Patent Agent - Life Sciences

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 109,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a skilled Patent Agent to join their renowned Intellectual Property Practice Group. This role involves preparing and prosecuting patent applications, conducting prior art searches, and engaging in client relationship management. The firm offers a hybrid work schedule, allowing flexibility while ensuring collaboration with experienced partners. Ideal candidates will possess a strong background in biological sciences and have a passion for protecting innovations. Join a team dedicated to providing high-quality legal services to clients worldwide and take your career to new heights in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Law school tuition reimbursement

Flexible working schedule

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in biological field required.
• Minimum one year as a practicing patent agent.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications.
• Conduct prior art searches and patentability analysis.
• Engage in practice development activities.

Skills

Patent preparation and prosecution

Prior art searches

Patentability analysis

IP due diligence

Client relationship management

Technical document analysis

Biological sciences knowledge

Education

Master's or PhD in Biological Sciences

Registered to practice before the USPTO

Job description

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, one of the world's leading global law firms with offices in strategic hubs of commerce, law, and government across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, is seeking to hire a Patent Agent to join their award-winning Intellectual Property Practice Group and be responsible for preparing, filing, and prosecuting patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO").

This position can reside in a variety of office locations (Boston, Chicago, Houston, Orange County, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C) and offers a hybrid in-office/remote working schedule. This position will be supervised by an intellectual property partner, but will have daily contact with, and will receive guidance from, all the partners in the practice group for whom this individual provides support. The Patent Agent will work to protect inventions in a manner that is consistent with his/her technical merit, while assuming significant client responsibilities and providing high quality legal services to domestic and foreign clients.

Responsibilities:

• Preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications before the US Patent and Trademark Office
• Performing prior art searches and analysis
• Patentability analysis
• IP due diligence
• Engage in practice development activities to build and maintain client relationships
• Prepare substantive client correspondence
• Instruct local counsel for foreign filings and Office Actions
• Assist in patent clearance studies and other patent-related opinion projects
• Ability to apply advanced concepts in any life sciences field, with particular emphasis and/or expertise in molecular biology, cell biology, and/or biochemistry
• Study and analyze scientific or technical documents, including previously published patent documents, to assess patentability, novelty and inventiveness
• Convert prior provisional applications into utility applications
• Convert foreign filed applications into U.S. applications
• Convert U.S. applications into foreign applications

Education and experience:

• An advanced degree (master's or PhD) in a biological field, including for example Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, or Biomedical Engineering with excellent academic credentials
• At least one year of experience as a practicing patent agent in the field of life sciences or two years professional experience in life sciences
• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• Excellent writing and research abilities are a must, as well as proficiency in written and verbal communication, and strong organizational skills

The Intellectual Property Practice Group has a law school tuition reimbursement program to provide financial assistance to eligible employees who apply for and are accepted into the Law School Tuition Reimbursement Program. In order to be eligible for the financial benefits, enrollees must meet all requirements of the program, including, e.g., enrollment and satisfactory completion of courses towards a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.

Qualified candidates must apply online by visiting our website at www.morganlewis.com and selecting "Careers."

#LI-Hybrid

For positions in Chicago, Illinois, the salary range for this position is: $109,300.00 - $174,775.00.

For positions in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, California, the salary range for this position is: $124,200.00 - $198,600.00.

For positions in Washington, D.C., the salary range for this posting is: $114,200.00 - $182,750.00.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

California Applicants: Pursuant to the California Consumer Privacy Act, the following link contains the Firm's California Consumer Privacy Act Privacy Notice for Candidates which explains the categories of personal information that we collect and the purposes for which we use such personal information. CCPA Privacy Notice for Candidates

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP reasonably accommodates applicants and employees who need them to perform the essential functions of the job because of disability, religious belief, or other reason protected by applicable law. If you believe you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact Talent Acquisition at 888.534.5003 or [e-mail]

If hired, your employment relationship with the firm will be on an "at-will" basis, meaning that the firm may modify the terms and conditions of your employment at any time, and that either you or the firm will be free to end the relationship at any time with or without cause and with or without advance notice, although reasonable notice would be expected.