Technical Specialist

A law firm is seeking a Technical Specialist for their Chicago, IL location.

Job Overview:

The Technical Specialist will be crucial in supporting attorneys with patent prosecution and drafting activities, focusing on the life sciences sector. This individual will conduct thorough research, evaluate patentability, draft patent applications, and assist in client meetings to ascertain the commercial potential of inventions.

Duties:

• Perform research, sequence management, and searching.
• Investigate inventorship issues
• Manage the intake of invention disclosures and review for patentability, novelty, and non-obviousness
• Evaluate qualification and applicability of prior art
• Study and analyze scientific or technical documents, including previously published patent documents
• Draft new patent applications
• Convert provisional applications into utility applications
• Convert foreign filed applications into U.S. applications and vice versa
• Prepare replies to U.S. and foreign office actions
• Assist attorneys with prosecution and manage e-file filings
• Assist with interviews of USPTO examiners
• Assist with appeals to PTAB
• Assist in meetings with clients to discuss inventions and assess patent claims' commercial potential
• Prepare clearance analyses

Requirements:

• An advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in a biological field (e.g., Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology)
• 2 years of related experience in life sciences
• Excellent writing and research abilities
• Proficiency in written and verbal communication
• Strong organizational skills

Education & Certifications:

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in a biological field

Skills:

• Proficient in research methodologies
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational abilities

Benefits:

• 401(k) plan
• Medical, dental, vision, life, disability, accidental death and dismemberment insurance plans
• Health savings and flexible spending accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Work/Life Services
• Bright Horizons Back-Up Child Care
• WageWorks Commuter Benefits
• 9 paid holidays per calendar year
• 2 personal days per year
• Up to 20 days of vacation per year
• Paid sick leave accrual
• Bereavement leave
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave per year
• Up to 10 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave per pregnancy

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.