Design Associate (Licensed Attorney)

Location: Washington, D.C. (hybrid)

Application requirements:

Due to the exciting level of interest in our firm, we are unable to individually contact all candidates to collect materials to complete applications. To submit a complete application, please ensure the following documents are included:

• Resume
• Writing Sample
• All academic transcripts (Bachelor's, Master's, JD, etc. and unofficial copies are acceptable)

About Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.:

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 that possible. With that in mind, 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.

Sterne Kessler is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

About the Associate Role:

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is seeking a junior associate to join its Mechanical & Design Group and work on cutting-edge design patent matters alongside a team recognized as the inaugural “Design Patent Firm of the Year” by Managing IP in 2026 and ranked among the top two U.S. law firms for design patents for the last three years.

Role location:

• This role is based in our Washington, D.C. office on a hybrid basis, with regular in-office days. You have flexibility to pick which days you work in the office.

Responsibilities:

As an Associate in the Mechanical & Design Group, you will:

• Prepare and prosecute U.S. design patent applications and coordinate international design protection strategies under the supervision of senior attorneys..
• Analyze product designs and provide advice regarding the availability and scope of design patent protection for clients across a range of industries.
• Draft responses to USPTO office actions, participate in examiner interviews and develop prosecution strategies to advance client objectives.
• Collaborate with inventors, designers, in-house counsel, and foreign counsel to develop design protection strategies and shape clients’ design patent portfolios.
• Assist with due diligence reviews, intellectual property transactions, and enforcement activities involving design patent rights.
• Conduct legal research and assist with preparing opinions, analyses, and client counseling regarding design patent protection, infringement, validity, and enforceability.
• Monitor developments in U.S. and international design law and contribute to client alerts, presentations, and thought leadership initiatives.

Requirements: 

• Bachelors, masters, or doctorate degree in one of the following disciplines: industrial design, product design, architecture, applied arts, graphic design, fine/studio arts, art teaching education, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering, material science or physics, or an equivalent discipline.

• JD and actively licensed as an attorney in a U.S. jurisdiction, preferably D.C. If not yet licensed in D.C., must be eligible to waive into the D.C. Bar or be willing and eligible to sit for the D.C. bar exam.

• 1-3 years of experience as a licensed attorney practicing patent law, with experience in design patent prosecution and counseling.

• Possess a USPTO registration number (either Patent and/or Design) or possess the scientific, technical, or engineering qualifications necessary to qualify for the USPTO Registration Examination (Patent Bar) under Category A, Category B, or Category D eligibility criteria.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced client-service environment.

Working with Us

Salary range:

• The salary range for this role is $190,000 - $225,000 at a 1900 billable hour goal.
• Compensation philosophy: The actual salary rate offered to candidates within that range will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, years of relevant experience, education, and the candidate’s overall qualifications for the position as assessed by the firm.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans in addition to virtual care services through CloseKnit
• On-site Wellness Center in our Washington, D.C. office
• Staffed by a Nurse Practitioner, offers firm employees and other qualified family members with a range of medical services
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare, dependent care
• Wellness program
• Firm-paid life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage
• Firm-paid short and long term disability insurance
• Supplemental life insurance and supplemental AD&D coverage, supplemental long term disability insurance*, long term care insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Transportation commuter benefit program
• Back-up childcare and family support
• Pet insurance discount
• Employee Assistance Program services

#LI-Hybrid

Salary : $190,000 - $225,000