Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from U.S. Citizens (U.S. citizenship required at time of application).

• Provides highly specialized legal advice and counsel within the Air Force on complex patent prosecution and related intellectual property matters.
• Prepares and presents briefs and arguments and prosecutes appeals and interferences before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; conducts infringement investigations; renders opinions on the validity of patents; assists with technology transfer.
• Prepares, executes and prosecutes domestic and foreign patent applications, including accompanying formal legal papers and, as part of the process, reviews invention disclosures for technical sufficiency and patentability.
• Conducts legal and scientific research and advises employees on rights in inventions, patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, technical data, computer software.
• Advises on rights in technical data and computer software and administers the office program to monitor contractor compliance with the Patent Rights clause in government contracts and other instruments.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
• Security clearance requirements are based upon actual position being filled. Selectee is expected to be granted with and/or maintain the appropriate security clearance required for the position
• Locations are not negotiable. The actual duty locations available may be located on the Air Force Civilian Service website.
• This Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) will be used to form a pool of qualified applicants who will be considered for accelerated hiring as they become available.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
• Attorney appointments are subject to serve one-year probationary period
• Relocation costs or other incentives may be available and considered by the organization.
• Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
• Candidates are not required to have active duty service or veterans’ preference to be referred and considered. All qualified candidates who meet the recruitment assessment criteria will be referred to the selecting official.
• The employee must, within 30-days of assuming this position and by 31 October annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report. Employee is required to attend annual ethics and procurement integrity training.
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
• Position may be subject to random drug testing
• Incumbent is required to maintain active bar status, which permits the practice of law, in at least one State or jurisdiction during the entire course of their employment.
• *** Incumbent must be currently registered to practice as an attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and admission to the bar.**

Qualifications

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

• You MUST have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD). Transcripts are required to be submitted with your application
• In addition, at the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status with a bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status and is date stamped within 4 months of the application date. A copy of the bar card is not sufficient or acceptable proof of good standing.

In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet the following experience requirements:
Specialized Experience: In addition to the basic requirement: you must have professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that commensurate with the position's duties and responsibilities such as knowledge of patent prosecution and intellectual property legal requirements; preparing, filing, and prosecuting of patent legal documentation; conducting interference proceedings before the US Patent and Trademark Office Board of Patent Appeals; preparing trademark and patent applications and prosecution documents that are legally sufficient, clear, technically accurate; negotiating and preparing Technology Transfer agreements; conducting investigations on infringement and validity of patents; AND conducting legal and scientific research and advising on patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, technical data, and computer software.

COMPETENCIES: Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competencies in the following areas:
1. Problem Solving
2. Communication
3. Business Management
4. Teamwork and Leadership

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

For additional information on direct hire opportunities with the Air Force please click here.