Attorney Advisor

Patent and Trademark Office•Alexandria, VA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (OUS). The Attorney Advisor provides authoritative legal advice on highly complex patent and trademark laws, regulations, policies, and procedures, and provides high-level strategic guidance and organizational support as an expert resource on complex matters. The position is based at the USPTO campus in Alexandria, Virginia, where in-person presence is required for on-site functions. Situational telework may be available in accordance with agency policy and business-unit discretion; the agency currently allows up to 52 hours of telework per leave year.

Requirements

Applicants must be United States citizens or nationals.
Meet the definition of specialized experience and possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience providing authoritative legal advice on highly complex patent and trademark laws, regulations, policies, and procedures, and high-level strategic guidance and organizational support on complex matters.
Experience researching and interpreting statutes, regulations, case law, and administrative decisions.
Experience preparing executive-level legal analyses, briefing materials, decision memoranda, and recommendations for senior leadership.
For GS-15, four years of professional legal experience after the JD, including experience such as judicial clerkships, trademark procurement or examination, litigation, or counseling. Qualifying trademark litigation includes federal district court trademark cases, trademark appeals to U.S. federal courts of appeal, and trial proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Possess at least an LL.M., LL.B., or J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
Meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Pass a background investigation and fingerprint check and be suitable for Federal employment.
Register for Selective Service if applicable.
If selected, may be required to complete a two-year trial period.

Responsibilities

Provide expert legal advice to agency leadership and senior management on complex patent and trademark laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and emerging issues.
Represent the legal perspective in working groups, executive meetings, policy discussions, and interoffice consultations.
Analyze proposed patent and trademark policies, initiatives, operational changes, regulations, guidance documents, and related materials for legal sufficiency and potential impact on agency programs.
Develop legal review plans, establish timelines, identify required stakeholders, and track legal reviews through completion.
Research and interpret statutes, regulations, case law, and administrative decisions.
Prepare executive-level legal analyses, briefing materials, decision memoranda, and recommendations for senior leadership.