Patent Prosecution Associate Attorney

A law firm is seeking a Patent Prosecution Associate Attorney for its Columbia, SC, location. The successful candidate will be pivotal in patent prosecution activities, leveraging their legal expertise and technical background to support the firm's intellectual property practice. Below is a comprehensive outline of the job description:

Job Overview:

• Position: Patent Prosecution Associate Attorney
• Location: Columbia, SC
• Experience Level: 2-6 years of legal experience required
• Specialization: Intellectual Property (IP), with a focus on drafting and patent prosecution

Duties:

• Conduct patent prosecution activities, including drafting, filing, and prosecuting patent applications
• Collaborate with clients to understand their inventions and develop strategies for protecting their intellectual property rights
• Conduct legal research and analysis related to patentability, infringement, and validity
• Prepare legal opinions, responses to office actions, and other relevant documents
• Communicate effectively with clients, patent examiners, and other stakeholders throughout the prosecution process
• Assist in IP litigation matters as needed

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
• Admission to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a registered patent attorney
• Bar licensure in any state; licensure in California is a plus
• 2-6 years of legal experience, preferably with a focus on intellectual property law
• Strong understanding of patent law and patent prosecution procedures
• Experience in drafting patent applications and responding to office actions
• Familiarity with computer science, electrical engineering, or similar technical fields
• Design engineering experience with a chip company is desirable
• Knowledge of networking, software, 3G/4G/5G wireless networks, or related technologies is advantageous

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school

Certifications:

• Admission to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a registered patent attorney
• Bar licensure in any state; licensure in California is a plus

Skills:

• Excellent legal research and writing skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize workload effectively
• Attention to detail and accuracy in work product
• Proficiency in legal research databases and patent prosecution tools

This rapidly growing firm has some serious chops with regards to the energy and natural resources, financial, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, retail, transportation, life sciences, communications, and health care sectors. Given the firm?s growth status, this firm promises multiple opportunities for associates to catch a wave and get in on the ground floor of something big.