Who are we?

Named for several years as a "great place" to work by The Washington Post and Washington Business Journal, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. is proud to be one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms in the world. We recognize that it is the talent and dynamism of each individual at Sterne Kessler that makes this possible. Accordingly, we have cultivated an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating with just the right touch of fun and exuberance. We offer a competitive compensation package with excellent benefits and are Metro-accessible in a prime downtown location with many nearby restaurants and shops.

What do we need?

We are looking for a motivated entry-level candidate who is interested in learning about proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Successful PTO Litigation Assistants have strong self-organization skills, a high attention to detail, and are interested in learning about Intellectual Property. PTO Litigation Assistants should be willing to work either remote or hybrid schedules from the DC metro area or willing to relocate to the DC metro area.

How will you make an impact?

• Developing expertise in the statutes, rules, and regulations governing inter partes proceedings at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), as well as currency in the statutes, rules, and regulations governing patent prosecution at the USPTO.
• Maintaining and monitoring docket of work due dates and deadlines in inter partes matters at the USPTO and the PTAB, including inter partes reviews, post-grant reviews, derivations, ex parte reexaminations, and interferences.
• Under the supervision of the PTO Litigation Manager and other PTO Litigation Paralegals:
  • Maintaining archives of papers and exhibits filed in inter partes matters, complying with all court-ordered and internal requirements and policies for the handling of any confidential material.
  • Drafting, proofreading, and cite-checking documents to be filed in inter partes matters, complying with applicable rules, regulations, statutes, and internal standards.
• Retrieving documents and information at various government agencies and courts as necessary, particularly using the USPTO’s EFS-Web filing system and the PTAB’s E2E filing system.
• Preparing status reports and dockets for attorneys and clients.
• And more.

What will you bring to the role?

• Strong academic credentials and four-year degree preferred.
• Ability to independently manage your own workload to meet deadlines and perform job duties efficiently and productively under pressure.
• Taking ownership of assigned matters.
• Exercise initiative and good judgment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including strong grammar and proofreading skills.
• Flexibility to work overtime on an as-needed basis.

The base salary for this position is $50,000.

To Apply

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.