Patent Attorney or Agent – Law Firm – Cincinnati, Ohio

July 20, 2014- US - Midwest, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Tech - Electrical, Work - Patent Agent, Work - Patent Prosecution

Baker & Hostetler LLP is one of the nation’s largest and most respected law firms with more than 800 attorneys and 14 offices. We have an immediate opportunity in our Cincinnati office for a patent attorney or a patent agent with 1 or more years of experience in patent prosecution work. The ideal candidate would have a technical degree and background in mechanical or electrical with superior academics and solid prior law firm or in-house experience. We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits package.

Assistant Clinical Professor of Law – University of Connecticut – Hartford, Conn.

June 3, 2014- US - Northeast, Emp - Educational, Tech - Any / Other, Tech - Electrical, Tech - Mechanical, Work - Licensing / Other Corporate, Work - Patent Litigation, Work - Patent Prosecution

The University of Connecticut School of Law is seeking candidates for the position of Assistant Clinical Professor of Law for its Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Law Clinic (“IP Law Clinic” or “Clinic”). This position affords a unique opportunity for a lawyer who enjoys patent law and practice and wishes to share his or her wisdom and experience with students interested in pursuing a career in intellectual property. It combines in one place the opportunity to practice in what is in effect a boutique intellectual property law firm, train and mentor law students, and engage in the legal representation of start-ups, small businesses and individuals in patent matters before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (“USPTO”).

Intellectual property is one of the most dynamic areas of law and practice, and many of UConn Law School’s most promising students are thus drawn to the IP Law Clinic. This position provides a rare opportunity to be part of an experiential learning process that prepares students for jobs in intellectual property law upon graduation. The Clinic was one of the six original law school clinics selected nationally to participate in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's law student practice program, under which law students are granted limited recognition to practice before that body under faculty supervision. Thus, for the right candidate, this is an opportunity to be part of an exciting approach to legal education and practice before the USPTO.

The position is at the Law School campus in Hartford and/or Clinic location in East Hartford. It is a half-time, non-tenured position that is renewable yearly. Salary will be commensurate with background, qualifications, and experience.

Contact
Please view the job posting at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/4080 for information on qualifications as well as instructions for submitting an application. Potential candidates with questions are encouraged to contact Joseph DeGirolamo, Director of the IP Law Clinic at joseph.degirolamo@uconn.edu or at (860) 728-2110. The University of Connecticut is an EEO/AA employer. All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

Additional Info
Employer Type: Education
Job Location: Hartford, Connecticut

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented population.

Patent Attorney / Agent – Law Firm – Tysons Corner, Va.

May 27, 2014- US - MidAtlantic and South, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Tech - Biotech, Tech - Electrical, Tech - Mechanical, Work - Patent Agent, Work - Patent Prosecution

Jones Robb, PLLC is seeking full-time registered patent attorneys and patent agents with 4-8 years relevant experience to work in its Tysons Corner, Virginia office. Responsibilities will include preparing and prosecuting domestic and international patent applications, including complex Patent Office proceedings; and working on other patent related counseling matters, including opinions and strategic patent portfolio development.

Patent Attorney – Law Firm – Troy, Mich.

May 9, 2014- US - Midwest, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Work - Patent Prosecution

Young Basile, a boutique full service intellectual property law firm located in Troy, Michigan, is looking to hire an experienced patent attorney to do patent prosecution and opinion work. The attorney will handle interesting automotive and non-automotive technologies. The ideal candidate will have at a minimum five years of patent prosecution experience and be a leader in patent prosecution. Experience with foreign prosecution is desirable.

Patent Attorney – National Renewable Energy Lab – Golden, Colo.

May 7, 2014- US - Midwest, - US - West, Emp - Government, Tech - Any / Other, Tech - Electrical, Tech - Mechanical

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a leader in the U.S. Department of Energy’s effort to secure an energy future that is both environmentally and economically sustainable. We are seeking a Patent Attorney (Requisition #3609BR).

The individual holding this position will report to the Deputy General Counsel and work under a Team Leader—the Associate General Counsel - Intellectual Property to handle patent and intellectual property matters as assigned, and provide advice and services to NREL management, laboratory staff, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and subcontractors at all levels. This position is responsible for interacting directly with all levels of management, both internal and external.

