IP US Filing Specialist (Late Filings)

Cooley•Seattle, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Cooley is seeking an IP US Filing Specialist (Late Filings) to join the IP Services team. The preferred work hours for this position are as follows: Mountain Time: 10a - 7p Pacific Time: 9a - 6p. The IP US Filing Specialist (USFS) (Late Filing) provides full support to patent specialists supporting patent practitioners and clients in filing and maintaining US applications and patents. The USFS (Late Filing) provides coverage and support during late evening hours, ensuring timely assistance for urgent US filings and requests; and performing required quality control functions to ensure compliance with firm and USPTO requirements.

Requirements

After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications
Available to work overtime, as required
Relevant IP experience (See minimum years of experience requirement by level above)

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree
Previous law firm experience
Experience researching IP status and history in PTO databases, including USPTO systems (Patent Center), WIPO Patentscope and Madrid Monitor, the EPO Patent Register, and EUIPO eSearch, as well as public databases in other jurisdictions
Possess working knowledge and keep abreast of rules according to USPTO procedures, 37 C.F.R., the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) rules

Responsibilities

Coordinate with patent business professionals, patent practitioners, and clients with respect to assigned US patent prosecution matters
Manage incoming filing requests, tasks, including document preparation, and perform project work in accordance with established deadlines in the dedicated software platform
Analyze correspondence received from USPTO to ensure accuracy of information
Prepare and review required documents for filing, as requested; upload of same with the USPTO all US patent prosecution filings, including applications (utility or design, provisional, nonprovisional, divisional, continuation, and national stage), responses to any PTO actions or examinations, petitions, terminal disclaimers, issue fee payments, etc.
Prepare, file, and report of US formalities (e.g., POAs, assignments, declarations, drawings), and non-substantive USPTO documents, such as filing receipts, or notice of publications
Prepare draft reporting for substantive USPTO actions, including preparing draft amendments/responses to official actions and notices to file missing parts, obtaining identified references, and processing notices of allowance
Complete Office Action and Notice of Allowance review forms addressing any inventorship/assignment issues, and preparing related paperwork (e.g., extensions, RCEs, corrected ADSs, name changes, maintenance fee addresses, etc.)
Generate draft QC checklist to be included with draft filing documents
Proof Letters Patent, including review of issued claims and bibliographic information
Provide client support for portfolio management, including accommodating client-specific reporting guidelines, and responding to client phone calls and/or emails relating to specific requests or reports
Sustain working knowledge of US patent prosecution rules and recommend procedural modifications to accommodate changes as needed
Complete administrative tasks in support of US filing specialists
Communicate regularly with the assigned Patent Prosecution Specialist (PPS) regarding the timing of filing IDSs, as well as reporting any IDS filed to the client
Perform quality control reviews of US patent filings as needed, ensuring all documents are accurate, complete, and compliant with firm and USPTO requirements
Triage and prioritize incoming filings for QC review, communicating expected turnaround times to IP professionals and practitioners
Collaborate with the IP Quality Control Manager and other team members to continuously improve QC processes and outcomes
Maintain high standards for quality control in all aspects of the role, proactively identifying and addressing potential errors or inconsistencies
Apply the firm’s risk management directives and best practices to all late evening filings