Patent Attorney (General Law Office)

About the General Law Office

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) serves as the chief legal advisor to the Agency's senior management and program offices on Agency rules, permits, response actions, implementation actions, litigation and legislation. OGC lawyers also work with attorneys in the Department of Justice to represent the Agency in defensive litigation in the federal courts. OGC attorneys routinely engage in challenging issues, addressing complex, and often novel or cutting-edge legal issues. They also develop strong analytical, problem solving and communications skills while working closely with their program policy clients, other OGC colleagues, other agencies and outside stakeholder groups. OGC prides itself on its core values of excellence, community, work- life balance, integrity and respect.

The General Law Office is one of several law offices that comprise OGC and consists of four practice group areas- information management law, information access law, employment and labor law and information technology and intellectual property law (IPIT). Incumbent provides national legal advice on issues involving patents, copyrights, trademarks, data rights, and other forms of intellectual property to the EPA Office of Research and Development, the EPA laboratories, and other EPA program offices. The incumbent handles policy and regulatory issues presented under the Federal Technology Transfer Act and handles related administrative filings, judicial litigation, and Congressional initiatives, inquiries, and briefings.

As the Patent Attorney in this position, you will:

• Serve as the legal authority on EPA's patents and ensure that legal position/rights of the Agency, inventors, and contractors are clearly defined and protected; this includes working with the US Patent and Trademark Office to ensure patents are properly maintained and prosecuted and consulting with scientists, laboratory directors, and contractors regarding potential patent awards.
• Participate in preparation and presentation of cases before the Patent Trial Appeal Board (PTAB) and coordinate with and support the Department of Justice in litigation of patent claims brought in federal court; Counsel Agency clients on matters related to the Agency's Federal Technology Transfer Program and review technology transfer agreements such as Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) and license agreements.
• Advise on other intellectual property matters as and interpret intellectual property provisions in various Agency agreements.
• Work under the general supervision of the Associate General Counsel and Deputy Associate General Counsel, and as appropriate, under the guidance of one or more practice group managers.
• Work closely alongside others with different viewpoints and social identities from your own (including race, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and genetic information).
• If you are selected, you will be expected to report to work as soon as practical but no later than thirty (30) days from the date you receive a final job offer. Extension of this reporting requirement may be granted only under extraordinary circumstances.