Summary Imagine a transformative summer experience working as an intern as part of the USPTO Law Internship Program where you will be starting your career working side by side with intellectual property (IP) and administrative law leaders. Here we celebrate, support, and thrive by supporting the IP economy through collaboration and expertise. Join us as part of a team that makes meaningful changes with a global impact across the IP community. Responsibilities 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. These positions are located in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and may be assigned to any USPTO business unit requiring the services of a paid intern under a formal program designed to provide planned work experience and related study at an accredited college or university. The USPTO fosters innovation, competitiveness, and job growth in the United States by conducting high-quality, timely patent and trademark examination and review proceedings to produce stable, reliable, and predictable intellectual property (IP) rights; guiding IP policy and improving IP rights protection; and delivering IP information and education across America and worldwide. Two distinct business lines, Patents and Trademarks, administer the patent and trademark laws that provide protection to inventors and businesses for their inventions and brands and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the United States through the preservation, classification, and dissemination of patent and trademark information. In addition to the Patents and Trademarks business units, the USPTO organization includes several other supporting business areas, including, the Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the Chief Communications Officer, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, Office of Policy and International Affairs, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). This exciting internship opportunity will start early June and will not exceed 90 days. Interns are asked to commit to work a full-time schedule during the duration of their appointment. Interns will be provided with a laptop, Lexis/Nexis training, and other legal training as needed. As part of the USPTO Law Internship Program, you will receive practical, hands-on experience by engaging in a variety of engaging and challenging activities. This exciting opportunity is ideal for you! If selected, you will support USPTO legal matters across practice areas by: Conducting legal research and analyzing statutes, regulations, case law, and agency precedent for attorney review. Assisting with case preparation by organizing files and dockets, drafting memoranda, correspondence, and sections of briefs, and preparing exhibits. Supporting legal proceedings and meetings by drafting talking points, assembling and annotating materials, coordinating logistics, and taking notes as directed. Collaborating with attorneys, paralegals, examiners, and administrative staff to gather information, clarify issues, and advance casework. Observing administrative and judicial proceedings regarding the USPTO's work. Adhering to USPTO procedures and professional ethics by maintaining confidentiality, following record-keeping and citation standards, and escalating conflicts or ethical concerns to supervisors. Ensuring quality and timeliness by proofreading, verifying citations, meeting deadlines, and seeking supervisory guidance when needed. You'll get to choose from one of the Organizational Offices below where you can best showcase your skills and make an immediate impact. The Office of the Under Secretary (OUS) Office of the Commissioner for Patents Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks (Trademarks) Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA) Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) Office of General Counsel (OGC) Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has not issued qualification standards for this position. USPTO sets minimum qualifications for the position and sets forth these qualifications in each vacancy announcement. To be eligible for this position, you must: (1) be a U.S. Citizen or National; (2) be currently enrolled in law school as a 1st, 2nd or 3rd year law student with at least a 2.75 grade point average; (3) be in good academic standing; If selected, the above qualifications must be maintained throughout the period of employment. One full academic year of undergraduate; graduate; vocational; trades; or technical is the number of credit hours determined by the college, university or school to represent 1 year of full-time study. All education beyond high school must be accredited by an accrediting body or organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education You must be accepted or enrolled in an accredited law school and taking at least a half-time academic course load. The definition of half-time is the definition provided by the school in which you are enrolled. *Completion of at least one course in Intellectual Property or Administrative Law is a preferred but not required. GS-05: Candidates must be currently enrolled and completed at least one semester as a 1st year law student. GS-07: Candidates must be currently enrolled as a 2nd or 3rd year law school student. Students must be in good academic standing (GPA of 2.75 or higher). 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. 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 lost consideration. 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. Additional Information If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information. This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position. This is an Excepted Service Position. This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "LOW". Background Investigation - If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice. Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid. CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: OPM CTAP/ICTAP. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the 'Required Documents' section of this announcement. More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued. All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information).
