Lateral Patent Associate, Mechanical & Design (1–3 yrs)

Lawyers, Agents & Scientists; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Wellness Center on-site

401(k) plan

Job summary

Sterne Kessler is seeking a Lateral Associate to join our Mechanical & Design Group. We value attorneys with strong technical backgrounds and experience or interest in design and utility patent prosecution.

You will contribute to creating, protecting, monetizing, and enforcing clients’ IP rights while working in a collaborative, mentoring-focused environment in the Washington, DC area.

Qualifications

• J.D. and active license to practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction.
• Eligibility to waive into the District of Columbia Bar or sit for the D.C. Bar exam.
• USPTO registration number or ability to sit for the exam.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering or related field (e.g., Mechanical, Biomedical, Civil, Physics).
• 1–3 years of experience in utility patent prosecution.
• Strong academic credentials.
• Excellent analytical, writing, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to engage in mentoring and training.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive prior art searches for design and utility patent claims.
• Assist clients in developing and managing design and utility patent portfolios.
• Draft design patent applications focusing on aesthetic/ornamental aspects.
• Draft utility patent applications addressing functional aspects of mechanical tech.
• Prepare detailed patent specifications with drawings and claims.
• Respond to Patent Office actions and participate in patent prosecution.
• Stay current on design and utility patent law and best practices.

Skills

Analytical

Written communication

Communication

Problem solving

Entrepreneurial mindset

Education

J.D.

Biomedical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Physics

Job description

Sterne Kessler is seeking a Lateral Associate to join our Mechanical & Design Group. We value attorneys with strong technical backgrounds and experience or interest in design and utility patent prosecution.

You will contribute to creating, protecting, monetizing, and enforcing clients’ IP rights while working in a collaborative, mentoring-focused environment in the Washington, DC area.