Employment
Opportunities at Maine Cernota & Rardin
Maine Cernota & Rardin’s administrative and professional support personnel are an integral part of the firm’s commitment to excellence and integrity in serving the needs of our clients. We take pride in our highly skilled, dedicated staff, and are resolved to develop and nurture a diverse and cooperative workplace that values balance between personal and professional life.
Maine Cernota & Rardin is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider applications for all positions without regard to race, color or creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, public assistance status or any other legally protected status.
OPEN: Paralegal
The IP Patent Paralegal will be responsible for the creation, revision, and filing of prosecution documents and docketing of deadlines. The position requires excellent attention to detail, strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will have a high level of analytical thinking and problem solving skills. A working knowledge of Microsoft products and the ability to work both independently and in a team environment is a must. Strong customer service orientation and oral and written communication skills to effectively interact with all tiers of personnel and clients are essential.
Responsibilities
• Support various intellectual property attorneys to provide excellent service to our clients
• Prepare and file patent and trademark applications and other responses
• Prepare basic U.S., provisional, non-provisional, convention and design application documents, including transmittals, Application Data Sheet and drawings
• Review and maintain a docket for timely reporting of communications to the client and foreign associates
• Timely handling of various prosecution formalities
• Complete basic formality documents for national filing requirements, including Powers of Attorney, assignments, and inventor declarations
• Complete legalization of documents, as required; order priority documents and assignments from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; obtain foreign priority documents
• Review Notices of Allowance, prepare corresponding checklist, and report to client
• Perform additional duties as assigned
Qualifications
• Experience in international and/or U.S. prosecution
• Must have a high school diploma (or equivalent), college degree and/or a paralegal certificate ABA is preferred
• Thorough knowledge of patent procedural requirements and USPTO practices required
• Strong attention to detail, strong organizational skills and initiative.
• Ability to work proactively and independently to manage completion of projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work effectively with a team, clients, cultures, and personalities. Willingness to pitch in anywhere as needed.
• Flexibility, adaptability and resilience; creativity to solve shifting challenges. Comfort with tackling multiple roles. Eagerness to learn new technologies.