Software Development

Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC | Full time

Chicago, United States | Posted on 09/16/2026

We are a boutique firm located in the heart of Chicago, specializing in United States and foreign patent prosecution and patent counseling. Our team of practitioners includes many individuals having years of industry experience as engineers and inventors prior to becoming patent attorneys. A combination of significant real world engineering experience and legal experience results in a highly focused and skilled team of practitioners who provide services to numerous Fortune 500 technology companies.

Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC (HFZ), a Chicago patent law firm, is looking for an AI Driven Software Developer and IT Coordinator. HFZ builds much of its own software to support how our attorneys and staff work. We are looking for someone who is great at two things: understanding what people need and figuring out how to build it.

AI coding tools have reshaped this role. We care less about years of experience with a particular programming language and more about whether you can listen to a problem, ask good questions, and turn the answer into working software quickly. If you are curious, communicate well, and have a knack for figuring things out, we want to hear from you. Recent graduates and early-career software developers are encouraged to apply.

• Meet with attorneys, staff, and firm leadership to pinpoint issues and create clear, practical, and actionable plans.
• Build, test, and deploy internal applications and tools, using AI coding assistants to move quickly.
• Keep stakeholders informed by explaining what you are building, what the key trade-offs are, and expected completion timelines, all in plain language.
• Maintain and improve our existing applications, track down bugs, and fix their root causes.
• Work alongside our IT support vendor on issues involving networks, servers, and databases.
• Troubleshoot on-site technical issues and provide light IT support.
• Document your work so others can understand and maintain it.
• Recognize when a decision needs input or approval from management and bring it forward.

• Consistent and proactive communication in writing and conversation with key stakeholders is essential to this role.
• A track record of figuring things out on your own, whether through school, internships, work, or personal projects.
• Hands-on experience building software of any kind.
• Regular use of AI coding tools such as Claude Code, Git Hub Copilot, Cursor, or ChatGPT, along with the judgment to review, test, and understand the code they produce.
• Some familiarity with SQL databases and Git, or confidence that you can learn them quickly.
• Discretion with confidential information. You will be required to follow firm policies on client confidentiality and how data may be used with AI tools.
• 5 days/week in-office with potential hybrid flexibility.

• Experience with front end, back end, and database integration (full stack development)
• A degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience connecting third-party systems or APIs.
• Exposure to a law firm or other professional services setting.

HFZ is a two-decade-old patent firm that delivers top - quality patent prosecution and counseling services to numerous Fortune 500 companies and global technology leaders. Our team of excellent patent attorneys and dedicated professional staff provides exceptional patent prosecution and portfolio management services to a diverse clientele. We thrive in an inclusive environment that offers ongoing mentorship for the career development of every team member, along with a dynamic team-focused culture, excellent work/life balance, and a competitive benefits package.

The salary range for this position is $70,000-$75,000. Actual salary may vary based on qualifications.

• Health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• 401K plan
• Ongoing mentorship and direct access to senior attorneys &