Technical Specialist or Patent Agent

Application Requirements
Due to the exciting level of interest in our firm, we are unable to individually contact all candidates to collect materials to complete applications. To submit a complete application, please ensure the following documents are included:

• Resume
• All academic transcripts (unofficial is okay)
• Writing sample (must have been written in past 2 years)

About Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.
Named for several years as a "great place" to work by The Washington Post and Washington Business Journal, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. is proud to be one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms in the world. We recognize that it is the talent and dynamism of each individual at Sterne Kessler that makes that possible. With that in mind, we have cultivated an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating with just the right touch of fun and exuberance. We offer a competitive compensation package with excellent benefits and are Metro-accessible in a prime downtown location with many nearby restaurants and shops.

Sterne Kessler is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

About The Technical Specialist Or Patent Agent Role
We are looking to fill this role with either a Technical Specialist title (with genomics expertise, but no law firm experience) or a Patent Agent title (with a genomics background, possess USPTO registration number, law firm experience not required). The firm supports new Technical Specialists and Patent Agents by providing formal training programs that cover patent law fundamentals, claim drafting, and prosecution strategies specific to the chemical and biotech fields. We promote hands-on experience by assigning new Technical Specialists and Patents Agents to work directly with experienced Directors on actual cases, allowing for guided learning and immediate integration into client work. Furthermore, the firm fosters continuous professional development through mentorship, internal seminars, and resources for preparing for the Patent Bar Exam, ensuring a pathway for growth and eventual transition to Associate roles.

Role location:
This role is based in our Washington, D.C. office on a hybrid basis, though remote candidates in the United States will still be considered. If you're hybrid in the Washington, D.C. office, we have flexibility to pick which days you work in the office.

Responsibilities & Requirements
As a Technical Specialist or Patent Agent in the Biotechnology & Chemical Group, you will:

• Assist in the drafting and preparation of patent applications for complex genomic inventions (e.g., NGS, CRISPR, bioinformatics) and related claims. Support senior staff in preparing and filing a range of USPTO documents, including Information Disclosure Statements (IDS) and responses to basic Office Actions, following established procedures and guidance.
• Perform focused technical and patent landscape research related to genomic technologies. Synthesize findings into clear written reports and summaries to support senior Patent Agents and Attorneys in patentability, FTO, and validity analyses.
• Interact with scientific inventors and R&D personnel to facilitate invention disclosure sessions, taking detailed notes and assisting senior staff in gathering essential technical details regarding novel genomic sequences, assays, or platforms.
• Diligently maintain and monitor the patent prosecution docket, assisting in the tracking of work due dates and generating regular reports to ensure all statutory deadlines are identified and met.

Requirements

• PhD in bioinformatics, virology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, molecular genetics, human genetics, immunology, or related scientific discipline
• Stellar academic credentials
• Genuine and demonstrated interest in applying your scientific and research experience to the IP and patent law field
• An enterprising spirit to build on the comprehensive formal and informal training you will receive

Preferred Skills

• Previous wet lab experience

Working with Us
Compensation philosophy
: The actual salary rate offered to candidates within that range will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, years of relevant experience, education, and the candidate's overall qualifications for the position as assessed by the firm.

Salary range:
The salary range for this role is $130,000 to $160,000 at a 1900 billable hour goal.

The firm has a flexible hours program under which an Associate can request a lower billable hour goal with a commensurate salary. Under the flexible hours program, you may select a billable hour goal in the range of 1400 to 2000 hours. Associates at our firm primarily doing patent or trademark prosecution tend to select hour goals less than 2000 hours, while attorneys primarily doing litigation and/or inter partes work are more likely to select hour goals of 2000 hours.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans in addition to virtual care services through CloseKnit

• On-site Wellness Center in our Washington, D.C. office

• Staffed by a Nurse Practitioner, offers firm employees and other qualified family members with a range of medical services

• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare, dependent care

• Wellness program
• Firm-paid life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage
• Firm-paid short and long term disability insurance
• Supplemental life insurance and supplemental AD&D coverage, supplemental long term disability insurance*, long term care insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Transportation commuter benefit program
• Back-up childcare and family support
• Pet insurance discount
• Employee Assistance Program services