Patent Attorney (Law Clerk)

The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Va. This position is located in the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB), Office of the Under Secretary & Director (U/DIR), United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO).

This position is a full-time, temporary appointment, with a one-year term that will typically end around 1 October 2028. The incumbent of this position will be a Patent Attorney serving as a Law Clerk.

This role is the ideal next career step for you if: You want to learn what it is like to assist APJs in addressing appeals from adverse decisions of Examiners regarding patent applications, reissue applications, and reexamination requests; adjudicating Inter Partes Review proceedings, Post-Grant Review proceedings, and Derivation proceedings; conducting interference proceedings; and participating in other projects critical to the PTAB's mission.

You're eager to engage in research and writing to assist APJs in the disposition of cases from the various jurisdictions of the PTAB, including assisting in the preparation of decisions on appeal and decisions in AIA trial proceedings, for example, decisions on institution, declarations of interference, orders on motions, and final written decisions.

You want to play a key role in reviewing and analyzing briefs, answers, and evidence of record in appeals and AIA trial proceedings, and in identifying all relevant factual and legal issues raised by patent applicants, petitioners, patent owners, and/or third-party requesters, leading to the ultimate adjudication of appeals and AIA trial proceedings.

You want to hone your legal skills by researching statutes, legislative history, relevant case law, and applicable USPTO rules, regulations, standards, and procedures, as needed, to analyze issues and points of law for particular matters or to support the PTAB's overall mission; preparing written work product including legal memoranda, bench briefs, orders, and decisions; assisting in proofreading orders and decisions, verifying citations, and ensuring procedural requirements; assisting with docket management; assisting with scheduling and conducting conference calls; and assisting with other projects critical to the Board's mission.

You're passionate about researching and drafting memoranda for special projects and initiatives concerning patent laws, statutes, and USPTO policy at the direction of and under the supervision of the agency's management.

The USPTO sets minimum qualifications for Attorney clerk positions and sets forth these qualifications in each vacancy announcement. These qualifications include: (1) technical skills meeting the education requirements below; and (2) a law degree prior to the start date.