Elevate your career at an agency that celebrates, supports, and thrives on building the bridge that ensures intellectual property (IP) rights are accessible to everyone. The USPTO is a diverse and inclusive organization that is seeking a talented professional to serve as an Administrative Patent Judge. The USPTO has been serving the economic interests of America for more than 200 years. We are responsible for granting US intellectual property rights for patents and trademarks.

Requirements

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) Suitable for Federalemployment.
• Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278) will be required upon appointment.

Qualifications

To be eligible for the APJ position, you must demonstrate that you meet the qualifications for this position by submitting a resume, narrative responses to the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs), proof of educational requirements, and a writing sample. Applicants are required to input narrative responses to PTQs and writing sample in the textboxes as prompted by USAJobs. Uploading documents addressing the PTQs and writing sample will not be accepted. Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs): You are required to submit a narrative response(10,000 character limit (to include spaces) that demonstrate extensive and comprehensive experience with the following: a) Conducting and/or managing patent prosecution, examination, and/or litigation(including experience with IPRs/PGRs), that demonstrates a thorough understanding and knowledge of the statutes, regulations, case law, rules of practice, guidance, and agency policy related to the practice of patent law, including: analyzing legal issues, factual issues, and associated evidence, of patentability; and drafting clear, logically-developed arguments and/or decisions based on the law, facts, and evidence. b) Effectively communicating and working with colleagues to develop a strategy and collaboratively draft documents. c) Analyzing technical issues related to electrical and/or computer technology (can be demonstrated through experience, work or otherwise, and/or education). The Writing Sample: Please respond to the following 3 questions using your own words, unedited by others. Each response should be up to 7000 characters (to include spaces). 1. What do you think should be a top priority at the PTAB and how would you address it? 2. What change in patent law in the last 10 years has had a significant impact, and why? 3. Describe an experience when you had to collaborate with and persuade a group of peers to approach a case in the manner you thought was best. Who was involved, how did you approach it, and what was the outcome? Experience: The APJ position typically requires approximately 10-15 years or more of patent experience. Patent Experience includes, but is not limited to: (1) prosecuting patent cases and/or litigating patent cases such as in the private sector, at the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the United States International Trade Commission, or the United States Department of Justice; and/or (2) experience at the USPTO Office of the Solicitor or Office of Patent Legal Administration, or experience as a PTAB Patent Attorney, PTAB law clerk, and/or Patent Examiner. You will receive credit for all qualifying patent experience, including volunteer patent experience. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

You must provide at least one of the following as proof of fulfillment of the requisite education requirement, as described in the general requirements for admission to practice in patent cases before the USPTO available at https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/OED_GRB.pdf (General Requirements):

A. Possess a Bachelor's degree, Master's Degree, or Doctor of Philosophy Degree (referred to as "degree(s)") in a Recognized Technical Subject.

Applicant must establish possession of the necessary scientific and technical training by providing a transcript showing that a degree was awarded in one of the following subjects by an accredited U.S. college or university, or that the equivalent was awarded by a foreign university in one of the following subjects:

1. Engineering (Eng.) Physics 2. Environmental Eng. 3.Gen. Eng. 4. Genetic Eng. 5. Geological Eng. 6. Industrial Eng. 7. Marine Eng. 8. Materials Eng. 9. Mechanical Eng. 10. Metallurgical Eng. 11. Mining Eng. 12. Nuclear Eng. 13. Ocean Eng. 14. Petroleum Eng. 15. Textile Eng. 16. Biology 17. Biochemistry 18. Biological Science 19. Biophysics 20. Botany 21. Computer Science* 22. Electronics Technology 23. Food Technology 24. General Chemistry 25. Genetics 26. Marine Technology 27. Materials Science 28. Microbiology 29. Molecular Biology 30. Neuroscience 31. Organic Chemistry 32. Pharmacology 33. Physics 34. Textile Technology 35. Aerospace Eng. 36. Aeronautical Eng. 37. Agricultural Eng. 38. Bioengineering 39. Biomedical Eng. 40. Ceramic Eng. 41. Chemical Eng. 42. Civil Eng. 43. Computer Eng. 44. Electrical Eng. 45. Electrochemical Eng. 46. Electronics Eng.

*For more information regarding acceptable Computer Science degree visit https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/OED_GRB.pdf.

Degrees In Other Subjects: Applicant with a degree in a subject not listed above, such as Pharmacy, Mechanical Technology, or a Computer Science degree from an institution that was not accredited by the CSAC of the CSAB or by the CAC of ABET on or before the date the degree was awarded must establish Applicant possesses the necessary scientific and technical training under either sections B or C below.

OR

B. Possess a Degree in Another Subject other than degree listed in section A.

Applicant must establish possession of scientific and technical training equivalent to that received at an accredited U.S. college or university for a degree in one of the subjects listed in section A. To establish such equivalence, applicant can satisfy one of the following four options, other training, or other education listed below. Applicant must submit the necessary documentation and objective evidence showing satisfaction of one of the options or other means of qualifying.

Option 1: 24 semester hours in physics. Only physics courses for physics majors will be accepted.

Option 2: 32 semester hours in a combination consisting of the following: 8 semester hours in a combination of chemistry and physics, with at least one course including a lab, and 24 semester hours in biology, botany, microbiology, or molecular biology. Only courses for science or engineering majors will be accepted.

Option 3: 30 semester hours in chemistry. Only chemistry courses for chemistry majors will be accepted.

Option 4: 40 semester hours in a combination consisting of the following: 8 semester hours in a combination of chemistry, physics, and/or biology, with at least one course including a lab, and 32 semester hours of chemistry, physics, biology, botany, microbiology, molecular biology, or engineering. Only courses for science or engineering majors will be accepted. For Computer Science, see other "Other Acceptable Course Work".

All acceptable coursework for Options 2 and 4 must be for science or engineering majors.

OR

C. Applicant relying on practical engineering or scientific experience or who does not qualify undersection A or B above may establish the required technical training by demonstrating applicant has passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) test. Applicant attempting to qualify under this section must submit a transcript showing the award of a Bachelor's degree.

OR

D. Provide evidence that applicant has successfully passed the USPTO registration exam.

Evidence includes a copy of the notice stating that you passed the examination from the USPTO.

AND

E. Proof of successful completion of a law degree (J.D.).

AND

F. Proof of active membership of the Bar of any state, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or any U.S. territory, in good standing. In addition to the education requirement, applicants must also meet the specialized experience.

Contacts

• Address EXRD - Patent Trial and Appeal Board Office of Human Resources Mail Stop 171 P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 US
• Name: Isis Thomas
• Phone: 571-272-9307
• Email: [email protected]