Lateral Patent Associate Attorney

A law firm in Salt Lake City, UT, is seeking a Lateral Patent Associate Attorney who will be responsible for assisting with patent preparation and prosecution, providing patentability and clearance opinions, managing patent estates, and engaging in patent licensing and enforcement. The ideal candidate will simultaneously handle multiple legal matters at different stages, produce high-quality legal work, and actively contribute to business development efforts.

Duties:

• Assist in the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, covering various technical areas such as software, computer science, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
• Provide clients with patentability and clearance opinions to guide their intellectual property decisions.
• Manage and oversee patent estate portfolios, including licensing and enforcement of patents.
• Simultaneously handle the high-level and strategic aspects of multiple legal matters, from their inception to successful conclusion.
• Ensure the production of high-quality legal work and meet hourly billing requirements to deliver excellent client services.
• Actively participate in business development initiatives both at the group and individual levels to generate new business opportunities.

Requirements:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
• Bachelor's or higher degree in electrical, computer, or mechanical engineering, or computer science.
• Licensed to practice law in good standing in one or more jurisdictions where the firm conducts business.
• Must maintain applicable license renewal and fulfill Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements.
• Registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• Minimum of 1 year of experience as a licensed attorney at a law firm.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2-8 years of experience as a licensed attorney at a law firm.
• Prior experience in patent preparation and prosecution in areas such as software, computer science, electrical, or mechanical engineering.

Skills:

• Proficiency in patent prosecution and intellectual property law.
• Strong analytical and research skills to assess patentability and clearance.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities.
• Effective multitasking capabilities to manage multiple legal matters concurrently.
• Business development skills with a proven track record of generating new business opportunities.
• In-depth knowledge of patent portfolio management, licensing, and enforcement.