Legal Support Analyst

Fenwick & West; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Wellbeing program

Job summary

Fenwick & West is seeking a Legal Support Analyst to assist attorneys with patent-related tasks, document preparation and filing with the USPTO. The role supports multiple databases and requires coordination with paralegals and agents in a hybrid work environment.

The ideal candidate has 2–3 years of patent prosecution experience in a law firm, a preferred bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, and strong organizational and communication skills to manage deadlines and complex documents.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• 2–3 years of patent prosecution experience in a law firm.
• Non-exempt position; hybrid work arrangement.

Responsibilities

• Generate reports from firm databases and patent databases for clients and attorneys.
• Prepare and organize materials for Information Disclosure Statements with the USPTO.
• Prepare and file US National Stage (371) applications with the USPTO.
• Monitor upcoming patent deadlines and draft related reports/materials.
• Draft, revise and finalize patent documents, filings, amendments, and related correspondences.
• Coordinate file histories and documents from USPTO and other sources; liaise with attorneys and paralegals.

Skills

Written communication

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Attention to deadlines

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Equivalent experience

Tools

PatSnap

Thompson IP

Orbit

USPTO Patent Center

iManage

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description Summary

Fenwick is seeking a Legal Support Analyst who will provide support to the Firm’s attorneys and their clients and ensure compliance with the Firm’s established policies and guidelines. This position can be based in any of our U.S. offices. The work schedule for this position (non-exempt) will be 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, from 8 am - 5 pm or 9 am - 6 pm. This role offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing you to work both from home and at your designated Fenwick office. The frequency of in-office work will be determined by business needs and guided by your department's directives.

Job Description

• Generate reports from firm databases and outside databases of client patent applications and patent portfolios as requested by firm clients and attorneys.
• Prepare and organize materials for Information Disclosure Statements for filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• Prepare and send formal documents including assignments and declarations to inventors for execution. Record and file documents with the USPTO.
• Prepare and file US National Stage (371) applications with the USPTO.
• Monitor certain upcoming patent-related deadlines and generate reports/materials relating to same.
• Prepare documents for filing by the firm’s attorneys, patent agents and paralegals.
• Order, organize and prepare file histories and other related documents from USPTO, co-counsel in other jurisdictions and other sources.
• Utilize firm databases (e.g., Patricia, Elite, ShareRooms and document management systems (e.g., iManage)), third-party tools and databases (e.g., PatSnap, Thompson IP, Orbit, USPTO Patent Center), Intranet IP related websites, tools and databases (e.g., the USPTO website) and Microsoft Office and related desktop tools and applications (e.g., Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word, Outlook, Visio, PowerPoint and Excel).
• Pay attention to upcoming due dates/deadlines by reviewing docket daily, bringing urgent deadlines to attention of attorney/agent/paralegal.
• Draft, revise and finalize various patent documents, including, but not limited to, correspondence, memoranda, patent forms, filings, electronic filings, applications, amendments, assignment recordations, agreements, etc.
• Proofread and suggest edits on patent and related documents.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Desired Skills And Qualifications

• Ability to read and write to perform routine office correspondence and forms. Ability to perform basic arithmetic calculations (at a level normally acquired through high school or the equivalent) when verifying calculations on forms and documents and when maintaining records and files.
• Solid understanding of legal transactions, procedures and calendaring requirements and the ability to perform clerical, organizational and administrative duties in a professional services environment.
• Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under pressure and time constraints.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate and follow instructions effectively from a diverse group of clients, attorneys, staff and vendors; ability and desire to provide information with courtesy and tact.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate effectively by phone and provide information with courtesy and tact.
• Work occasionally requires high concentration when performing a high volume of administrative and clerical tasks and other essential duties.
• If necessary, willingness and capacity to travel to other off-site locations.
• The position is non-exempt.
• The Support Analyst reports directly to the Legal Support Analyst Supervisor.
• Ability to access, input and retrieve information from a PC to produce error-free typed copy.
• Ability to work well with other staff members and attorneys in a demanding environment.

Reporting to the Associate Director, Patent Operations, the ideal candidate will have 2-3 years of patent prosecution experience in a law firm environment. A bachelor’s degree is preferred, or equivalent experience or relevant certifications.

Benefits And Compensation Details

At Fenwick, we believe that our partners and employees are our most important asset. Helping you and your families achieve and maintain good health - physical, emotional, and financial - is the reason we offer a comprehensive benefit program. We provide benefits to eligible employees under plans such as Healthcare, Life Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Wellbeing. Except as otherwise required by law, temporary employees are generally not entitled to these benefits.

The Anticipated Range For This Position Is

$68,000 - $95,750

Depending on the role, the actual base salary offered may depend upon a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.

A discretionary bonus for eligible employees may also be available based on performance. Additional information about employee eligibility for benefits and discretionary bonus will be made available upon request.