Junior IP Legal Assistant

Jr. Legal Assistant (Intellectual Property - Life Sciences)

We are a boutique intellectual property law firm based in Washington, D.C., built at the intersection of science and legal strategy -- founded by a scientist-turned-patent attorney and focused exclusively on the biotech, pharmaceutical, chemical, and materials sectors.

Our team brings deep scientific fluency and partner-level attention to every matter, serving innovators ranging from early-stage startups to large multinational companies with services spanning patent prosecution, portfolio development, freedom-to-operate analysis, risk assessment, trademarks, and IP licensing.

We act as a dedicated external IP partner for clients who need the expertise and oversight of an in-house team without the overhead of building one.

And because we believe exceptional work stems from clarity and well-being, we have built a culture that supports our people with half-day Fridays year-round, quarterly mental health days, birthday leave, and a firmwide holiday closure -- so that both ideas and people can thrive.

Position Overview

We are seeking a detail-oriented IP Legal Assistant to support an IP practice focused on patent prosecution and trademark matters in the life sciences and chemistry sectors.

The successful candidate will provide day-to-day legal support for patent and trademark filings, assist with Information Disclosure Statements (IDS) and client communications, and help maintain docketing and filing workflows to ensure timely, accurate prosecution and portfolio management.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and substantive support for patent prosecution and trademark matters, including preparing and organizing filing materials for U.S. and international submissions.
• Prepare, review, and assemble Information Disclosure Statements (IDS) and related citation lists for patent prosecutions; coordinate with attorneys and inventors to collect prior art and disclosure documents.
• Draft routine correspondence and filing forms for patent and trademark offices; format and proof legal documents, declarations, and cover letters to ensure accuracy and conformity with filing requirements.
• Manage docketing and calendar entries for deadlines, office actions, and filings; monitor status updates and prepare reminders for attorneys and clients.
• Coordinate electronic and physical filing with the USPTO and other patent offices, and support foreign filing logistics with outside counsel when required.
• Maintain organized case files and client records, including patent prosecution histories, assignment records, and trademark portfolios.
• Conduct basic patent and trademark searches and preliminary patentability/novelty checks under attorney supervision; compile background information and patent family data.
• Interact with clients, inventors, and external counsel to request documents, clarify instructions, and provide status updates in a professional manner.
• Support intake, billing, and docket reconciliation tasks; assist with invoicing support and tracking of expenses related to filings and foreign associates.
• Help implement and maintain best practices for IP file hygiene and recordkeeping, and participate in process-improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or related life sciences field preferred; or equivalent paralegal/legal assistant certification with demonstrable IP experience.
• 0-2+ years of experience supporting patent prosecution, trademarks, or other intellectual property matters preferred; internships or coursework in IP or patent law considered.
• Familiarity with patent prosecution concepts (office actions, IDS, claims, priority/filing dates) and trademark filing procedures.
• Hands-on experience or exposure to filing systems and docketing software (e.g., CPA Global, Anaqua, FoundationIP, DocketTrak) and USPTO EFS-Web or Private PAIR a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, excellent proofreading ability, and meticulous attention to detail.
• Organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple matters and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable working with technical subject matter in chemistry, biochemistry, biotech or related life sciences and liaising between technical teams and attorneys.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and PDF tools; experience with patent search databases (e.g., PatFT, Espacenet, Derwent) is desirable.
• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, and respect for client confidentiality and privileged information.
• Eagerness to learn, a collaborative mindset, and a proactive approach to supporting attorneys and improving administrative workflows.

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision
• 401k + company match up to 3.5%
• Full vesting in 2 years
• Commuter benefits of $50/month
• Mental health days
• Paid vacation
• Paid federal holidays
• Early Fridays
• Birthday leave
• ...and more!