Patent Attorney / Patent Agent

Who We Are

ArentFox Schiff is an award-winning, globally recognized law firm that delivers sophisticated, innovative, and practical legal solutions to clients around the world. With more than 600 lawyers and policy professionals, ArentFox Schiff's expertise is sought out by Fortune 500s, start-ups, international governments, non-profits and trade associations, and private individuals. Our work spans highly complex, global matters as well as the deeply personal issues that shape the lives of individuals and communities.

Why Join Us

At ArentFox Schiff, we know that diverse backgrounds produce different perspectives, richer thinking, and more creative solutions to the challenges our clients face. We hope you share that vision. Join us and take on the challenge of doing meaningful work while helping us build upon a culture that reflects our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We base all of our employment decisions on merit and do not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected characteristic.

Job Description and Salary

ArentFox Schiff LLP is seeking a senior patent agent or patent attorney with seven-plus years of experience to join our highly regarded patent prosecution team in our Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, or Washington, DC office. A degree in Electrical Engineering is required.

The ideal candidate has experience with a range of hardware and software technologies, including consumer electronics, mobile and wireless devices, automotive systems, quantum computing technologies, database software, distributed systems, and cloud-computing software-defined storage. Hands-on engineering experience, such as product specification, quality assurance testing, and EMC/EMI compliance testing, is a plus.

Additional requirements include strong organizational and writing skills, intellectual curiosity, excellent academic credentials, and experience in drafting and prosecuting US and worldwide applications, including drafting office action responses, conducting examiner interviews, and coordinating foreign prosecution in key international markets. These are client-facing positions in which the candidate will work directly with inventors, scientists, and in-house counsel, so strong oral communication skills are necessary. Experience developing patent drafting strategies with in-house counsel and advising clients on non-infringement, validity, and freedom-to-operate issues is preferred. Both positions come with responsibility and independence but also feature appropriate training and oversight.

The patent attorney position is a non-partnership track position. Membership in a state bar where the attorney will be located and the USPTO bar is required for the patent attorney position, and membership in the USPTO bar is required for the patent agent position. Familiarity with patent databases and search tools, including prior art searching, as well as experience in managing patent portfolios and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, is essential.

ArentFox Schiff offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits. Please submit a resume, transcripts (undergraduate and graduate), a U.S. patent application writing sample, and U.S. office action writing sample.

The good faith base salary range for this position is a minimum of $160,000 to a maximum of $300,000 per year. The actual salary rate offered to candidates within that range will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, years of relevant experience, education, applicable bar admissions, position type, and the candidate's overall qualifications for the position as assessed by the Firm. In addition to a competitive base salary, we offer a comprehensive bonus program with opportunities for discretionary incentives that may include productivity, business development, and merit-based components, subject to applicable policies.

Benefits

We know that the needs of our employees vary and can change throughout the different stages of life. That's why we offer a wide array of flexible benefit options designed to help you live healthy, live well, and live for tomorrow. In addition to medical, dental, vision, profit-sharing, generous paid time off, and numerous other benefits, we also provide a flexible reimbursement account that helps pay for the things that contribute to your personal well-being, in your own way.

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

ArentFox Schiff is committed to equal employment opportunity and diversity in the workplace. We base all employment decisions on merit and maintain a policy of considering all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion or creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, citizenship status, order of protection status, national origin, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, physical or mental disability, parental status, source of income, military or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other basis protected by applicable law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.