Senior Intellectual Property Assistant or Paralegal

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

Health/dental/vision insurance

401(k) profit-sharing

Paid time off

Job summary

Procopio seeks a Senior IP Assistant or Paralegal to join our IP team across California offices (San Diego, Del Mar Heights, Irvine, or Palo Alto). This hybrid role requires in-office work 3 days per week and supports U.S. patent prosecution for attorneys and clients.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in U.S. IP prosecution, strong MS Office skills, and familiarity with IP docketing systems. Associate or bachelor’s degree preferred; high school diploma required.

Qualifications

• Five years of U.S. IP prosecution experience.
• Two+ years of administrative/legal support preferred.
• Strong computer skills and expert MS Office.
• Familiarity with IP docketing systems preferred.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support U.S. patent prosecution, including filing applications and related documents.
• Prepare and file PCT filings; coordinate international filings with foreign associates.
• Review USPTO, WIPO and foreign office communications; assist with quality control.
• Manage deadlines, docket reports, and time tracking; assist billing.
• Provide coverage for teammates and collaborate with attorneys and clients.

Skills

IP prosecution experience

MS Office

USPTO systems

IP docketing systems

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Tools

USPTO systems

IP docketing systems

Job description

Procopio is seeking a Senior Intellectual Property Assistant or Paralegal to join our dynamic IP team in any of our California offices (San Diego, Del Mar Heights, Irvine, or Palo Alto). This is a hybrid role with an in-office requirement of 3 days per week. This position will provide intellectual property prosecution support to IP attorneys and clients and will be an integral part of our mission to deliver exceptional IP services to our clients.

The Senior IP Assistant or Paralegal is responsible for supporting U.S. patent prosecution, including preparing and filing patent applications, Information Disclosure Statements, formal documents, office action responses, issue fees, and other standard prosecution documents. The Senior IP Assistant or Paralegal will also prepare and file PCT filings; coordinate international filings and prosecution matters with foreign associates; review and report incoming communications from the USPTO, WIPO, and foreign intellectual property offices, and participate in the quality control process for patent filings.

In addition, the Senior IP Assistant or Paralegal will manage deadlines, prepare docket reports, maintain electronic records, provide coverage for teammates, assist with the completion billing process, and track and enter time spent on billable projects. The Senior IP Assistant position has a 1,300-hour annual billable requirement. The Paralegal position has a 1,450-hour annual billable requirement.

The ideal candidate is an experienced IP professional with exceptional organizational, communication, and prioritization skills. Candidates must be detail-oriented, able to exercise sound judgment and critical thinking, and comfortable independently managing a high volume of work while collaborating with attorneys, staff, clients, and foreign associates. Candidates with experience supporting life science clients are preferred.

Qualified candidates should have at least five years of U.S. intellectual property prosecution experience. Two or more years of administrative and/or legal support experience is also preferred. Strong computer skills and expert knowledge of Microsoft Office programs are required, along with experience using USPTO systems. Familiarity with IP docketing systems is preferred. A high school diploma or equivalent is required; an associate or bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Procopio’s Culture of Excellence drives a collaborative and service-oriented environment. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is an important part of our culture. Procopio has been recognized by Diversity Lab as a Mansfield Plus firm for advancing diverse attorneys into leadership roles and has been consistently ranked among the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms.

Procopio offers generous total compensation packages. Typical pay range is from $80,000 – $130,000, depending on experience. If your pay expectation is outside this range, we still encourage you to apply. Bonuses are awarded in recognition of individual and firm performance. Full-time employees can participate in our comprehensive benefits program, including medical (HMO/PPO plans), dental (HMO/PPO plans), vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, an Employee Assistance Program, firm wellness incentives, a 401(k) profit-sharing program, and a generous paid time off policy. There are also opportunities for professional growth and advancement within the Firm.

Procopio is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on any basis protected by law.