Patent Legal Secretary Job at Palmer Legal Staffing in Washington

About the Role

A Patent Legal Secretary for a temporary assignment at a D.C. law firm. The role provides legal secretarial and administrative support to attorneys in litigation and patent prosecution practices. The hybrid work position is located in Washington, DC with core hours Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. including one hour for lunch. The position requires flexibility to work overtime as needed and hybrid – three days in‑office and two days remote.

Pay

$30.00/hr – $40.00/hr (DOE). Temporary.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare drafts and file executed documents for new applications including Provisional, National Phase, Continuation, Divisional, and Continuation‑in‑Part.
• Review and process formalities including Filing Receipts, Notices of Missing Parts, and Notices of Publication.
• Prepare drafts and file executed documents during patent prosecution stage such as Responses/Amendments, IDS’s, petitions, etc.
• Keep up to date on USPTO rules.
• Revise documents, including generating tables of content and authorities for briefs.
• Make travel arrangements and process expense reports.
• Time entry and electronic file maintenance.
• Perform other related administrative duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

• 5‑10 years of patent prosecution experience required.
• Accurate typing skills of 60+ wpm required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required.
• Proficient in USPTO PATENT CENTER platform.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively communicate and work with people at all levels.
• Professional appearance and demeanor.
• Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree preferred but not required.

How To Apply

Please respond with your resume for consideration. We welcome all candidates that meet the required qualifications with recent relevant experience. Palmer Legal Staffing is an equal opportunity employer.

About Us

Palmer is an award‑winning staffing agency offering direct hire, temp‑to‑hire, and temporary placements for administrative, management, executive, legal, and more. We represent more than 500 of the finest law firms and legal departments in the D.C. area.