IP Assistant
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP is seeking an experienced Intellectual Property (IP) Assistant to join their Boston office, supporting a dynamic Life Sciences practice. This role involves providing both practice-specific and administrative support to a team of IP attorneys and technical specialists, with a strong emphasis on patent prosecution and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) filings. The IP Assistant will report to the designated IP Coordinator for the Life Sciences team and will be responsible for managing docketing and administrative needs for assigned timekeepers.
Key responsibilities include preparing and filing complex USPTO submissions, coordinating attorney reviews, and ensuring timely client reporting. The IP Assistant will correspond with clients, foreign counsel, and the USPTO regarding patent actions and filing statuses, and coordinate with the Foreign Filing Department to support international filings. Additional duties involve reviewing incoming USPTO correspondence, managing non-substantive U.S. docket items, coordinating the preparation of Information Disclosure Statements, patent drawings, and sequence listings, and preparing draft response documents for attorney completion. The role also requires communicating case updates to internal departments, reviewing docket clearance reports, organizing files for transfers, and staying current on USPTO rules and procedures. Comprehensive administrative and billing support to attorneys, responding to client billing inquiries, and assisting with client reports and research projects are also part of the daily tasks.
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of five years of patent prosecution experience in biotechnology or the life sciences, preferably within a high-volume law firm environment. Strong organizational and prioritization skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to work independently while managing competing deadlines are essential. The candidate should demonstrate sound judgment, remain calm and productive under pressure, and possess a team-oriented mindset with strong communication skills.
Nelson Mullins offers a competitive salary range of $74,600 to $85,000 annually, determined by factors such as experience, skills, and location. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for merit-based raises and benefits, including healthcare, retirement plans, and paid time off.
With more than 1,000 attorneys, policy advisors, e-discovery professionals, and other business professionals across multiple offices, Nelson Mullins has strong roots in the business community and an appreciation for new directions in the business world. The firm values relationships, collaboration, forward-thinking, leadership within the profession, and community service, providing employees with opportunities for professional growth and development.