Sheppard Mullin's 
Intellectual Property practice seeks a patent agent with 2 to 4 years of experience to join our growing and dynamic team, working in either D.C. or Northern Virginia. Since 2010, the firm’s IP group has strategically doubled in size, growing from 45 to nearly 100 IP professionals, to support our burgeoning client base. We and take pride in our diverse and collaborative team of attorneys and staff committed to professional excellence in a collegial environment.
From Fortune 500’s to startups, we represent a range of industries and cutting edge technologies. The person hired for this position will work closely with attorneys to draft and prosecute applications to support clients in gaming, social media, augmented reality, virtual reality, and interactive media industries. The ideal candidate will be at least a user, if not an enthusiast, of technology in these industries. The position presents opportunities to interact with leading inventors and entrepreneurs in these emerging fields.
Responsibilities
- Draft US patent applications
- Prosecute patent applications
- Assist clients with management of patent portfolios and provide recommendations regarding prosecution strategies
- Routinely conduct examiner interviews with the USPTO to expedite prosecution
- Prepare responses to outstanding communications from the USPTO in a timely manner
- Conduct invention disclosure teleconferences with inventors
- Perform complex legal analysis including freedom-to-operate and patentability analysis
- Participate in invention disclosure teleconferences
Qualifications
- The candidate must be admitted to the patent bar and have experience in patent prosecution; USPTO experience preferred. Excellent academic credentials and great communication skills are required.
- A technical undergraduate degree in computer science or electrical engineering is preferred although applicants with other technical undergraduate degrees will be considered
- Experience in drafting US patent applications required; prosecution experience preferred
- Excellent technical, writing, communication and analytical skills
- Must be a team-player and willing to “take ownership” of projects.
- Law school students who are registered patent agents are welcome to apply
- Patent Agents applying for this position must be registered to practice before the USPTO, though we will consider Technical Advisors that are qualified to sit for the registration exam. USPTO experience preferred
Contact
Qualified applicants should send a cover letter, and resume to MKershek@SheppardMullin.com Note to Search Firms: if you wish to submit a candidate for this position, you must have in place, or be prepared to sign, Sheppard Mullin's current fee agreement before submitting your candidate's resume and transcript.
Additional Info
Employer Type: Law Firm
Job Location: Washington, D.C.