Job Title: Patent Specialist
Job Responsibilities:
- Provide support on US patent prosecution and patent matters with a focus on US and PCT filings, deadline management, and special projects.
- Collaborate closely with attorneys, patent specialists, paralegals, and clients in all phases of patent prosecution.
- Prepare, coordinate review, and file US and PCT patent applications, responses, and issue fees, both electronically and on paper as necessary.
- Prepare supporting documents such as . formal documents, declarations, assignments, and powers of attorney.
- Draft correspondence to clients regarding the status of patent applications and patent matters.
- Report USPTO and PCT correspondence and notifications, including publications, recordation of assignments, office actions, IDS, Missing Parts, Petitions, Notice of Allowances, and more.
- Manage client portfolios, including preparing and maintaining client status reports, charts, and various client projects and tasks.
- Act as a single point of contact for the client and provide assistance.
- Draft, file, and report IDS to clients and manage IDS references; utilize contracted resources as appropriate.
- Manage dockets, monitor deadlines, and communicate and follow-up with appropriate parties to ensure deadlines and related activities are timely met.
- Review, organize, and timely file documents and emails in the firm's document management system according to firm protocols.
- Complete special projects as assigned.
- Perform a variety of patent-related administrative support.
- Support client services by preparing and processing client reports, coordinating client meetings, or meeting with client patent paralegals.
- Report filings and notifications to clients through the client portal.
- Review client proformas, make edits, and finalize for attorney.
- Handle patent prosecution administrative tasks and/or route to others as appropriate.
- Maintain accurate daily time records for client billing and statistical purposes.
Education and Experience Information:
- Minimum of two years’ experience as a patent prosecution paralegal, legal secretary, or in a comparable position.
- Experience working in a law firm or in-house legal environment.
- Experience with Electronic Filing USPTO procedures.
- Excellent knowledge of USPTO and PCT rules and procedures.
- Foreign filing experience preferred.
- High proficiency with technology including Microsoft Office Suite applications, Adobe Acrobat, . Patent Office Electronic Filing System, Dialog, and other internet research tools.
- Good working knowledge of timekeeping software, iManage, FoundationIP, and Claim Master.
Skills Required:
- Excellent client service skills.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to work independently, prioritize assignments, and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
- Maintain confidentiality of client information.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and perform well under pressure.
- Respectful to other individuals working directly or indirectly with them.
- Reliable and dependable team player.
- Detail-oriented with the ability to organize and prioritize.
- Action and results-oriented.
- Effective written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and take initiative to move projects to conclusion.
- Sense of urgency relating to client requests and ability to meet deadlines.
- Strong work ethic, flexible, dependable, and positive can-do attitude.
- Willingness to adapt to change.
Salary Information:
- The pay range for this position in Seattle and California is to per hour.
Additional Information:
- This is a full-time, regular position with a multi-faceted health benefit package including medical, dental, and vision.
- The firm also offers life insurance, short-term disability plans, and retirement plans in addition to holidays and paid time off.
- The firm offers hybrid work schedules combining in-office workdays as well as remote workdays.
- Selected applicants will be contacted.
- The law firm is committed to equal employment opportunity for all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex or gender, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
- Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.
- The contractor will not discriminate against employees or applicants who have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay, or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees with access to the compensation information of others as part of their job functions cannot disclose this information unless it is in response to a formal complaint or charge, in furtherance of an investigation, or consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.
