Senior Foreign Filing Legal Assistant

Sterne Kessler; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Metro-accessible downtown location

Excellent benefits

Job summary

Sterne Kessler, an IP law firm in the DC area, seeks a Senior Foreign Filing Legal Assistant experienced in filing new patent applications worldwide. The role requires meticulous attention to detail, deadline-driven performance, and the ability to handle a broad range of legal and administrative tasks.

This hybrid position involves in-office presence as needed, delivering high-quality work for clients while maintaining up-to-date knowledge of foreign filing requirements and procedures.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of foreign filing experience.
• Seven years of overall IP experience.
• Bachelor’s degree and/or paralegal certification preferred.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical, time management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Managing case load for specific clients; reviewing and revising all outgoing correspondence, verifying that docket has been properly cleared, and reviewing all incoming mail, facsimiles and courier packages.
• Maintaining a high level of knowledge of foreign filing requirements, rules, tax laws, renewal dates, expiration dates, etc.
• Providing second-eye review for work produced by other Foreign Filing Legal Assistants
• Ensuring a high quality work product for assigned clients.Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of client officers, addresses and specific needs and requirements.
• Preparing and filing new foreign applications and/or instructions for new foreign applications as needed.
• Preparing and sending various communications to clients and foreign associates.
• Conducting research on rule and policy changes which may include researching websites and communicating with various foreign associates, patent offices and vendors.
• Interacting with legal personnel and staff on a daily basis in regard to client and firm matters.
• Assisting the Foreign Filing Manager with the preparation and maintenance of Foreign Filing procedures, forms manuals, and templates.
• Conducting research on rule and policy changes, including researching websites and communicating with foreign associates, patent offices, and vendors.
• Interacting daily with legal personnel and staff regarding client and firm matters.
• Assisting in the preparation of daily, weekly, and monthly statistical reports on work production, project status, and other data as required by the Foreign Filing Management Team.
• Assisting in establishing new techniques and procedures to enhance efficiency, accountability, and productivity while meeting and exceeding departmental service level agreements.
• Training Foreign Filing Legal Assistants and others, as needed, on foreign formality requirements and regulations in accordance with established departmental and firm policies.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of new foreign filing procedures as directed by the Foreign Filing Management Team.

Skills

Foreign filing experience

IP experience

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or paralegal certification

Tools

Document management systems

IP estimate tools

Windows-based software

Job description

Named for several years as a \"great place\" to work by The Washington Post and Washington Business Journal, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. is proud to be one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms in the world. We recognize that it is the talent and dynamism of each individual at Sterne Kessler that makes this possible. Accordingly, we have cultivated an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating with just the right touch of fun and exuberance. We offer a competitive compensation package with excellent benefits and are Metro-accessible in a prime downtown location with many nearby restaurants and shops.

What do we need?

We are looking for a Senior Foreign Filing Legal Assistant who is experienced with filing new patent applications worldwide. Senior Foreign Filing Legal Assistants at our firm have a high attention to detail, are able to work well in a deadline-driven and fast-paced environment, and possess good judgment skills to handle a variety of legal and administrative tasks. This position is hybrid from the D.C. area with some in-office presence as needed.

How will you make an impact?

• Managing case load for specific clients; reviewing and revising all outgoing correspondence, verifying that docket has been properly cleared, and reviewing all incoming mail, facsimiles and courier packages.
• Maintaining a high level of knowledge of foreign filing requirements, rules, tax laws, renewal dates, expiration dates, etc.
• Providing second-eye review for work produced by other Foreign Filing Legal Assistants
• Ensuring a high quality work product for assigned clients.Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of client officers, addresses and specific needs and requirements.
• Preparing and filing new foreign applications and/or instructions for new foreign applications as needed.
• Preparing and sending various communications to clients and foreign associates.
• Conducting research on rule and policy changes which may include researching websites and communicating with various foreign associates, patent offices and vendors.
• Interacting with legal personnel and staff on a daily basis in regard to client and firm matters.
• Assisting the Foreign Filing Manager with the preparation and maintenance of Foreign Filing procedures, forms manuals, and templates.
• Conducting research on rule and policy changes, including researching websites and communicating with foreign associates, patent offices, and vendors.
• Interacting daily with legal personnel and staff regarding client and firm matters.
• Assisting in the preparation of daily, weekly, and monthly statistical reports on work production, project status, and other data as required by the Foreign Filing Management Team.
• Assisting in establishing new techniques and procedures to enhance efficiency, accountability, and productivity while meeting and exceeding departmental service level agreements.
• Training Foreign Filing Legal Assistants and others, as needed, on foreign formality requirements and regulations in accordance with established departmental and firm policies.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of new foreign filing procedures as directed by the Foreign Filing Management Team.

What will you bring to the role?

• Minimum of 5 years of foreign filing experience, and seven years of overall IP experience.
• Bachelor’s degree and/or paralegal certification preferred.
• Highly motivated and professional individual.
• Performs well under pressure, working efficiently and productively during peak and non-peak periods.
• Strong analytical, attention to details, problem solving, time management and communication skills needed.
• Must be a team player capable of working effectively with all levels of staff.
• Should possess strong computer, customer service and research skills and be capable of working at a fast pace.
• Must be able to exercise initiative and good judgment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Capable of working independently with minimum supervision.
• Knowledge of Windows-based software applications and document management systems and IP estimate tools.
• Flexibility to work overtime on an as-needed basis.

The good faith base salary range for this position is $80,000 to $105,000 per year. The actual salary rate offered to candidates within that range will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, years of relevant experience, education, and the candidate’s overall qualifications for the position as assessed by the Firm.

Sterne Kessler is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.