Patent Prosecution Associate – Life Sciences / Biotechnology – Seattle

plug-legal; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 310,000 - 390,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan eligibility

20 days vacation and additional paid leave policies

Job summary

Plug-legal is seeking a mid-level Patent Prosecution Associate in Seattle with 1-5 years of patent prosecution experience in the life sciences sector. Candidates should hold an advanced degree (preferably Ph.D.) and be either registered with the USPTO or prepared to sit for the patent bar exam within 12 months.

This role involves managing patent portfolios for clients ranging from local startups to global pharmaceutical companies, ensuring broad exposure to strategic IP work. The compensation includes a salary of $310,000 to $390,000 along with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 1–5 years of experience in patent prosecution, particularly in life sciences.
• Ability to handle complex legal tasks and communicate effectively.
• Registration with USPTO or eligibility to register within 12 months.

Responsibilities

• Guide biotechnology innovators through the lifecycle of IP protection.
• Build and manage high-value patent portfolios.
• Conduct freedom-to-operate and patentability analyses.

Skills

Patent prosecution experience

Translating complex science into legal strategy

Understanding of life sciences

Education

Advanced degree in life sciences (Ph.D. preferred)

Job description

Patent Prosecution Associate – Life Sciences / Biotechnology – Seattle

Practice Area

Intellectual Property / Patent Prosecution

Experience

1–5 years (Mid-Level)

Requirements

Advanced degree in life sciences (Ph.D. preferred); USPTO registration or eligibility to sit for the patent bar within 12 months.

The Work

You will guide biotechnology innovators through the entire lifecycle of intellectual property protection. This is a highly strategic role where you will be directly involved in building and managing high‑value patent portfolios, drafting complex applications for breakthrough therapeutics, and conducting critical freedom‑to‑operate (FTO) and patentability analyses. Your clients will range from venture‑backed Pacific Northwest startups to multinational pharmaceutical giants, ensuring your portfolio exposure remains broad, sophisticated, and commercially significant.

Who This Is For

You are an intelligent, scientifically driven attorney with one to five years of patent prosecution experience within a dedicated biotechnology practice. You possess a deep technical foundation—ideally a Ph.D. in a life sciences discipline (such as molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, or immunology)—and can translate complex science into bulletproof legal strategy. You either hold a USPTO registration number or have the foundational credentials to sit for and pass the patent bar exam within your first 12 months in the role.

The Platform

The firm offers the rare combination of an elite, global footprint with a deeply collaborative, partner‑led mentorship structure in Seattle. You will work alongside recognized leaders in the life sciences space who invest in your development, ensuring you gain the strategic advisory skills necessary to transition from an associate who executes work to a trusted advisor who commands a room. The firm is highly meritocratic, offering a clear, predictable trajectory and market‑leading infrastructure for associates looking to build a long‑term career.

Why Seattle

Seattle has firmly established itself as one of the premier biotechnology and global health hubs in the world. Backed by world‑class research institutions and a massive influx of venture capital, the city offers an unparalleled environment for life sciences innovation. Working from this office positions you at the absolute epicenter of the Pacific Northwest's tech and biotech boom, providing a steady stream of high‑stakes IP work without the need to relocate to California or the East Coast.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base Salary: $310,000 to $390,000 (Mid‑Level band), determined by class year, technical expertise, and depth of experience.
• Bonuses: Eligibility for an annual discretionary merit bonus, as well as a judicial clerkship bonus if joining directly from a clerkship.
• Benefits Package: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance; HSA and FSA options; 401(k) plan eligibility; life, disability, and business travel accident insurance.
• Work‑Life Support: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Work/Life Services, HealthAdvocate, Bright Horizons back‑up childcare, and commuter benefits.
• Paid Time Off: 20 days of vacation, 10 days of sick leave, 9 paid holidays, and 2 personal days. Robust family leave policies including up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave and up to 10 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave.