Patent Agent - Life Sciences/Bioinformatics

A law firm in San Francisco is seeking a Patent Agent specialized in Life Sciences/Bioinformatics to prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The candidate will work closely with intellectual property partners and other practice group members, providing support in protecting inventions and delivering high-quality legal services to domestic and foreign clients in the life sciences field.

Duties:

• Prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications before the USPTO.
• Conduct prior art searches and analysis.
• Perform patentability analysis and IP due diligence.
• Engage in practice development activities to build and maintain client relationships.
• Prepare substantive client correspondence.
• Instruct local counsel for foreign filings and Office Actions.
• Assist in patent clearance studies and other patent-related opinion projects.
• Apply advanced concepts in life sciences, particularly in molecular biology, cell biology, and/or biochemistry.
• Study and analyze scientific or technical documents, including previously published patent documents.
• Convert provisional applications into utility applications and foreign filed applications into U.S. applications.
• Convert U.S. applications into foreign applications.

Requirements:

• 2+ years of experience in life sciences or 1 year experience as a registered patent agent.
• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in bioinformatics preferred, or other relevant biological fields such as Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, or Biomedical Engineering with excellent academic credentials.
• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Excellent writing and research abilities.
• Proficiency in written and verbal communication.
• Strong organizational skills.

Education and Certifications:

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in bioinformatics preferred, or other relevant biological fields.
• Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Benefits Offered:

The total compensation package for this position may include a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits such as 401(k) eligibility, vacation, sick time, parental leave, etc. Details will be provided upon receiving an offer of employment.

This large law firm opened with a labor and leveraged-leasing practice and quickly built a substantial corporate and litigation practice. Today, the firm focuses its practice on business and finance, investment management, litigation, labor and employment, real estate and environmental issues. Attorneys at the firm enjoy a faily casual, though conservative, environment where partners tend to be collegial and offer excellent formal and informal training programs. In addition to recieving fair market salaries, associates at the firm have the opportunity to participate in award winning pro bono work.