Patent Paralegal

Fish & Richardson P.C.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay and bonus potential

Comprehensive medical and dental cover

Generous paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement and profit sharing plans

Family-friendly atmosphere with back‑u

Health and wellness initiatives

Job summary

Fish & Richardson P.C. seeks a Patent Paralegal to support all phases of patent prosecution, manage a docket, and ensure deadlines are met. The role emphasizes accurate document preparation, client instruction handling, and timekeeping to meet a 1300-hour annual target.

The ideal candidate holds a BA/ABA-paralegal certificate with 5+ years of U.S. patent prosecution experience and is willing to work on-site for training and collaboration at least 3 days a month.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or ABA-paralegal certificate or equivalent legal-support experience.
• 5+ years as a Patent Paralegal with U.S. prosecution knowledge.
• U.S. prosecution experience required; foreign experience a plus.
• Ability to meet the firm’s 1300 hours per year billing requirement.
• Willingness to assist teammates and work in a team environment.
• Experience preparing and filing information disclosure statements and related documents.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to work in the office for training and collaboration at least 3 days per month.

Responsibilities

• Accurately prepare, obtain, and file patent-related documents across prosecution.
• Maintain and manage a prosecution docket and deadlines.
• Enter time in the timekeeping system to meet billable goals.

Skills

US prosecution knowledge

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Team-oriented

Billing discipline

Education

BA/BS or ABA-paralegal certificate

5+ years patent paralegal experience

Job description

Fish & Richardson, the premier global intellectual property law firm, is trusted by the world’s most innovative and influential companies. Fish was established in 1878, and now has more than 400 attorneys and technology specialists in the U.S., Europe, and China. Our success is rooted in our creative and inclusive culture, which values the diversity of people, experiences, and perspectives. Join Fish’s team in our fast-paced Practice Systems Department as a Patent Paralegal.

How Will You Make A Difference?

• Accurately prepare, obtain, and file documents related to all phases of patent prosecution, including, but not limited to, requests for client instructions; assignments; information disclosure statements; and responses to office actions.
• Maintain and manage a prosecution docket and follow up on items to ensure due dates and deadlines are met.
• Account for all hours worked on a daily basis by entering time into the firm’s timekeeping system to achieve the billable goal as established by practice management.

What Will You Bring to the Table?

• Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal Certificate from an ABA (American Bar Association) recognized program or equivalent experience in legal support.
• 5+ years experience as a Patent Paralegal with U.S. prosecution knowledge.
• U.S. prosecution experience is required; Foreign experience is a plus but not required.
• Ability to meet the firm’s billing requirement of 1300 hours per year.
• Willingness to assist other team members when needed and ability to work well within a team-oriented environment.
• Preparation and filing of information disclosure statements and formal documents experience (i.e., assignments, declarations, office action shells, etc.) is preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in the office as needed for training and collaboration, for a minimum of 3 days per month.

Why Fish?

When You Join Our Team, We Offer

• Competitive pay and discretionary bonus opportunities along with a rich benefits package, including comprehensive medical and dental coverage, generous paid time off, and tuition reimbursement
• Award-winning retirement and profit sharing plans with employer contribution
• A family-friendly atmosphere with back-up child care, as well as health and wellness initiatives
• A positive culture ranked as one of the best in the country in Vault’s 2026 law firm survey
• The pay range for this position varies by geographic market. Final compensation will be based on a variety of factors including education, experience, skills, professional background, overall qualifications, and location
• In Chicago and Minneapolis, the estimated starting pay range is $34.87 - $52.30 per hour (based a 37.5-hour workweek), which is equivalent to $68,000- $102,000 annually.
• In Boston and San Diego, the estimated starting pay range is $40.11 - $59.89 per hour (based a 35-hour workweek), which is equivalent to $73,000 - $109,000 annually.
• In New York and Silicon Valley, the estimated starting pay range is $42.86 - $64.28 per hour (based a 35-hour workweek), which is equivalent to $78,000 - $117,000 annually.
• In Washington DC, the estimated starting pay range is $40.00 - $60.00 per hour (based a 37.5-hour workweek), which is equivalent to $78,000 - $117,000 annually.

As a firm that serves the world’s greatest visionaries, we know that creativity and innovation are the result of seeing the world from multiple different perspectives. Having a diverse team enhances the quality of legal services we provide to our clients, sustains our standing as a premier IP law firm, and strengthens the fabric of our firm.