Patent Prosecution Assistant

THE FIRM

As a leading international law firm, we are dedicated to excellence through impactful communication, collaboration, and community involvement. Our company culture has earned us the designation as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" for 27 consecutive years. This honor, along with many others, highlights our commitment to innovation and professional development. At Alston & Bird LLP, our foundation is made of trust, reliability, and compassion.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Alston & Bird has an exciting opportunity for a Patent Prosecution Assistant to assist firm attorneys in our fast-paced Intellectual Property group. Qualified candidates will have at least 2 years of experience in an Intellectual Property practice and should be self-starters, highly organized and team players.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Preparing and filing documents with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• Case, client, and project management
• Preparing and sending client correspondence in accordance with client guidelines
• Entering attorney time
• Maintaining attorney dockets and working closely with attorneys on same
• Preparing and maintaining client portals
• Coordinating travel arrangements
• Processing expense reimbursements
• Interacting with clients, managing client correspondence and maintaining files
• Experience in PATRICIA preferred
• Must be proficient in MS Word, Outlook, and Excel 

SKILLS NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

• Have exceptional administrative and word processing skills.
• Have the ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints.
• Have great attention to detail, and the ability to concentrate and organize work.
• Must be able to work well independently while handling complex situations analytical, and self-starters.
• Able to work with a wide spectrum of individuals. Possess good communication and interpersonal skills, along with an enthusiastic team player attitude and a strong work ethic.
• Able to proofread typed material for contextual, grammatical, typographical or spelling errors is also needed.
• Have a working knowledge and prior experience with e-Filing procedures.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 2+ years of administrative experience in an Intellectual Property practice.
• In-depth knowledge of USPTO procedures and patent prosecution processes.
• Experience preparing and filing patent-related documents, managing dockets, and monitoring deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel; experience with PATRICIA preferred.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Alston & Bird LLP is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

This commitment applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, and termination.

Alston & Bird also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities and to individuals who require an accommodation based on religion, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, as required by applicable law. Applicants who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or hiring process may contact donavan.mclean@alston.com.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING

Employment may be contingent upon the successful completion of applicable pre-employment screening, which may include professional references and a background screening, consistent with applicable law.

SEARCH FIRMS AND EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES

Alston & Bird does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate referrals from recruiters, search firms, or employment agencies. Any resume or candidate information submitted without a prior written agreement with Alston & Bird will be considered unsolicited, and no fee will be paid if the candidate is hired.