Patent Agent - Life Sciences

Job Overview

A law firm seeks a Patent Agent in Palo Alto, CA, to join its Intellectual Property Practice Group. The role involves preparing, filing, and prosecuting patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The position offers a hybrid in-office/remote working schedule and requires collaboration with partners to provide high-quality legal services to domestic and foreign clients.

Duties

• Prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications before the USPTO.
• Perform prior art searches and patentability analysis.
• Engage in IP due diligence and practice development activities.
• Prepare substantive client correspondence.
• Instruct local counsel for foreign filings and Office Actions.
• Assist in patent clearance studies and opinion projects.
• Apply advanced concepts in life sciences, focusing on molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry.
• Analyze scientific documents to assess patentability, novelty, and inventiveness.
• Convert provisional applications into utility applications and manage international filings.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience as a practicing patent agent in life sciences or two years of professional experience in the field.
• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Excellent writing, research, and communication skills.
• Strong organizational abilities.

Education

• An advanced degree (master's or PhD) in a biological field such as Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, or Biomedical Engineering.

Certifications

• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Skills

• Proficiency in written and verbal communication.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze scientific and technical documents.

Benefits

• Law school tuition reimbursement program.

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.