Patent Assistant – Patent Prosecution

Job Description

Patent Assistant | Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP

The Tone:
This is a full-time, hybrid role at Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, offering remote work options for up to two days per week after successful completion of required training. Womble Bond Dickinson is a prominent US-based law firm that provides comprehensive legal services. This position is crucial for supporting members of the Intellectual Property Practice Group who focus on patent prosecution. The Patent Assistant will directly assist senior patent prosecution staff, attorneys, and patent agents, ensuring the precise and timely management of patent-related documentation and processes, which is vital for delivering high-quality client service.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Hybrid
• Pay: $57000–$107000 yearly
• Team: This role operates within the Intellectual Property Practice Group, providing direct support to senior patent prosecution staff, attorneys, and patent agents.
• Mission: To provide essential administrative and technical support within the Intellectual Property Practice Group, facilitating efficient and accurate patent prosecution processes for the firm’s clients.
• Tech Stack: MS Word, Windows, Outlook, Excel, Adobe

What You’ll Actually Do
• Document Preparation & Filing: Systematically prepare, collect, review, and file all formal documents, including declarations and assignments, ensuring accuracy and adherence to procedural requirements.
• Information Disclosure Management: Meticulously prepare, review, and file Information Disclosure Statements, ensuring completeness and compliance with patent prosecution standards.
• Case Tracking & Timelines: Proactively track due dates and send timely reminders for patent applications and office actions, and monitor the overall status of patent applications.
• File & System Maintenance: Maintain and update both firm and client document management systems, in addition to preparing, maintaining, scanning, closing files, and submitting new matter requests.
• Quality Assurance & Communication: Rigorously proofread all work, including granted patents and other documents, for content and context, and communicate with clients and the USPTO as needed.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Candidates must possess strong knowledge of English grammar, excellent proofreading capabilities, and solid English composition skills.
• Experience: A disciplined eye for quality checking document accuracy is required. No specific years of prior experience are stated as mandatory.
• Skills: Excellent computer proficiency is essential, including a strong working knowledge of MS Word, Windows, Outlook, Excel, and Adobe.
• Bonus: An Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree is preferred, and prior law firm experience is a significant plus.