About Ropes & Gray
Ropes & Gray LLP is a preeminent global law firm focused on providing the highest-quality advice on our clients’ critical legal and business issues. Our collaborative approach gives our clients—which include many of the world’s most respected companies and institutions—ready access to leading corporate, litigation, transactional and regulatory lawyers whose knowledge and experience span industries and geographies.
Our global intellectual property group provides clients across the world with a broad spectrum of IP services, handling cutting-edge cases, transactions, and other strategic matters. We represent clients across a wide range of industries, including technology, media and telecommunications; life sciences; retail and consumer products; private equity; financial services; health care; and education.
Ropes & Gray is an equal opportunity employer.
Job Description
Technical Advisors (TAs) with critical scientific expertise and USPTO experience are important contributors to our intellectual property practice. TAs support the work of Ropes & Gray’s intellectual property litigation and intellectual property transaction practice groups and are well-versed in understanding and explaining interpreting various technical and scientific matters in engineering and life sciences.
Duties/Responsibilities
TAs receive formal, hands-on training and peer mentorship while collaborating with attorneys across our offices to support both U.S. and international clients. TAs will be expected to:
- Assist IP attorneys in technical matters relating to our practice, including litigation, counseling, and licensing matters
- Help draft petitions and briefs for proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
- Assist in preparing court filings and expert reports for use in connection with proceedings before U.S. District Courts, the USPTO, and the European Patent Office
- Participate in interviews with inventors, experts, and engineers
- Assist in conducting patentability and freedom to operate analyses
- Assist attorneys in legal research and technical due diligence in connection with a wide range of transactions and litigations
Required Skills and Education
The firm has positions available for Engineering and Life Sciences Technical Advisors with 0-3 years’ of expertise/knowledge in the areas of electrical or computer engineering, computer science, or organic chemistry. Available positions are in either our Boston, New York, Silicon Valley, or Washington DC. Offices.
Required advanced engineering degrees include M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science.
Required advanced life science degree include organic chemistry Ph.Ds with a background in synthetic organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, immunology, neurobiology, molecular biology, cellular biology and/or biochemistry.
We will consider students who expect to complete their studies no later than the spring of 2024 and recent graduates (spring 2023) at the M.S. and Ph.D. levels. Candidates who are seeking an opportunity to work within the legal industry and genuinely interested in becoming an attorney, are highly encouraged to apply.
Total Rewards Package
The firm offers comprehensive health and well-being benefits, personal and professional development training programs, career growth opportunities and a collegial and supportive culture. The starting base salary for this position is $137,500. In addition, this role is eligible for a discretionary, year-end bonus based on performance. After two years of full-time employment as a Technical Advisor, there is an option to enter law school while continuing to work at the firm. Technical Advisors who enter law school are eligible to receive law school tuition payments that is charged by an accredited and firm-approved law school, and reimbursement for expenses associated with taking the Patent Bar exam. At the completion of law school, an individual who is in good standing at the firm and performed well in law school will be considered for full-time employment as an associate attorney.