Job Title: Patent Associate Attorney – Mechanical Engineering

Location: Iowa, open to Illinois and Missouri

Salary/Payrate: $DOE

Work Environment: In Office 

Term: Permanent / Fulltime

Bachelor’s degree required: Yes

Juris Doctrine - degree required: Yes

Law Licenses: Active Admission to at least one U.S. state bar (required), Admission in the firm’s state is preferred but not required

Referral Fee: AMS will pay $500 should the person you refer gets hired 

Job Description:

The firm is seeking an experienced Patent Attorney with a mechanical engineering background and 5+ years of patent prosecution experience for its Intellectual Property/Patent practice. This attorney will work with a diverse portfolio of clients and technologies, drafting and prosecuting U.S. and foreign patent applications, advising on patent strategy, and counseling clients on IP matters.

Responsibilities

• Draft, prepare, and prosecute patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and international counterparts.
• Conduct patentability, freedom-to-operate, and prior art analysis.
• Provide legal counsel on patent strategy, portfolio management, and IP protection.
• Perform thorough patent searches and detailed legal analysis.
• Collaborate with inventors, engineers, and business clients to understand complex technologies and translate them into robust patent claims.
• Mentor junior associates and participate in training within the practice.

Required Qualifications

• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (required)
• Active admission to at least one U.S. state bar (required)
• Admission in the firm’s state is preferred but not required
• 5+ years’ experience in patent prosecution at a law firm or similar IP environment.
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering (or closely related technical discipline).
• Strong analytical, drafting, research, and communication skills.

Preferred Skills / Experience

• Experience with international patent prosecution and foreign filings.
• Prior work in a law firm IP practice with mechanical or electro-mechanical technologies.
• Ability to manage multiple cases and timelines in a fast-paced legal environment.