Patent Prosecution Legal Assistant (hybrid)

Merchant & Gould P.C.; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in intellectual property law is seeking a detail-oriented Patent Prosecution Legal Assistant. This hybrid role involves managing patent files, assisting attorneys with prosecution tasks, and maintaining effective communication with clients. The ideal candidate will have over five years of experience in U.S. patent prosecution, strong organizational skills, and proficiency in electronic filing and case management systems. Join a team that values accuracy and dedication while enjoying a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. If you are ready to contribute to a leading firm and thrive in a dynamic environment, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits

medical insurance

dental insurance

vision insurance

life insurance

401(k) match

short-term disability

long-term disability

ten firm holidays

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in U.S. patent prosecution required.
• Strong organizational and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage patent files and prepare documents for filing.
• Communicate with clients and maintain docketing logs.

Skills

U.S. patent prosecution

verbal communication

written communication

organizational skills

attention to detail

computer skills

time management

Education

BA degree

paralegal certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

electronic case management systems

IPFolio

Memotech

Job description

Patent Prosecution Legal Assistant (hybrid)

Merchant & Gould has been a leader in intellectual property law for more than 100 years. We are recognized as one of the most active filers of patents in the country, and are consistently rated among the top patent, copyright and trademark firms. We currently have an opportunity for a patent prosecution legal assistant. This position may be filled in any of our geographical locations (Minneapolis, Denver, Atlanta, New York, Knoxville, Alexandria, VA). The salary range for the position is $60,000-$80,000, based on location and years of experience.

We are looking for a highly skilled patent prosecution legal assistant with five+ years of experience in U.S. patent prosecution. Knowledge and experience with policies and procedures pertaining to the PTO and electronic filing required. The professional we seek must be a positive self-starter, extremely organized, detail-oriented and highly accurate, deadline-driven, have strong computer skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Summary of Position (hybrid):

Provides client management support for attorney, not limited to written and verbal communications with clients along with maintaining docket and client specific procedures. Assists attorney in prosecuting patent applications in the United States and various foreign countries.

In order to perform one (1) or more essential functions of this role, a minimum of three (3) days in the office is required.

Responsibilities:

1. Establishes and maintains patent files: opens files, prepares documents for filing including patent applications, Preliminary Amendments, Information Disclosure Statements, Responses to Missing Parts, Assignments, Amendments, payments of Issue Fees, etc.
2. Reviews all incoming correspondence from U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and foreign associates for essential docketing.
3. Maintain clients’ portfolios by being proactive in facilitating communication between attorney and client.
4. Maintains and updates docketing log spreadsheet.
5. On-going verbal and written communication with attorneys, clients and foreign associates.
6. Other administrative tasks and projects as may be assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

1. BA degree and/or paralegal certificate or minimum of 5 years experience in U.S. patent prosecution.
2. Familiarity with electronic case management systems and USPTO rules and requirements. IPFolio, Memotech, etc. is a plus.
3. Familiarity with the prosecution of U.S. Trademark applications a plus.
4. Ability to work comfortably with advanced computer software (after training) and effectively use and maintain a computer database. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) required. Possible use of speech-to-text transcription software.
5. Ability to work independently and meet critical deadlines under supervision of attorney.
6. Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints.
7. Ability to concentrate on detailed work for up to 80% of work day.
8. Interpersonal skills necessary in order to communicate and follow instructions from a diverse group, including clients, attorneys and others, and to provide information with ordinary courtesy and tact.
9. High level of responsibility, dedication and accuracy required.
10. Work on rare occasions requires more than 37.5 hours per week to perform essential duties of the job; may occasionally require irregular hours.
11. Regular attendance at work.

We are equally committed to providing competitive, affordable health and wellness benefits to help take care of yourself and your family, including: a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package that includes employee medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, 401(k) match, and ten firm holidays.

To be considered, please apply online at Career Opportunities (merchantgould.com). You will need to provide a resume and professional references.

Merchant & Gould provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. We welcome candidates with disabilities. If you need any accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our Human Resources Department at 1-612-332-5300.