Patent Attorney

USPTO; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 181,443 - 195,200; Full time

Job summary

A federal agency is seeking an experienced Patent Attorney to provide legal support in patent litigation and contribute to the work of the Office of the Solicitor. Candidates must have a Juris Doctor degree and four years of post-J.D. experience in patent law, including drafting briefs and conducting legal research. This role involves advising on intellectual property matters and representing the agency in court. Competitive salary and benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Four years of post-J.D. experience.
• Independently conducting legal research and analysis in patent law.

Responsibilities

• Providing legal counsel to the USPTO Director.
• Defending decisions in federal courts.
• Preparing amicus briefs for patent law development.
• Coordinating with DOC and DOJ for cases.
• Managing all aspects of cases in court.

Skills

Patent law expertise

Legal research

Drafting briefs and memos

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree

Degree in a scientific/engineering discipline

Job description

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This range is provided by USPTO. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$181,443.00/yr - $195,200.00/yr

Are you an experienced patent litigator looking to start the next chapter of your career while engaging in public service? Come join our team at the United States Patent and Trademark Office at the forefront of American innovation!

We're seeking patent attorneys in the Office of the Solicitor who will provide support for patent and trademark litigation related to patent operations. The Office of the Solicitor acts as legal counsel to the USPTO on intellectual property law matters and also works in collaboration with the Department of Commerce on interagency intellectual property law matters.

Duties

This role is the ideal next career step for you if you look forward to:

• Providing legal counsel to the USPTO Director on intellectual property matters.
• Defending decisions of the Director, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in federal district courts and appellate courts.
• Preparing and filing amicus briefs on behalf of the Director on issues of importance to the development of patent or trademark law.
• Coordinating with the Department of Commerce (DOC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist the Solicitor General in intellectual property cases before the United States Supreme Court.
• Managing all aspects of cases, including case strategy, motions practice, oral arguments, written discovery, depositions, and trial if necessary.
• Assisting the Deputy General Counsel and Director of the Office of Enrollment and Discipline, and prosecuting practitioners charged with misconduct before an Administrative Judge (and if necessary, defending those decisions in district court and before the Federal Circuit).

>> APPLY on USAJOBS by 12/18/2025

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Qualifications

Four (4) years of post‑J.D. experience AND

Experience in (i) primary drafting responsibility for briefs, memos, and legal opinions in the area of patent law; and (ii) independently conducting legal research and preparing written analyses of complex and difficult legal, factual, or policy issues in the area of patent law.

Education

Applicants must possess a degree in one of the scientific/engineering disciplines.

AND

You must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or Master of Laws (L.L.M.) degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school and an active bar membership of any State, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or any Territorial Court under the U.S. Constitution.

The full list of qualifications, education requirements, and definition of post‑J.D. experience can be found on the USAJOBS posting.

Conditions of employment

Applications will only be accepted from United States citizens and nationals and your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job‑related competencies. If selected, you will be required to pass a background investigation.

The full list of conditions and qualifications can be found on the USAJOBS posting.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, retaliation for engaging in protected activity, parental status, military service or other non‑merit factors.