Mid-Level Patent Attorney (Life Sciences / Chemistry)

Description

This is not just another attorney role. This is a leverage role.

If you’re a solid patent attorney but tired of:

• Producing work with no influence
• Working in broken systems you can’t fix
• Managing chaos without authority
  
  

This is your opportunity to step into a role where you build, lead, and scale.

What This Role Actually Does

You will operate as both a high-level contributor and internal leader.

• Draft and prosecute complex patent matters
• Handle client communication and relationship support
• Oversee legal assistants (workflow, deadlines, quality)
• Build and improve internal legal workflows
• Act as the right hand to the CEO on legal operations
  
  

This role is about production leverage.

What You’ll Be Measured On

• Billables, realization rate, and budget targets
• Quality (minimal CEO revisions, zero errors)
• Team leverage (how effectively assistants are utilized)
• Workflow improvement (things get smoother, not messier)
• Reduction of CEO involvement in day-to-day legal ops
  
  

What Success Looks Like

By 30 days:

You’re producing work and understanding systems team

By 60 Days

You’re managing assistants, running check-ins, fixing friction points

By 90 Days

You are owning legal workflows, acting as QA layer before CEO, reducing CEO time spent on filings oversight

This Role Is NOT For You If

• You only want to produce work and not lead
• You’ve never successfully managed support staff
• You wait for permission instead of solving problems
• You resist ambiguity or evolving systems
• You lack the interpersonal skills to lead respectfully
  
  

Requirements

Required Background

• Chemistry / life sciences background (required)
• JD Patent Bar
• Prior patent prosecution experience (multi-year)
• Demonstrated experience managing legal assistants or similar staff
• Experience improving or owning workflows (not just participating in them)
  
  

The Kind Of Person Who Thrives Here

• Operator mindset—you fix things, not just flag them
• Strong communicator (clear, direct, respectful)
• Highly organized and systems-oriented
• Humble but confident—no ego, no passivity
• Comfortable in a growing, non-corporate firm
  
  

About Hylton-Rodic Law

We are a boutique, growth-focused IP firm serving life sciences clients.

We Combine

• High-quality legal work
• Strong client relationships
• A flexible, human-centered culture
  
  

We Are Building a Firm Where

• People do meaningful work
• Systems actually improve over time
• Growth creates opportunity—not burnout
  
  

We Offer

• Reasonable billable expectations
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) and commuter benefits
• Mental health days birthday leave
• “Sunshine Fridays” (early Fridays when targets are met)
• A collaborative, respectful team environment
  
  

Apply If You Want to Build, Not Just Bill

If You Want To

• Step into real responsibility
• Help shape how a firm operates
• Grow into leadership
  
  

Apply.

If you just want a stable role where you execute tasks and go home—this is not that role.

Application Requirements

Please submit a resume and a brief cover letter explaining your interest in this role and in working at a smaller, non-corporate law firm.