Job Duties

The successful candidate supports the timely drafting, prosecution and protection of the laboratory’s domestic and foreign photovoltaic and materials sciences patent docket.
Works with NREL staff and laboratory clients in evaluating, acquiring, and protecting the rights to intellectual property consistent with Federal and State laws, the Management & Operating Contract, and NREL and DOE rules, regulations and policies.
Provides counsel related to the review and clearance of the laboratory’s publications and software licensing agreements, the review of procurement instruments in support of the Contracts and Business Services Office, and the review of a wide range of agreements in support of the Technology Transfer Office, including the licensing and technology transfer activities, negotiating NDAs and MOUs, Work for Others agreements, CRADAs, Material Transfer Agreements, and Agreements for Commercializing Technology (ACT) Agreements.
Works closely with the DOE’s Golden Field Office, DOE’s Chicago Operations Intellectual Property Law Division, and the DOE Headquarters Office of Assistant General Counsel for Intellectual Property, in the conduct of duties assigned, as required.
Ensures that commercially important inventions are protected by valid patents; directs the activities associated with appeal and interference proceedings; renders opinions regarding infringement and validity of patents; and conducts and evaluates state-of-the-art searches as necessary.
Retains and manages outside counsel in the preparation and prosecution of patent applications and as needed ad-hoc opinions.
Provides ongoing training to management and staff on pertinent issues associated with NREL intellectual property.
Manages the provision of support to laboratory stakeholders, including IP due diligence surrounding transactional opportunities, negotiation and contract drafting support.
Provides intellectual property reviews of publications, papers, documents and manuscripts proposed for dissemination by the laboratory.
Proactively utilizes, measures, and suggests improvements in the utilization of NREL intellectual property database and other processes.
Provides counsel related to copyright, trademark and branding issues of the laboratory.
Coordinates and oversees various responsibilities of assigned Patent Administrators.

Required Education and Experience

Relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience.
Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience.
Or, relevant PhD or equivalent relevant education/experience.
Or, relevant JD or equivalent relevant education/experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

Complete understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories and concepts in the field. General knowledge of other related disciplines.
Considerable knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Strong leadership, project management and problem solving skills. Ability to use various computer software programs.

Additional Required Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, physics, materials science, mechanical engineering or related field from an accredited four-year college or university. JD degree from an ABA approved school, admission to a State Bar and registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Must be a current member of the Colorado Bar, or eligible for immediate admission on motion to the Colorado Bar based upon years of past experience. At least three (3) years of solid patent preparation and prosecution experience.
General understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories and concepts in the field. General knowledge of other related disciplines.
A working knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Strong leadership, project management and problem solving skills. Ability to use various computer software programs.
Demonstrated experience drafting patent applications and amendments in diverse technical fields related to the business of the laboratory. In-house experience is a plus.
Technical and specific experience in the area of solid state or semiconductor physics.

Preferred Qualifications

Excellent technical, verbal, and written communications skills. Ability to work cooperatively (with a staff of attorneys, patent agents, paralegals and other support staff) in a fast-paced, dynamic team environment and communicate effectively with visitors, outside counsel, and NREL employees, including educating other NREL employees and management on intellectual property related issues.
Must be detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills, able to multi-task, and be able to work independently. Knowledge of federal procurement, government regulations, and general corporate law is highly desirable.

EEO Policy / E-Verify

NREL's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
NREL validates right to work using E-Verify. NREL will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. For additional information, please click here http://www.nrel.gov/employment/eeo.html.

Pre-employment drug testing required.

Contact
Please apply online at: http://www.nrel.gov/employment and search for Req #3609. Please include a cover letter specific to each position you are applying to indicating how you match the requirements of the posting.

Additional Info
Employer Type: Government
Job Location: Golden, Colorado

With locations in Golden, Boulder and Washington D.C., NREL is the primary laboratory for research, development and deployment of renewable energy technologies in the United States. The NREL mission is to develop renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and practices, advance related science and engineering, and transfer knowledge and innovation to address the nation’s energy and environmental goals.

Senior Corporate Counsel, Patents – Large Corporation – Seattle, Wash.

April 30, 2014- US - Northwest, - US - West, Emp - Corporate (in-house), Tech - Any / Other, Work - Licensing / Other Corporate, Work - Patent Prosecution

Amazon's legal department is looking for a talented patent attorney to lead the investigation and pre-litigation resolution of received/threatened third party patent assertions. Successful candidate primary responsibilities include leading the investigation of the third party patents, advising Amazon’s technology teams on appropriate action to be taken, effectively resolving pre-litigation matters and development and implementation of appropriate IP policies.

