Scientific Advisor/Patent Agent

San Diego office of leading international law firm is seeking a registered patent agent with an advanced degree in biotechnology or a related field and with 1+ years of legal experience to join the life science group in the firm's Intellectual Property practice group. The patent agent will work closely with the firm's IP attorneys and other professionals on a broad array of patent prosecution matters, including drafting patent applications and related technical documents, reviewing patent applications for technical accuracy and clarity, filing applications with the USPTO, conducting prior art database searches for patentability, responding to information disclosure statements and other inquiries from the USPTO and other agencies or parties, performing freedom to operate analyses and maintaining the prosecution docket for a portfolio of active patent prosecution matters to ensure all necessary materials are properly and timely filed. In addition, the patent agent will assist the law firm's IP litigation attorney's by providing scientific analysis and advice in connection with various patent litigation matters as well as Patent Trial and Appeal Board proceedings and assisting with preparing scientific witnesses for depositions.

Candidate should have a Ph.D. in biotechnology or related field and must have valid USPTO registration number.

The position pays a base salary of $125,000 - $205,000, depending on the candidate's experience and other factors, plus discretionary bonuses. The firm also provides a full array of healthcare, vision, dental, flex spending and other benefits, and law school tuition assistance may be available.