Legal professionals choose to work at Pierce Atwood for many reasons. For some it's the opportunity to work at a successful firm with a first-class national reputation, for others it's the chance to work on interesting matters from small, local clients to large, national or international clients, and for many it's to work with smart people who value collaboration and collegiality.

Responsibilities Include:

  • Opening new client matters
  • Maintaining electronic patent prosecution files
  • Preparing patent application filing documents, including application data sheets, declarations, powers of attorney, assignments, and PCT requests
  • Managing the signature workflow for formal documents (e.g., declarations, assignments, and powers of attorney)
  • Recording and filing documents with the USPTO
  • Drafting reporting letters for incoming USPTO and non-US patent office documents as well as foreign agent correspondence
  • Preparing office action response shells and attending to electronic filings of responses
  • Drafting information disclosure statements and obtaining foreign art and non-patent literature
  • Reviewing incoming documents for prior art to cite in information disclosure statements
  • Corresponding with foreign agents
  • Overseeing attorney dockets and calendars to ensure deadlines are met and actions are timely reported to clients
  • Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of USPTO procedures
  • Other duties as required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

  • A minimum of five years patent support experience
  • Knowledge of U.S. and foreign patent filing and prosecution
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat, standard patent docketing systems, and standard document management databases
  • Proficiency in Patent Center and ePCT
  • Consistent attention to detail
  • BA/BS degree preferred

To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume to Maria Gaetani at mgaetani@pierceatwood.com.

Job Summary

Fulfills a variety of responsibilities to keep the Augusta office running smoothly, including office coordination and legal administrative support for the Government Relations Practice Group. Maintains positive contact with clients and co-workers; observes confidentiality in all client and firm-related matters.

Position is based in the Augusta office (Tuesday-Thursday) with opportunity to work in Portland office (Monday/Friday).

Responsibilities

  • Track legislative documents (bills) as they go through the legislative process, updating legislative database (Access); run reports weekly and send to clients and attorneys.
  • Check the Secretary of State Rulemaking Notices weekly; flag for clients of interest.
  • Listen in on public hearings and work sessions and take notes as needed.
  • Hand deliver documents to the lobbyists at the State House when needed.
  • Assist attorneys in time entry and billing; work closely with accounting to ensure invoices are properly processed.
  • Assist in preparing legislative testimony and regulatory comments, and assembling materials.
  • Stay up-to-date on lobby disclosure reporting timeframes, procedures, and processes. This includes calculating lobbying time and filing monthly lobbying reports for the attorneys.
  • Maintain calendars for government relations professionals, including events, meetings, and appointments. Make travel and lodging arrangements.
  • Renew annual attorney memberships with the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar and the Maine State Bar Association. Renew lobbyist State House passes bi-annually.
  • Oversee the overall administration of the Augusta office (e.g., communicating with building management and cleaning company for office needs, purchasing office supplies, coordinating with IT Department for office equipment issues).
  • Process library materials, including filing newspapers, news releases, and books.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

  • Minimum of three years’ experience providing administrative support.
  • Bachelor’s degree preferred.
  • Experience within a legislative advocacy workplace, or experience within legislative or regulatory agencies a plus.
  • Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
  • Technical proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Access database skills are a plus.

To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume to Maria Gaetani at mgaetani@pierceatwood.com.