Legal Instruments Examiner

U.S. Department of Commerce; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Commerce's USPTO is seeking a Legal Instrument Examiner to support examination of patent applications.

The position requires meeting the Office of Personnel Management qualification standards for clerical and administrative positions and specialized experience equivalent to GS-07. Responsibilities include communicating information about rules and policies, analyzing legal documents for completeness and regulatory compliance, and guiding applicants, attorneys, patent examiners,

Qualifications

• Must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07.
• Experience in preparing notices and correspondence on rules, legal requirements, and policies.
• Experience analyzing legal documents for completeness and regulatory compliance.
• Experience providing guidance to applicants, attorneys, patent examiners, and the public.

Responsibilities

• Communicate information orally and in writing regarding rules and policies.
• Analyze legal documents for completeness and regulatory compliance.
• Provide guidance to applicants, attorneys, patent examiners, and the public.

Skills

Oral & written communication

Regulatory analysis

Guidance to applicants/public

Job description

Imagine starting your career as a Legal Instrument Examiner working in an office that is on the cutting edge of planning, developing, implementing and evaluating all initiatives needed to support the examination of patent applications throughout the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This position is waiting for you to bring your technical expertise to our agency. 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 Clerical and Administrative Positions.

Specialized Experienceis 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 GS-07 in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Communicating information both orally and in writing while preparing notices and correspondence on applicable rules, legal requirements, and policies.
• Analyzing legal documents for completeness of information and compliance with regulations and procedures.
• Providing guidance to applicants, attorneys, patent examiners, and the public regarding applicable rules, legal requirements, policies, and procedures.

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.