If you have a passion for innovative technology, this is the place for you. You will have significant influence on the development and execution of our patent strategy and will solve cutting edge intellectual property issues. Responsibilities include develop and implement Amazon IP policies, client counseling and third party patent investigations. You will also assist and supervise on a full range of patent litigation and pre-litigation activities, including supervising outside counsel, formulating and implementing litigation strategy, assisting in and overseeing settlement and other dispute resolution efforts and providing IP advice regarding Amazon and third-party patent rights.

The successful candidate must be inquisitive, enthusiastic about technology, enjoy working hard and being continually challenged, and demonstrate sound judgment even in ambiguous situations. Compensation based on experience and includes equity compensation.

Basic Qualifications

7+years of legal experience (with at least three years at a law firm) as patent attorney
Juris Doctor and membership in good standing in at least one state bar is required
Registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Experience effectively addressing and resolving patent assertions/litigation
Understanding of a wide variety of technology areas including: web services, digital media, virtualization, data storage, database, operating systems, mobile applications, content delivery, and e-commerce

Preferred Qualifications

Effective oral and written communication skills in communicating business and intellectual property issues with and between developers, engineers and business leaders
Demonstrated ability to counsel in-house lawyers and business leaders on intellectual property issues, including patent litigation
Sound judgment even in ambiguous situations
Demonstrated ability to work independently while being able to contribute successfully to cross-functional teams
Able to counsel business leaders on open source software related patent issues
Excellent organizational skills, ability to manage multiple projects at once, and follow through and meet deadlines
Strong analytical and computer skills
Common sense, great judgment, and a good sense of humor

Amazon is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Contact
For more information and to apply online, visit the listing's page on our website: http://www.amazon.jobs/job/264214/senior-corporate-counsel-patents.

Additional Info
Employer Type: Large Corporation
Job Location: Seattle, Washington

Attorney – Law Firm – Reston, Va.

April 28, 2014- US - MidAtlantic and South, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Work - Patent Litigation, Work - Patent Prosecution

H.C. Park & Associates, PLC (HCPA) seeks registered patent attorneys with over 2 years of patent prosecution or litigation experience in the electrical/semiconductor material/telecommunication/smartphone/mechanical fields.

Mid- to Senior-Level Litigator – Law Firm – Irvine, Calif.

April 23, 2014- US - Southwest, - US - West, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Work - Patent Litigation, Work - Patent Prosecution

Fish & Tsang LLP, a premier full service intellectual property firm located in Irvine, California, is seeking a mid-senior level litigator.

Senior Corporate Counsel, Patents – Large Corporation – Seattle, Wash.

April 18, 2014- US - Northwest, - US - West, Emp - Corporate (in-house), Tech - Any / Other, Tech - Electrical, Work - Licensing / Other Corporate, Work - Patent Prosecution

Amazon's legal department is looking for a talented patent attorney to lead a team that supports Amazon Web Services (AWS), a dynamic and rapidly growing business within Amazon.com that is blazing new trails as a pioneer in the fast-growing cloud computing industry. Amazon Web Services is at the forefront of the "cloud" computing and service industry providing IT infrastructure services such as on-demand compute capacity, storage, database, content delivery, message queuing, mobile application developer tools, software-as-service products, and more.

If you have a passion for innovative technology, this is the place for you. You will have significant influence on the development and execution of our patent strategy and will solve cutting edge intellectual property issues. Responsibilities include client counseling, third party IP investigations and actively working with outside counsel to manage filing, prosecuting and maintaining our growing US and foreign patent portfolio. The ideal candidate will become embedded with the builders of our newest technologies, while helping shape the products and services as they come to market.

Basic Qualifications

7+years of legal experience (with at least three years at a law firm) as patent attorney
Juris Doctor and membership in good standing in at least one state bar is required
Registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Additional Qualifications

Understanding of a wide variety of technology areas including: web services, digital media, virtualization, data storage, database, operating systems, mobile applications, content delivery, and e-commerce
Ability to identify effective methods of protecting intellectual property created from software, hardware and internet related products and services
Effective oral and written communication skills in communicating business and intellectual property issues with and between developers, engineers and business leaders
Ability to be responsible for intellectual property related activities for several business and technology teams, including training the business on patent filing and strategy, idea harvesting, management of patent application preparation and prosecution, addressing third party patent issues, and assisting in patent acquisitions and licensing
Ability to assist in-house and outside litigation counsel in patent litigation issues
Ability to counsel other Amazon lawyers with intellectual property issues that affect the business
Have personally prepared and prosecuted at least 40 patent applications for AWS related technology
Ability to demonstrate sound judgment even in ambiguous situations
Ability to work independently while being able to contribute successfully to cross-functional teams
Able to provide advice and counsel to businesses on open source software related patent issues
Excellent organizational skills, ability to manage multiple projects at once, and follow through and meet deadlines
Strong analytical and computer skills
Common sense, great judgment, and a good sense of humor

Amazon is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Contact
For more information and to apply online, visit the listing's page on our website: http://www.amazon.jobs/job/243350/senior-corporate-counsel-patents.

