Patent Paralegal

Our growing Intellectual Property (IP) team at Procopio is seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Senior IP Assistant or Patent Paralegal to join our dynamic group in any of our California offices or our Washington D.C. office. We will also consider remote candidates with substantial experience that exceed the minimum requirements. This role works closely with attorneys, staff, and clients and supports a broad range of patent prosecution and portfolio management responsibilities.

Please note there are two open positions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Preparing, filing, and prosecuting U.S. and foreign patent applications, including provisional, non-provisional, PCT, and national-stage filings.
• Managing patent prosecution matters from filing through allowance, issuance, and maintenance.
• Coordinating with foreign counsel on international patent applications and responding to filing and prosecution requirements.
• Drafting and filing USPTO documents, including responses to Office Actions, Information Disclosure Statements (IDS), amendments, and formalities.
• Corresponding with clients regarding USPTO and foreign patent office communications, deadlines, and status updates.
• Managing an active patent prosecution docket and working closely with supervising attorneys and docketing teams to ensure compliance with deadlines.
• Assisting with post-issuance matters, including maintenance fee payments, patent term adjustments, and portfolio reporting.
• Supporting due diligence, patent analytics, and portfolio management projects as needed.

This individual will also track and enter time spent on billable projects and assist with other billable and non-billable tasks as requested, including providing coverage for teammate absences.

Our strongest candidates take initiative and demonstrate exceptional follow-through. The IP team collaborates closely, and a positive, professional, and team-oriented approach is essential. If you take ownership of your work, deliver high-quality results, and are committed to excellent client service, we encourage you to apply.

Ideal candidates have 4+ years of law firm experience with a focus on patent prosecution, Life Sciences experience a plus. Strong proficiency in MS Office (especially Excel) and experience using online research tools and IP databases are required. Familiarity with USPTO patent systems such as Patent Center, PAIR, EFS-Web (legacy), and MyUSPTO is strongly preferred. Experience with foreign patent filings and coordination with international counsel is a plus.

We offer significant bonus opportunities for Paralegals and IP Assistants at all experience levels. Typical salary ranges from $75,000 – $120,000 annually, depending on experience. If your compensation expectations fall outside this range, we still encourage you to apply.

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP’s was again named to the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms list, with the Patent Law group receiving a Metropolitan Tier 1 ranking. Procopio attorneys and practice groups are routinely named to various legal rankings lists, including Chambers and Partners®, Martindale-Hubbell®, and Super Lawyers®. Earlier this year Procopio was certified for the second straight year by Diversity Lab as a Mansfield Plus firm for actively advancing attorneys of color, LGBTQ+ and lawyers with disabilities to leadership roles.

Procopio is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Procopio Rises Above and has made a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion; we condemn the discrimination of applicants by race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.