The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of General Counsel (OGC) is expanding its intellectual property practice and seeking a full-time patent attorney. This position is well-suited for an attorney with a strong background in patent law and experience working with federal agencies.
Location: Portland OR
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in patent prosecution, including drafting patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), conducting examiner interviews, filing responses, and handling appeals.
- Experience guiding non-U.S. law firms in the prosecution of international patent applications.
- Conducting patentability, infringement, and validity analyses.
- Knowledge of federal administrative law.
- Strong writing, communication, teamwork, organizational, and analytical skills.
- Undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, chemistry, biological sciences, physics, or computer science.
- Registration to practice before the USPTO and familiarity with U.S. patent law and procedures.
Responsibilities:
- Provide legal advice on intellectual property issues related to research and innovation.
- Manage an interdisciplinary caseload involving inventions from VA Medical Centers and programs.
- Deliver comprehensive legal services to VA clients, including legal guidance and representation on research and IP matters such as technology transfer, licensing, inventorship rights, and administrative proceedings.
- Conduct legal and administrative research on complex issues, including interpretation of statutes, regulations, decisions, and policies affecting agency IP and research programs.
- Support VA’s technology transfer activities, including review of patent-related aspects of cooperative research and development agreements, as well as employee rights determinations and appeals under Executive Order 10096 and 37 CFR Part 501.
- Serve as a resource on the Federal Acquisition Regulations related to intellectual property.
- Assist with patent infringement matters in coordination with the Department of Justice.
Required Qualifications:
- U.S. citizenship
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and valid licensure to practice law in at least one U.S. state.