Patent Prosecution Assistant (hybrid)
Merchant & Gould P.C.Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Posted March 4, 2026
55000 - 65000 USD
About the Company
Merchant & Gould provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Job Description
The Patent Prosecution Assistant plays a key role in supporting the firm’s IDS segment, preparing and filing IDS forms, and assisting with USPTO submissions. The role focuses on maintaining accurate IDS records and providing support in general patent prosecution.
Requirements
- Prepare and file IDS forms and ensure correct formatting of references in compliance with USPTO rules.
- Track and compile prior art references (patents, patent applications, and non-patent literature) cited in related cases across U.S. and foreign patent families.
- Maintain and update IDS reference databases or tracking sheets to ensure accurate recordkeeping.
- Coordinate with legal assistants and attorneys to verify citation accuracy and relevance before submission.
- Assist with uploading and submitting IDS documents via USPTO EFS-Web or Patent Center.
- Prepare, review and edit billing invoices
- Save all communications in the appropriate document management system.
- Assist with management of IDS inbox for large clients.
- Forwarding IDS Instructions to outside vendor.
- Serve as a mediator with outside vendor.
- Address time-sensitive IDS action items.
- Monitor docket for an urgent IDS deadline for the matter
- Assist legal assistants with the preparation and review of routine U.S. and foreign filing documents and correspondence.
- Organize and maintain files in accordance with firm and client guidelines.
- Retrieve documents and filings from the USPTO, WIPO, EPO, and other patent authority databases.
- Track key deadlines and coordinate with legal assistants to ensure timely filing and compliance.
- Help prepare materials for client reporting, billing entries, and internal audits.
- Support special projects and general administrative needs within the patent prosecution group.
- Creates patent drawings from sketches, instructions, or CAD files which are to scale and easy to interpret.
Benefits
- Employee medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Life
- AD&D insurance
- Short- and long-term disability
- 401(k) match
- Ten firm holidays