Mid-Level Ph.D. Patent Attorney — Life Sciences & Chemistry

Hylton-Rodic Law • Washington, DC

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Hylton-Rodic Law is seeking an experienced Ph.D.-trained Patent Attorney to join our growing life sciences intellectual property practice. The core profile is straightforward: Ph.D. in a relevant life sciences or chemistry discipline; J.D. and active USPTO registration; Approximately 3–6 years of substantive patent drafting and prosecution experience; Experience working directly with sophisticated scientific clients and inventors; and The ability to take meaningful ownership of matters, people, and workflows. This is not simply a production role. We are looking for an attorney who can produce sophisticated patent work while becoming an increasingly important source of judgment, leadership, and leverage within the firm. The role involves working across sophisticated intellectual property matters for innovative life sciences clients, including drafting complex patent applications, managing U.S. patent prosecution, developing and coordinating foreign prosecution strategy, conducting inventor interviews and invention harvesting, performing prior-art and patentability analysis, supporting patent clearance and freedom-to-operate matters, managing patent portfolios and advising on strategy, communicating directly with clients, inventors, and foreign associates, reviewing and overseeing work delegated to legal assistants and other team members, and improving the workflows and systems through which legal work gets done. You should be capable of owning increasingly complex matters without requiring another attorney to manage every step. Excellent substantive work is the foundation of this role, but it is not the entire role. We are particularly interested in someone who can help create leverage across the practice: delegating effectively, identifying problems before they become emergencies, improving workflows, maintaining quality, and helping less-experienced team members operate successfully. We want someone whose presence ultimately makes the practice stronger, more organized, and less dependent on constant senior-level intervention.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in a relevant life sciences or chemistry discipline
• J.D. and active USPTO registration
• Approximately 3–6 years of substantive patent drafting and prosecution experience
• Experience working directly with sophisticated scientific clients and inventors
• Ability to take meaningful ownership of matters, people, and workflows
• Intellectually curious and scientifically sophisticated
• Exceptional legal and technical writer
• Comfortable communicating directly with sophisticated scientists and clients
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Capable of managing multiple matters and deadlines
• Comfortable delegating and providing clear direction
• Resourceful when the answer isn't obvious
• Receptive to rigorous feedback
• Interested in improving how work gets done—not simply completing assigned work
• Able to lead respectfully without ego
• Candidates must currently reside in the DMV area or be willing to relocate

Nice To Haves

• A patent application substantially drafted by you
• An Office Action response substantially drafted by you

Responsibilities

• Drafting complex patent applications
• Managing U.S. patent prosecution
• Developing and coordinating foreign prosecution strategy
• Conducting inventor interviews and invention harvesting
• Performing prior-art and patentability analysis
• Supporting patent clearance and freedom-to-operate matters
• Managing patent portfolios and advising on strategy
• Communicating directly with clients, inventors, and foreign associates
• Reviewing and overseeing work delegated to legal assistants and other team members
• Improving the workflows and systems through which legal work gets done
• Delegating effectively
• Identifying problems before they become emergencies
• Improving workflows
• Maintaining quality
• Helping less-experienced team members operate successfully

Benefits

• Reasonable billable expectations
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Commuter benefits
• Paid time off
• Mental health days
• Birthday leave
• Annual holiday break, including a half-day on Christmas Eve and firm closure through New Year's Day
• Sunshine Fridays/early Fridays when applicable performance targets are met

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree