talk to your attorney and do as they ask". How do I have my shit together? What questions should I be asking? (What questions should they be asking??) At what point to I became an over eager annoyance? Edit: Also at what point am I doing the attorney's job for them?
As somebody who does patents for a living, and at one point wrote and prosecuted them. I'll give you the simplest answer that will ring true to any patent practitioner. What makes a good client? Simple. One that responds to your emails in a timely manner. If you are sent a draft to review, review it in a timely manner. That's it!