Patent Prosecution Paralegal

Ashurst Perkins Coie; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 67,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonus

401(k) plan

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Accrued paid time off starting at 20‑d

Parental leave

Job summary

Ashurst Perkins Coie US LLP is seeking a Patent Prosecution Paralegal to support the firm's patent operations. The role focuses on filing U.S.

and international patent documents, maintaining dockets, communicating with clients and foreign counsel, and ensuring deadlines are met in a fast-paced environment. Ideal candidates hold a bachelor’s degree with five+ years of patent prosecution experience, strong organizational skills, and proficiency with USPTO Patent Center, ePCT, and document

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required and five+ years of patent prosecution experience.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Experience with USPTO Patent Center and ePCT; ability to coordinate with foreign associates.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and document management systems.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, and file U.S. patent applications and international filings.
• Coordinate domestic and foreign patent prosecution activities and monitor deadlines.
• Maintain patent dockets and communicate with attorneys, clients, foreign counsel, and internal teams.
• Review and report patent office correspondence.
• Communicate with clients regarding filings, deadlines, and maintenance matters.
• Support attorney departures with transition documentation and coordination.
• Maintain legal databases such as iManage and FIP.
• Participate in legal technology projects and process improvements.

Skills

Patent prosecution

Documentation management

Communication

Time management

Docketing

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

USPTO Patent Center

ePCT

iManage

FIP

MS Office (Word, Excel)

Job description

Drive Legal Operations Excellence.

Job Description

Patent Prosecution Paralegal

At Ashurst Perkins Coie US LLP, our people are our greatest asset. We’re looking for a detail-oriented, highly organized legal professional to support our Patent Prosecution Team with legal operations, document and information management, compliance processes, and technology initiatives. The role of Patent Prosecution Paralegal is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, can manage sensitive information with discretion, and enjoys coordinating multiple priorities and projects.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare, review, and file U.S. patent applications, international PCT applications, and patent prosecution documents with the USPTO, WIPO, and foreign jurisdictions, ensuring accuracy and compliance with applicable rules and deadlines. Prosecution documents include, but are not limited to, office action responses, information disclosure statements, notices, formal documents, and other prosecution-related filings.
• Coordinate domestic and foreign patent prosecution activities, including preparing filing instructions, communicating with foreign associates, monitoring national phase deadlines, and maintaining prosecution records.
• Monitor and maintain patent dockets, track deadlines, and coordinate with attorneys, clients, foreign counsel, vendors, and internal docketing teams to ensure timely action and accurate recordkeeping.
• Review and report patent office correspondence.
• Communicate directly with clients regarding filings, official communications, deadlines, instructions, signatures, annuity and maintenance matters, and other patent prosecution activities.
• Support internal departments with attorney departures, including transition documentation, client matter coordination, file review, and communication with attorneys.
• Maintain legal databases and documentation, including but not limited to iManage and FIP.
• Participate in legal technology projects, testing, implementation initiatives, portfolio management projects, and process improvement efforts while maintaining organized and accurate records.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree and five-plus years of patent prosecution experience.
• Strong organizational, time-management, communication, and writing skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Experience with USPTO Patent Center and ePCT; experience managing patent portfolios, preparing and filing IDS submissions, and coordinating with foreign associates.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel, and document management systems.
• Ability to build effective relationships with attorneys, staff, and other professionals while working independently under supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with legal operations, compliance processes, document management, or legal technology projects.

Why Join Ashurst Perkins Coie?

Join a collaborative legal team where your organizational skills, attention to detail, and legal expertise will directly support the firm’s attorneys and business operations. This role offers the opportunity to work across legal operations, compliance, technology, and administrative initiatives while contributing to a high-performing and supportive team environment.

This position is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, 401(k) plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance, accrued paid time off plan starting at 20 days annually, personal medical and parental leave, up to 10 paid holidays, and family care benefits. More information regarding benefits and programs may be found here.

This position may be filled in the following locations. The listed compensation range reflects the typical pay for this role, though it is rare for new hires to receive an offer at the top of the range. Actual compensation may vary depending on experience, skills, market conditions, and internal equity.

• Colorado compensation range: $67,240 to $134,480 annually
• Washington state compensation range: $70,930 to $141,860 annually
• Washington, D.C. compensation range: $76,600 to $153,210 annually