IP Legal Assistant

JOB DESCRIPTION

Our client is seeking an IP Legal Assistant to assist Attorneys in their San Diego, CA office. The ideal candidate must have 3-5 years of U.S patent prosecution experience, with strong knowledge of USPTO policies and procedures.

• Prepare and file US patent applications, office action responses, and other documents with USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office); manage formal papers from inventors and Powers of Attorney.
• Prepare and review the daily docket report and proactive interaction with assigned attorneys and agents.
• Research, generate and update case status reports and IP schedules for clients, attorneys and other IP timekeepers and sends reminders to timekeepers as necessary (Pattsywave)
• Interface directly with clients, including reporting filing of documents on behalf of clients
• Processes incoming mail (original/electronic), reports communications from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to attorneys and clients, and ensures prompt responses to inquiries
• Assists with coordination of incoming and outgoing file transfers
• Provides general legal/administrative and patent prosecution support to attorneys including but not limited to process check requests, expense reports, and reimbursements, and maintain attorney calendars
• Review, route mail and correspondences accordingly

• Strong knowledge with USPTO procedures, rules and requirements; knowledge of U.S. and PCT patent rules and procedures
• Established understanding of lifecycle of patent applications from pre-filing stages to prosecution and issuance.
• Excellent communication and time management skills
• Proficient in MS Office including Excel, PowerPoint and Word

• Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in U.S. patent prosecution experience working in a law firm