Life Sciences Technical Specialist / Patent Agent

A law firm located in Chicago, is seeking a Life Sciences Technical Specialist / Patent Agent with 1+ year of experience in patent prosecution or 2 years of professional experience in life sciences. The successful candidate will be responsible for preparing, filing, and prosecuting patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO"), as well as engaging in practice development activities and providing high-quality legal services to domestic and foreign clients.

Duties:

• Prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications before the USPTO.
• Protect inventions in a manner consistent with their technical merit, assuming significant client responsibilities.
• Perform prior art searches and analysis.
• Conduct patentability analysis and intellectual property (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 any life sciences field, with expertise in molecular biology, cell biology, and/or biochemistry.
• Study and analyze scientific or technical documents to assess patentability, novelty, and inventiveness.
• Convert provisional applications into utility applications and foreign applications into U.S. applications.
• Hold an advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in a biological field with excellent academic credentials.
• Be registered to practice before the USPTO.
• Demonstrate excellent writing and research abilities, proficiency in written and verbal communication, and strong organizational skills.

Requirements:

• 1+ year of experience as a practicing patent agent in the field of life sciences or 2 years of professional experience in life sciences.
• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in a biological field, such as Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, or Biomedical Engineering.
• Registered to practice before the USPTO.

Education and Certifications:

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in a biological field.
• Registration to practice before the USPTO.

Skills:

• Excellent writing and research abilities.
• Proficiency in written and verbal communication.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to apply advanced concepts in life sciences.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in legal work.

Benefits:

• Participation in a 401(k) plan.
• Company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, life, disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and business travel accident insurance plans.
• Health savings and flexible spending accounts for the employee and eligible dependents.

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.