General Attorney (Trademark Law)

The Office of the Solicitor acts as litigation counsel for the USPTO on intellectual property law matters and also works in collaboration with the Department of Commerce on interagency intellectual property law matters. The incumbent will have opportunities to brief and argue cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, as well as manage and participate in litigation in other federal courts. The work is challenging, and the atmosphere is professional and collegial.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has not issued qualification standards for attorney positions. However, the USPTO sets minimum qualifications for attorney positions and sets forth these qualifications in each vacancy announcement. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least one full year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade level in the federal service. For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-14. Qualified applicants should possess both specialized experience and professional/legal experience as listed below: Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience drafting pleadings, briefs, and/or legal opinions in the area of trademark law; and Experience conducting legal research and drafting written work product analyzing complex and difficult legal, factual, or policy issues in the area of trademark law. AND Applicants must possess a minimum of four (4) years of professional law/legal experience, post J.D. as described below: Professional Legal/Law Experience is defined as having experience including judicial clerkship(s), in the area of Trademark litigation. Trademark litigation includes federal district court trademark cases, trademark appeals to the U.S. federal courts of appeal, and trial proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. 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.