Attorney Adviser

Summary

As part of its challenging, multi-faceted mission, the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) is responsible for (a) registering attorneys and agents to practice patent law before the USPTO, (b) developing and administering the patent registration exam, (c) investigating allegations of misconduct by practitioners, (d) overseeing USPTO programs, (e) supporting Patents and Trademarks business units regarding anti-fraud initiatives, (f) federal administrative rulemaking, and (g) outreach.

Duties

• *This vacancy has been amended to extend the closing date until October 19, 2026* The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. This role is the ideal next career step for you if: You enjoy undertaking unbiased, thorough, and timely investigations of alleged professional misconduct to determine appropriate action for protecting the public and the legal system from patent and trademark practitioners who fail to meet professional obligations to clients, the public, and the legal system. You are excited to be part of an energetic outreach program educating the public and patent and trademark practitioners on applicable professional standards and best practices, including monitoring legal developments, creating public training materials, and coordinating with third party CLE providers and stakeholders. You have confidence in programs to support pro bono legal services to under-resourced innovators and to develop the next generation of patent and trademark practitioners. You have a passion for diligently assisting in screening candidates seeking recognition to practice in patent matters before the USPTO to determine if the candidate possesses the required scientific and technical training qualifications as well as good moral character and reputation. You look forward to contributing and preparing a nationwide examination of a candidate's proficiency in patent law and USPTO regulations, policies, and procedures to be registered as a patent attorney or agent. You enjoy assisting with developing policies and procedures for the preparation and submission of an online registration statement to be submitted by registered patent attorneys and agents.

Education

You must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or Master of Laws (L.L.M) degree from an American Bar Association from an accredited law school and an active bar membership of any State, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or any Territorial Court under the U.S. Constitution. If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to General Schedule Qualification Policies for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - US Department of Education. Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in your application not being considered. NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.