Additional Info
Employer Type: Large Corporation
Job Location: Seattle, Washington

Patent Attorney – Law Firm – Blacksburg, Va.

March 31, 2014- US - MidAtlantic and South, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Tech - Electrical, Work - Patent Prosecution

New River Valley Intellectual Property Law, PC is seeking an experienced intellectual property attorney to join its rapidly growing IP law practice, based in beautiful Blacksburg, Virginia. Work will include domestic and foreign patent preparation and prosecution, patent portfolio management, trademark prosecution, licensing and transactional work, infringement and invalidity investigations and opinions, and client in-take and counseling.

Patent Attorney – Large Corporation – Seattle, Wash.

March 26, 2014- US - Northwest, Emp - Corporate (in-house), Tech - Any / Other, Work - Licensing / Other Corporate, Work - Patent Prosecution

The Boeing Company is seeking a Patent Attorney to work in its Seattle, Wash., offices. As a member of the Patent Bar, and in the development and management of a global patent portfolio for the enterprise, directs and approves key decisions regarding patent preparation and prosecution, European oppositions, foreign filing country selection, termination of prosecution, appeals, and portfolio pruning. Evaluates invention disclosures from across the enterprise. Oversees new patent preparation and prosecution work with domestic and foreign outside counsel, including review and revision of work product. Makes decisions regarding prosecution and claim scope based on technical merits, business value, and overall adequacy of available protection. Efficiently manages a large docket of domestic and foreign pending prosecution matters. Revises U.S. applications for filing under the PCT or in foreign countries. As a subject matter expert, serves as a mentor and a lead and is sought out by teammates to provide guidance and insight on patent prosecution matters.

Patent Coordinator II – Large Corporation – Melville, N.Y.

March 21, 2014- US - Northeast, Emp - Corporate (in-house), Tech - Any / Other, Work - Licensing / Other Corporate, Work - Paralegal / Legal Secretary, Work - Patent Agent, Work - Patent Prosecution

Canon USA, Inc. is currently seeking a Patent Coordinator II to join our Corporate office in Melville, NY. This position will support patent attorneys in day-to-day patent prosecution activities as well as provide general office support as needed to the Intellectual Property Division's Senior Director.

Responsibilities

Provide patent prosecution administrative support, includes working with patent attorneys/agents to file formal papers
Maintain/update patent database as needed
Correspond with clients as needed
Assist in preparing routine legal documents and reports
Provide other administrative support as needed

Qualifications

Requires a High School diploma or equivalent, plus 2-5 years of patent prosecution administrative support experience.
Detail oriented with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Basic MS Office skills (Word, Excel) and Adobe Acrobat

Canon is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Contact
Apply online by visiting this link: https://jobs-cusa.icims.com/jobs/4796/patent-coordinator-ii/job.

Additional Info
Employer Type: Large Corporation
Job Location: Melville, New York

Canon U.S.A., Inc., headquartered in Melville, New York, is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With approximately $40 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents registered in 2012† and is one of Fortune Magazine's World’s Most Admired Companies in 2013. In 2013, Canon U.S.A. has received the PCMag.com Readers' Choice Award for Service and Reliability in the digital camera and printer categories for the tenth consecutive year, and for camcorders for the past three years. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. Canon U.S.A's extensive product line and digital solutions enable businesses and consumers worldwide to capture, store and distribute information. †Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office

Patent Agent – Law Firm – Burlington, Vt.

March 16, 2014- US - Northeast, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Work - Patent Agent, Work - Patent Prosecution

Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC seeks an experienced patent agent or patent examiner to join its rapidly growing intellectual property practice, based in its Burlington, Vermont office. Enjoy challenging work while living in an area endowed with natural beauty, superb recreational opportunities, and a strong sense of community. The position requires patent bar admission within one year of hiring and at least 2-4 years of patent prosecution or examining experience. Electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science backgrounds preferred. Other technical backgrounds and greater experience levels will be considered. Work will primarily involve patent drafting and prosecution, with some opportunities for support work in the areas of intellectual property transactional work and litigation.

