IP Assistant

The Boston office of Nelson Mullins seeks an IP Assistant to work with an IP partner and paralegal in a client–intensive and multi–faceted domestic and international patent and trademark practice. The IP Assistant will perform tasks related to docket and practice management, USPTO filings, correspondence with foreign counsel and clients, legal research, and routine tasks as needed in support of the attorney's IP practice. The IP Assistant provides both practice–specific and administrative support and reports to the IP Coordinator. This role requires in–depth knowledge and experience regarding IP prosecution requirements and is directly responsible for U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) filings as well as supervision of the attorney's overall docket and administrative needs.

• Prepare complex, multi–document USPTO filings daily, including review based on filing checklists, entry into electronic dashboard to send to IP Quality Assurance for double–checking, edits if applicable, routing to attorney for final review, completion of filing and reporting of filed documents to client via email.
• Manage a trademark prosecution docket in concert with Trademark Paralegal, including U.S. and foreign marks and renewals.
• Correspond with foreign counsel and clients to provide letters containing substantive attorney input on actions.
• Interface with Foreign Filing Department regarding foreign patents to ensure all documents required to complete foreign/international filings for the day are received and to answer client–specific questions.
• Review incoming daily USPTO correspondence and other actions received via postal mail to prepare correspondence reporting all new documents and deadlines to clients.
• Send requests/instructions and interface with internal staff or outside vendors to create patent illustrations and Information Disclosure Statements of prior art references.
• Independently and proactively handle non–substantive U.S. docket items such as formalities documents, transfer of rights via assignments, and other administrative client portfolio management.
• Make calls to the USPTO to follow up on the status of filed documents such as Petitions and to confirm with formalities officers and patent examiners regarding any discrepancies from normal patent office requirements.
• Create "shell" response documents/letters for attorneys to complete, incorporating pending case/claims information and a summary of the rejections set forth by the patent/trademark office.
• Send case information updates to Docketing for CPI, IP Quality Assurance for IPDAS, and Accounting for CMS.
• Complete any administrative arrangements required by the timekeepers: check/reimbursement requests, travel arrangements, print requests, time entries, processing/edits to pre–bills, interfacing with Accounting to resolve any payment issues or misinformation on bills.
• Respond to client requests regarding billing issues, processing/creation/analysis of client status reports/research projects as requested.
• Review attorney docket reports from CPI for upcoming deadlines and provide heavy docket follow–up and management for the IP Partner. Work with IP Paralegal to clear/update trademark and IDS docket.
• Review Daily Docket Clearance reports for deadlines pertaining to timekeepers' cases, check on status, discuss with attorney if necessary, ensure all deadlines are met, and respond to Clearance report to ensure action status is updated in CPI to avoid past–due deadlines.
• Organize and prepare files, docket information, and action items for incoming and outgoing file transfers.
• Review any changes to USPTO rules and accompanying filing/docketing procedural changes provided by the IP Procedures Committee.
• Conduct legal research as needed to review USPTO rules and requirements, for instance in the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, with support from IP Quality Assurance.

Ideal candidate has 5+ years of patent and trademark prosecution experience, preferably in a high–volume law firm environment. The Assistant will have direct contact with clients and must demonstrate excellent client communication skills, client awareness, and proofreading capabilities to ensure error–free external and internal communications. Candidate should have strong organizational and prioritization skills, ability to manage and organize all facets of an IP Partner's practice, with excellent follow–up skills, the confidence and knowledge to synthesize information and work independently, the ability to stay calm under pressure, and should be team–oriented. The Assistant should be proficient in Microsoft Suite products and be experience with a document management system, as well as billing and time entry programs.

With over 1,000 attorneys and professionals, Nelson Mullins has strong roots in the business community and an appreciation for new directions in the business world. As a Firm, Nelson Mullins has a strong foundation of community service and good citizenship. Our administrative professionals likewise promote these values, with opportunities o participate and play roles in various pro bono and community service initiatives. We collaborate with each other and with our clients, working side–by–side toward shared goals.

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External Company Name: Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP

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