Legal Staff Paralegal in Washington, DC

Law Firm

Washington, DC

Legal Staff Paralegal in Washington, DC

Legal Staff

1-2 yrs required

No

Job Title: IDS Patent Paralegal Level I

Job Responsibilities:
The IDS Patent Paralegal Level I is responsible for assisting attorneys in various practice groups to meet the duty of disclosure for patent portfolios in the . and foreign jurisdictions. Key responsibilities include:
- Preparing and filing Information Disclosure Statements with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
- Preparing disclosures of information for foreign patent offices and coordinating with foreign associates.
- Reviewing Office Actions from . and foreign patent offices to identify cited references.
- Reviewing patent files for prior art before the payment of the issue fee and upon intake into the law firm.
- Organizing references in connection with patent portfolios into prior art databases and maintaining these databases.
- Compiling, populating, and maintaining an electronic archive of prior art.
- Corresponding with clients and working with the law firm's library department to collect materials necessary for the duty of disclosure.
- Managing attorney and client dockets related to the duty of disclosure in . and foreign jurisdictions, and meeting regularly with attorneys to discuss these matters.
- Developing and maintaining knowledge of patent office rules and procedures related to the duty of disclosure and other areas of patent prosecution.
- Assisting with additional patent prosecution-related projects as needed.
- Meeting the department’s expectation of 1200 billable hours and adhering to best practices for daily time entry.
- Collaborating with the team on large projects and promoting a positive work environment.

Education and Experience:
- A Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
- A minimum of one to two (1-2) years of patent prosecution experience in a law firm or professional setting is required.
- Proficiency in MS Outlook, Word, and Excel, along with basic computer and database management skills.
- Strong oral and written communication skills to effectively communicate workflow and project updates.
- Excellent time management, prioritization, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a high-pressure environment and maintain meticulous attention to accuracy and detail.
- Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with different levels of constituencies.
- Flexibility to respond calmly, efficiently, and effectively in stressful situations.
- Capability to adhere to established work schedules with flexibility for workload demands, including overtime requests.
- Punctuality, reliability, and the ability to meet deadlines and work effectively under pressure.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of matters and other business information.

Salary Information:
The expected salary range for this position is $68,100-$90,000 annually. Actual pay will be determined based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. Employment offers are subject to successful completion of a background check and reference check. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. Employers violating this law are subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Additional Information:
The law firm offers a comprehensive benefits package focused on the overall well-being of employees, including multiple healthcare plan options, vision and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts/health saving accounts, and life insurance. Eligibility for the employer-sponsored 401(k) plan includes an employer match and discretionary profit sharing. The firm is committed to employee development through tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities. Additional benefits and perks include generous paid time off, parental leave, commuter benefits, a charitable matching gift program, well-being support, and more.

Physical Demands:
The law firm will provide reasonable accommodations to enable employees with disabilities to perform the position's essential functions. This position requires frequent communication and the ability to exchange timely and accurate information. It may also require maintaining a stationary position for long periods (up to 50% of the workday) with occasional movement and lifting or moving objects up to 25 pounds. Remote employees have similar requirements.

Work Environment:
The law firm's office environment is characterized by standard office equipment and a noise level that is usually quiet to moderate. Employees must manage multiple work priorities and frequent interruptions.