Life Sciences Technical Specialist / Patent Agent

A law firm located in Washington, DC, is seeking a Life Sciences Technical Specialist / Patent Agent with 1+ years of experience as a practicing patent agent in the field of life sciences or 2 years of professional experience in life sciences. The successful candidate will be responsible for preparing, filing, and prosecuting patent applications before the USPTO, engaging in IP due diligence, and providing high-quality legal services to domestic and foreign clients.

Duties:

• Prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications before the USPTO.
• Protect inventions in a manner consistent with their technical merit while assuming significant client responsibilities.
• Perform prior art searches and analysis to assess patentability.
• Conduct patentability analysis and IP due diligence.
• Engage in practice development activities to build and maintain client relationships.
• Prepare substantive client correspondence.
• Instruct local counsel for foreign filings and Office Actions.
• Assist in patent clearance studies and other patent-related opinion projects.
• Apply advanced concepts in any life sciences field, with emphasis on molecular biology, cell biology, and/or biochemistry.
• Study and analyze scientific or technical documents, including previously published patent documents.
• Convert provisional applications into utility applications and foreign filed applications into U.S. applications, and vice versa.

Requirements:

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in a biological field (e.g., Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Biomedical Engineering) with excellent academic credentials.
• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• 1+ year of experience as a practicing patent agent in the field of life sciences or 2 years of professional experience in life sciences.
• Excellent writing and research abilities.
• Proficiency in written and verbal communication.
• Strong organizational skills.

Education and Certifications:

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in a biological field.
• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Skills:

• Proficiency in preparing, filing, and prosecuting patent applications.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to conduct prior art searches and patentability analysis.
• Experience with IP due diligence.
• Excellent client relationship-building skills.
• Adaptability and flexibility in a dynamic work environment.

One of DC's most powerful firms is this one. Truly an international giant in every sense of the word, business and finance, M&A, labor law and litigation reign supreme here although the IP practice is coming into its own also. Like many other large firms attrition is high at times, but overall the associates here are well-credentialed and well paid. In DC, this firm's litigation section, especially with respect to technology and intellectual property disputes, tops the list in terms of prestige. However, this is one of the few firms that virtually guarantees great work and top-notch training, regardless of the practice area.