Oblon, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt LLP ("Oblon") seeks a Formalities Specialist to review, process, and/or file new patent applications, and other formal documents through patent prosecution process. This includes reading client correspondence and executing instructions, identifying missing documents, and preparing formal documents to be signed by patent inventors, assignees and/or applicants. The Formalities Specialist is an integral member of the Firm's Intellectual Property Operations Department.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review and process forms and documents received from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) after filing of new patent applications.
• Determine whether application fees are required for filing documents with USPTO.
• Review applications for accuracy and completion and ensure that any issues are addressed.
• Verify bibliographic data information and claims are correct.
• Prepare and e-file payment before the issuance of a patent along with any other required documents.
• Prepare various reporting letters to include preparation of billing sheets and drafting of basic client correspondence requesting any missing items and/or to clarify any discrepancies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and/or 0-2 years of relevant experience.
• Impeccable attention to detail.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Strong work ethic.
• Ability to prioritize in a high-volume environment.

Oblon, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt LLP ("Oblon") seeks an experienced IP Legal Secretary ("IP Specialist") to provide administrative and patent prosecution support to the Firm's Electrical/Mechanical (E/M) Patent Prosecution Practice Group. This position reports to the Senior Manager of Prosecution Practice Group.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support all areas of patent prosecution from preparation and filing of new patent applications through allowance, and all prosecution filings in between.
• Maintain attorney docket to monitor PTO deadlines, client deadlines, and attorney calendars to ensure that action due dates are timely met.
• Schedule appointments for timekeepers, organizing, updating and maintaining electronic filing systems of professional, administrative and prosecution case files.
• Prepare client reporting letters.
• Maintain current knowledge of U.S. filing procedures and rules relating to patent prosecution.
• Keep abreast of firm and client procedures.

Qualifications:

• 5 years of experience in an IP legal secretarial role.
• Experience and/or education in patent prosecution is required.
• Proactive, with ability to anticipate attorney and client needs.
• Superior communication and writing skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to resolve conflicts with minimal direction.
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and projects.
• Possess a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.

Please apply on-line and submit a resume and cover letter.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Entry level position that requires reviewing, processing and/or filing of new patent applications to include complete review of client correspondence, identification of missing documents, and preparation of formal documents. Reviews and processes associated formality documents received from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) after filing of new applications through the receipt of the Letters Patent. Prepares and e-files a variety of documents including but not limited to formality documents, new applications, requests to correct firm and/or USPTO errors; references (U.S. and/or foreign publications of applications, U.S. and/or foreign patents; and non-patent literature documents), as well as the final payment before the issuance of a patent along with any other required documents. Prepares various reporting letters to include preparation of billing sheets and drafting of basic client correspondence requesting any missing items or to clarify any discrepancies and to provide Chinese language translation services, and other duties as assigned.

• Must be consistently accurate and demonstrate an ability to work quickly and without error.
• Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the Patent Office rules and procedures regarding the  patent application process.
• Must be able to determine if a correction needs to be made to correspondence received from the client and/or USPTO; and if so what type of correction.
• Must be able to review and follow comprehensive special client instructions.
• Must be able to translate and prepare communications in the Chinese language.
• Must be able to work independently in an electronic environment including manipulation of documents, running reports, creating correspondence and filings, uploading and downloading documents from electronic sources including the Patent Office website and the firm’s document management system.
• Must be detail oriented and have strong organizational skills.

Please apply on-line and submit a resume and cover letter.