Patent Agents
A Step Into the Big Leagues
Experienced patent agents regularly join Finnegan from other law firms. As one of them, you will have the opportunity to work on fast-paced, high-profile USPTO matters, using your science or engineering background and subject specialization on behalf of the most innovative companies across the globe. You’ll take a respected place among a team that includes nearly 300 professionals with scientific degrees, and 65+ professionals with Ph.D.’s. If you are interested in becoming a practicing IP attorney, know that Finnegan offers a highly structured transitional career pathway.
Our Client-Service Approach
Patent Agent expertise is a core component of what Finnegan offers clients and is highly valued within Finnegan’s collegial culture and flat hierarchic structure. Yes, we are a firm with a powerful track record of defending and advocating for our clients and their innovations, but for us, IP law is more than a zero-sum game of winners and losers. Innovation and rulings have multi-dimensional implications, and clients regularly turn to us for guidance as they navigate new or shifting IP terrain. As a Patent Agent at Finnegan, you’ll be right at the center of the IP conversation and can expect regular contact with clients.
Why Finnegan?
Finnegan is about people. As a Patent Agent, you will collaborate with attorneys, peer technical experts, and professional support staff from around the world. The culture here prizes relationships, teamwork, and respect, regardless of title or function. Find out why many Finnegan professionals spend their entire career here.
We practice every major area of IP.
Finnegan serves clients through 10 major IP practice areas and many additional sub- practices. We also follow innovation, with specialist teams focused on more than 20 industries that currently generate the bulk of global IP activity. Most Finnegan Patent Agents work closely with an industry team that matches their area of specialization.
Where You Can Work
Patent Agents work in our Washington, DC headquarters, or in one of our offices situated near innovation hubs in Atlanta, Boston, Palo Alto, Reston, London, Munich, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, or Tokyo.
"In terms of regular exposure to clients, being a working agent on a case here is very similar to being a working attorney."
— Finnegan patent agent
Benefits
At Finnegan, you’ll find that the health and well-being of all our professionals and their families are of the utmost importance. We offer a comprehensive, well-rounded benefits package to meet your health, financial, and educational needs and interests.
Health and welfare benefits
- Affordable health and dental plans
- Vision insurance
- Firm-paid life insurance
- Firm-paid accidental death and dismemberment insurance
- Firm paid long term disability insurance
- Supplemental life, accidental death and dismemberment and long-term disability insurance
- Domestic partner and children benefit
- Flexible Spending Accounts for dependent care, healthcare and parking expenses
- Health Savings Account for eligible employees
- Health advocacy program
- Free resource and care support program for employees with children with developmental disabilities
- Pet insurance
- Supplemental Critical Illness and Accident insurance plans available
- Paid legal plan available
Leave benefits and flexible work schedules
- Paid jury duty
- Paid bereavement leave
- Personal and educational leaves of absence
- Paid medical leave (short-term disability)
- Paid family and parental leave
- Reduced and part-time work schedule options
Retirement benefits
- Participation in firm’s 401(k) and Roth feature
Childcare and eldercare
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- Back-up/Emergency childcare, center-based or in-home
- In-home sick childcare
- In-home backup elder/adult care
- Preferred access spaces for full-time childcare (DC office)
- Child and adult tutoring
- Pet care
- Free resource to assist with coordination of care needs of employee and family members
Additional benefits
- Pre-tax transportation expenses
- Employee assistance program
- Overtime meal and taxicab rides
- Direct deposit
FAQs
What are the hiring criteria for career patent agents?
You must have an outstanding technical background in a hard science, engineering, or computer science, patent agent experience, and demonstrated expertise in your field. Patent agents have the option to apply to and be accepted into an evening part-time law school program local to one of our domestic offices.
Will I be assigned to a specific department?
You are placed into a industry group based on your scientific or technical background. Each practice group has a practice group leader who monitors the workloads and professional development of the practice group members.
What type of work will I get?
Typically, a patent agent focuses on patent prosecution. Work is assigned based on skill sets, professional development goals, and client needs. Finnegan patent agents are expected to efficiently manage a number of concurrent cases.
Is there a mentoring program?
When you join the firm, you are assigned both a partner advisor and a peer advisor. Your partner advisor assists with the formal performance reviews given twice a year and counsels you in regard to your professional development. Your peer advisor will introduce you to others in the firm, answer your questions, and help smooth your transition into the firm.
What is the firm's dress code?
Our day-to-day dress is business casual in all of our offices. Occasionally, you may be required to wear a business suit or comparable formal professional attire.
What is the firm's diversity and inclusion policy?
Finnegan is one of the leading companies in any field when it comes to the recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce. When you meet with us, you will quickly realize that Finnegan values diversity. For more information about our diversity and inclusion efforts, please click here.
Are arrangements for flexible work arrangements available?
Yes. Our Patent Agents can use a number of flexible work arrangements, established by agreement with their Industry team, including flex-time and some split home/office schedules.
How to Apply
To submit your application with Finnegan, please visit our careers page to view our current openings. Please do not submit applications via email.
If you have any questions about our hiring needs or other recruiting-related questions, please reach out to the recruiting contacts below.
Atlanta office:
Hiring Contact: Erica Campbell, Recruiter
Email: erica.campbell@finnegan.com
Boston office:
Hiring Contact: Christine Brennan, Recruiter
Email: christine.brennan@finnegan.com
Palo Alto office:
Hiring Contact: Meave Cox, Recruiter
Email: meave.cox@finnegan.com
Reston office:
Hiring Contact: Morgan Kelly, Recruiter
Email: morgan.kelly@finnegan.com
Washington office:
Hiring Contact: Laurie Taylor, Recruiter
Email: laurie.taylor@finnegan.com