Attorney Adviser

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office invites qualified attorneys to join the Office of Petitions, contributing to petitions practice and legal decisions under the Director's supervisory authority. This role supports the Patents Business Unit and helps shape patent policy to protect American innovation.

Applicants must meet OPM standards, possess a J.D., and have one year of post‑J.D. professional legal experience.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience and professional law expertise are required.
• Experience must be in or related to federal government work.
• Post‑J.D. professional legal experience required.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing and analyzing legal matters, petitions, or case files to determine application of laws; AND
• Conducting legal research by interpreting statutes, regulations, case law, and other legal authorities to make legal recommendations; AND
• Preparing legal briefs or other written legal documents that support official actions; AND
• Presenting legal analyses and recommendations orally and in writing to attorneys, management, or other stakeholders.

Skills

Legal research

Statutory interpretation

Oral advocacy

Written communication

Policy analysis

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

Imagine your career working alongside leaders in patent policy and examination. The Office of Petitions supports the USPTO's Patents Business Unit by evaluating petitions, addressing matters arising from examiner actions, and preparing decisions involving the Director's statutory and supervisory authority. Join our collaborative and skilled team to help shape petitions practice, promote patent quality, and advance the USPTO's mission to protect and promote American innovation.

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at OPM.GOV.

Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service: For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-11.

Qualified applicants should possess both specialized experience and professional law/legal experience as listed below:

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Reviewing and analyzing legal matters, petitions, or case files to determine application of laws; AND
• Conducting legal research by interpreting statutes, regulations, case law, and other legal authorities to make legal recommendations; AND
• Preparing legal briefs or other written legal documents that support official actions; AND
• Presenting legal analyses and recommendations orally and in writing to attorneys, management, or other stakeholders.

In addition to the specialized experience listed above, you must have: One(1) year post J.D. of the professional legal experience listed below.

Professional Law/legal experience, post J.D. is defined as: Having experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled in the area. This experience is characterized by breadth and depth of experience in rendering professional legal advice and services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of a Federal government agency, private sector, law firm, or other organization; preparing interpretative and administrative orders, rules, or regulations to give effect to the provisions of governing statutes or other requirements of law; drafting, negotiating, or examining contracts or other legal documents; drafting, preparing formal comments, or making substantive recommendations regarding proposed legislation; editing and preparing for publication statutes enacted by Congress and opinions or decisions of a court, commission, or board; drafting and reviewing decisions for consideration and adoption by an organization or official; conducting investigations to obtain facts; determines questions of law; studies, analyzes and evaluates legal precedents, to present findings. Legal work is described as extremely complex and difficult and requires a high order of original and creative legal endeavor in balancing competing interests; and has broad or wide-scope impact on an economy, industry, private or public interests. Work may also involve acting as principal attorney in charge of the preparation and presentation of cases; recommending policies and developing procedures and regulations to implement new or amended legislation; and acting as legal, general or senior counsel to a major firm or organization.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.