Associate (Trademarks & Copyrights) – Law Firm – Orange County, Calif.

March 9, 2014- US - Southwest, - US - West, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other

Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP seeks motivated candidates to join our team. We are looking for associate attorney candidates with 2-3 years of experience in Trademark and Copyright law. Minimum 3.0 GPA required. Candidates must have superior writing and communication skills. EOE/AA

Patent Attorney – Law Firm – Washington, D.C.

March 7, 2014- US - MidAtlantic and South, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Tech - Electrical, Tech - Mechanical, Work - Patent Prosecution

Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC continues to seek patent attorneys with 1-4 years of experience and a degree in electrical engineering to work in its Washington, DC office. The ideal candidate will have experience in image sensor, semiconductor, electrical circuits, display, and/or signal processing technology. The position entails patent preparation and prosecution, as well as various analyses related to enforcing and defending patents on behalf of existing clients.

Litigation Attorney – Law Firm – Reston, Va.

February 12, 2014- US - MidAtlantic and South, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Work - Patent Litigation

H.C. Park & Associates, PLC is seeking a Litigation Attorney to work in its Reston, Virginia, offices. Litigation attorney should preferably have 5 years experience or more in patent litigation and is licensed in VA.

Patent Prosecution Attorney – Law Firm – Reston, Va.

February 12, 2014- US - MidAtlantic and South, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Work - Patent Prosecution

H.C. Park & Associates, PLC is seeking a Patent Prosecution Attorney to work in its Reston, Virginia, offices. Prosecution attorney or technical advisor should preferably have 2 years experience or more in patent prosecution.

Patent Attorney or Agent – Law Firm – Flexible Location

February 7, 2014Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Tech - Electrical, Tech - Mechanical

Guntin & Gust is seeking highly skilled and productive Patent Attorneys or Patent Agents. As part of our team you will be working with a diverse group of clients ranging from sophisticated mid-sized corporations to Fortune 100 companies. We work in the areas of electrical engineering, telecommunications, medical products, RF products, gaming products, nanotechnologies, and other fields. Clients have also engaged our firm to evaluate patent portfolios, draft licensing and patent sale agreements, perform re-exam evaluations, due diligence in M&A transactions, advanced inventing sessions, opinion work, among other things.

Legal Secretary – Law Firm – Colorado Springs, Colo.

January 22, 2014- US - Midwest, - US - West, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Work - Paralegal / Legal Secretary, Work - Patent Prosecution

As a premier regional law firm, Holland & Hart has gained a reputation of providing its clientele with the highest quality legal services. We currently have an opening in our Colorado Springs office for a Legal Secretary working with attorneys in the practice areas of Intellectual Property and Trademark.

Patent Attorney or Agent – Law Firm – Flexible Location

October 2, 2013- US - Midwest, Emp - Law Firm, Tech - Any / Other, Tech - Electrical, Tech - Mechanical, Work - Licensing / Other Corporate, Work - Patent Prosecution

We offer exceptional benefits that are paid in full by the firm and a competitive compensation package, which models the firm’s philosophy of transparency. Our firm has a substantial volume of work to provide an attorney or agent exceptional opportunities for career growth and continued personal development. Our firm employs novel workload balancing methods to provide its employees the best opportunity to excel.

Candidate Qualifications:
Must have passed a state bar (attorney’s only) and the USPTO patent bar. 3+ years of law practice with “substantial” patent preparation and prosecution experience of matters "originating" in the US is a plus. A Bachelors or Masters degree in Elect. Eng., or Computer Eng. is preferred. Telecommunications experience is a plus. Actual engineering experience is also a plus. First year candidates with exceptional performance in law school and engineering school, and/or candidates graduating from a top-tier law school and/or engineering school will be considered. A book of business is also a plus. For candidates with prior experience, information regarding the last two years of billable hours and collections will be requested. Academic transcripts will be requested for all candidates.

Contact
Please submit your resume, writing samples (must be in the public domain) and academic transcripts via our website (https://www.ggip.com/Pages/careers-attorneys.aspx). Submissions will be maintained confidential.

Additional Info
Employer Type: Law Firm
Job Location: Chicago (remote locations will be considered)

At Guntin & Gust we have a unique culture that places great emphasis on developing and exercising sound business, legal, and technical acumen in all aspects of the firm’s practice. Our culture also fosters and promotes career development of its attorneys and agents.