Patent Attorney

About this role

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, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. To qualify at the GS-14 grade level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience prosecuting post-AIA patent cases and handling legal matters, preparing and trying cases, interpreting statues, regulations, and other legal documents for legal sufficiency, and developing sound legal decisions and recommendations involving complex legal issues.

To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience prosecuting substantial post-AIA patent cases as well as handling complex legal problems, preparing and trying cases, making statutory interpretations, preparing legal documents, reviewing documents for legal sufficiency, developing sound legal decisions and recommendations in the field in which little or no legal precedent has been established.

AND In addition to the specialized experience listed above, you must have: GS-14: Three (3) years post J.D. of the professional legal experience listed below. GS-15: Four (4) years post J.D. of the professional legal experience listed below. Professional Law/legal experience, post J.D. is defined as: Professional legal/law experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.