Patent Paralegal

Fish & Richardson P.C.; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 109,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunities

Medical and dental coverage

Generous paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement and profit sharing plans

Back-up child care

Job summary

Fish & Richardson P.C. is seeking an experienced Patent Paralegal to support patent prosecution activities and manage prosecution dockets. The role requires at least 5 years in a patent paralegal position with U.S. prosecution knowledge and the ability to meet a 1300-hour annual billing target.

The candidate should have a paralegal certificate or an ABA-recognized degree, strong organizational skills, and be able to work in the office at least three days per month.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal Certificate from an ABA 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 and work well in a team environment.
• Preparation and filing of information disclosure statements and related documents 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.

Responsibilities

• Accurately prepare, obtain, and file documents related to all phases of patent prosecution, including 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 set by practice management.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal Certificate (ABA recognized)

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 on a 37.5-hour workweek), which is equivalent to $68,000- $102,000 annually.
• In San Diego, the estimated starting pay range is $40.11 - $59.89 per hour (based on a 35-hour workweek), which is equivalent to $73,000 - $109,000 annually.
• In Silicon Valley, the estimated starting pay range is $42.86 - $64.28 per hour (based on a 35-hour workweek), which is equivalent to $78,000 - $117,000 annually.

Our Commitment to Diversity

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.