Contract Patent Paralegal

Overview

An organization is seeking experienced patent paralegals to support a high-volume patent prosecution pipeline involving approximately 200 pending applications across multiple technology domains. These include AI health platforms, supplement delivery technologies (such as lipid nanoparticles and microencapsulation), photobiomodulation devices, medical diagnostics, and advertising technology. This role involves working directly with inventors and patent attorneys to ensure quality and accuracy in patent filings.

Responsibilities

• Review dependent claims for consistency, antecedent basis, and coverage gaps relative to independent claims
• Verify that patent figures correspond correctly to specification references and claim elements
• Perform quality control on attorney redlines before final submission, ensuring no errors in cross-references, figure numbering, or claim dependencies
• Manage USPTO filing logistics including entity status, fee calculations, IDS preparation, oath/declaration, and assignment documents
• File patent applications via USPTO Patent Center or EFS-Web
• Track deadlines across the portfolio, including provisional-to-non-provisional conversion dates, response deadlines, and priority dates
• Manage the patent pipeline by monitoring application stages, identifying bottlenecks, and producing status reports
• Coordinate communication between inventors, multiple patent attorneys, and the USPTO

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of patent prosecution paralegal experience, specifically with utility patents (not trademarks or design patents)
• Direct experience filing through USPTO Patent Center or EFS-Web
• Ability to manage 15 or more active patent filings simultaneously
• Familiarity with technical subject matter in at least two of the following areas: biotech/pharma, software/AI, medical devices, chemical/materials science
• Exceptional attention to detail, especially in cross-referencing claims against specifications
• Ability to work with fast turnaround times without multi-day delays on quality control tasks
• ABA-approved paralegal certificate or equivalent credentials preferred
• NALA CP or NFPA RP certification is a plus

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in boutique patent firms or in-house intellectual property departments preferred over big-law experience
• No requirement for a science degree, as the role does not involve drafting claims or conducting prior art searches

Location

Details regarding the work location or remote options were not specified.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation details and benefits were not provided in the job description.