Company Overview

A boutique law firm focused on patent application preparation and prosecution. We offer an inventor-focused approach to the patent application process that is designed to maximize patent portfolio valuation per spend. We spend time and effort fostering attorney-inventor relationships that enhance the quality and depth of the patent applications we prepare and work closely with in-house business and legal talent to ensure the inventions being pursued are aligned with client goals and plans.

Internship Title

Intellectual Property Intern

Internship Description

This internship will support a dynamic team of patent attorneys and patent agents as they represent clients at the US Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) in order to procure patent protection for inventions. This team focuses specifically on technology companies in the mobile, social media, and video gaming industries, and represents some of the top companies in these areas. The team is agile and constantly looking for new areas of consumer technology that are in need of patent protection.

This internship is designed to prepare interns for careers in intellectual property and will provide training and experience that will enable them to work immediately following graduation as patent agents (upon passing the USPTO Registration Exam). Successful candidates will have excellent communication skills, initiative, and desire to understand the patent application process. The position requires a major in physics, computer science, or electrical engineering.

Initial responsibilities for this position will include preparing document templates for patent attorneys and patent agents (such preparation will require independent assessment of issues involved in responding to Notices and Official Actions from the USPTO), helping with the drafting and/or formalizing of patent figures for inclusion in patent applications, proofing patent applications and related documents for filing, and assembling and assisting with the filing of Information Disclosure Statements with the USPTO.

Interns will receive training on patent applications, the patent application process, and procedure before the USPTO and will be expected to observe interviews with patent examiners, invention disclosure meetings with inventors, and docket meetings. It is expected that these activities will enable intern duties to be expanded over time to involve performing filings with the USPTO, and even supervised preliminary drafting of patent applications and Responses to be filed with the USPTO.

Candidate Profile

Ideal candidates are undergraduate students majoring in Physics, Computer Science, Math, Electrical Engineering, or related field.

Skills and Qualifications

Candidates should show superior academic standings as well as extracurricular pursuits and experiences that demonstrate proof of initiative and responsibility. Qualifications and interests related to the field of Intellectual Property are also valued.

Position Function

Legal; Engineering; Computer Science; Physics

Hours Per Week

10 - 20

Additional Information

Esplin & Associates is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national or ethnic. origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, veteran status, all other characteristics prohibited by law.

How to Apply

Please send a resume and statement of interest to hello@esplin.legal.