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Associate Patent Attorney Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Bodman's Intellectual Property Group is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Associate Patent Attorney to join our growing office in Grand Rapids. In this position, you will focus on ...

Description Bodman's Intellectual Property Group is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Associate Patent Attorney to join our growing office in Grand Rapids. Key Responsibilities In this ...

Patent Associate/Patent Agent About the Opportunity Our client, a top AmLaw Global 100 firm, is currently seeking an Associate Patent Attorney or Patent Agent to join their Intellectual Property ...

Patent Attorney

Manhattan, NY · On-site +1

$165K - $205K/yr

Patent Attorney Bookoff McAndrews (BoMc) is seeking a full-time registered Patent Attorney with 2-5 ... associate/partner relations," and "quality of work." The Washington Post named us one of its 2024 ...

Patent Attorney

Richmond, VA · On-site +1

$165K - $205K/yr

Patent Attorney Bookoff McAndrews (BoMc) is seeking a full-time registered Patent Attorney with 2-5 ... associate/partner relations," and "quality of work." The Washington Post named us one of its 2024 ...

EE/CS Patent Attorney

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$235K - $305K/yr

Patent Attorney - Electrical & Computer Technologies LA A highly touted and established law firm seeks a Patent Attorney Associate with 3-6 years of experience to join its expanding patent group. The ...

EE/CS Patent Attorney

San Diego, CA · On-site

$235K - $305K/yr

Patent Attorney - Electrical & Computer Technologies LA A highly touted and established law firm seeks a Patent Attorney Associate with 3-6 years of experience to join its expanding patent group. The ...

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Associate Patent Attorney information

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$46K

$108.2K

$172.5K

How much do associate patent attorney jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate patent attorney in the United States is $108,160.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,000.00 and $130,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Associate Patent Attorneys when working with inventors and technical teams?

Associate Patent Attorneys often navigate the challenge of translating complex technical concepts from inventors into clear, legally robust patent applications. Collaborating with technical teams requires strong communication skills to ensure that all inventive aspects are accurately captured and protected. Additionally, managing competing deadlines for multiple patent filings and responding to office actions from patent examiners can be demanding. Successfully balancing these responsibilities while maintaining up-to-date knowledge of patent laws is essential for career growth in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Patent Attorney, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Patent Attorney, you need a strong background in law and a relevant technical or scientific field, along with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and admission to the patent bar. Familiarity with patent management systems, prior art search databases, and intellectual property (IP) software is typically required. Excellent analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills set top performers apart in this role. These skills are crucial for drafting precise patent applications, ensuring legal compliance, and protecting clients’ innovations.

What is the difference between Associate Patent Attorney vs Patent Agent?

AspectAssociate Patent AttorneyPatent Agent
CredentialsJuris Doctor (JD), patent bar admission, law licenseTechnical degree (e.g., engineering, science), patent bar admission
Work EnvironmentLaw firms, corporate legal departments, patent officesPatent law firms, corporate R&D departments, patent offices
Roles & ResponsibilitiesDrafting patent applications, legal analysis, client counseling, patent prosecutionDrafting patent applications, patent prosecution, legal analysis (no law license required)

Associate Patent Attorneys typically hold a law degree and are licensed attorneys, allowing them to provide legal advice and represent clients in legal proceedings. Patent Agents, on the other hand, have technical degrees and pass the patent bar but are not licensed attorneys, focusing mainly on patent prosecution and drafting. Both roles are essential in patent law, but Associate Patent Attorneys can handle broader legal matters beyond patent prosecution.

What is an Associate Patent Attorney?

An Associate Patent Attorney is a legal professional who specializes in patent law, typically working under the supervision of more senior attorneys at a law firm or in-house legal department. Their primary responsibilities include preparing and prosecuting patent applications, conducting patentability and infringement analyses, and advising clients on intellectual property matters. They often hold a law degree and a technical or scientific background, enabling them to understand complex inventions. Associate Patent Attorneys work closely with inventors, examiners, and clients to secure and protect patent rights.
More about Associate Patent Attorney jobs
What cities are hiring for Associate Patent Attorney jobs? Cities with the most Associate Patent Attorney job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Patent Attorney jobs? The most popular types of Patent Attorney jobs are:
What states have the most Associate Patent Attorney jobs? States with the most job openings for Associate Patent Attorney jobs include:
Infographic showing various Associate Patent Attorney job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 8% Full Time, 88% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,160 per year, or $52 per hour.

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


Job description

Job Title: Associate Patent Attorney 


Neugeboren O'Dowd is a full service intellectual property law firm with office locations in the Denver-Boulder, Colorado corridor.   We are looking for a highly motivated and ambitious individual who wants the opportunity to grow in a firm that values their unique talents. Although our ideal candidate is an associate patent attorney with 3-5 years experience in prosecuting EE-related patent applications, we will gladly accept any resume if you're an enterprising and resourceful EE patent attorney.  This position offers the opportunity for both remote and in-person (downtown Louisville, Colorado) work at your discretion.  This is a full time position.


Reports to: Firm Partners


Salary:  Neugeboren O'Dowd's compensation is merit and experience based but we also offer a production based compensation scheme as an option for qualified applicants.  We pride ourselves in focusing on productivity and efficiency rather than hours, time or billing minimums.  However, in order to better compare ourselves to our competitors we expect a revenue based minimum productivity goal that translates to approximately 1200-1400 billable hours per year.  As required by the Colorado Equal Pay Act, a good faith salary range for this position is approximately $150,000 - $250,000 per year.  A discretionary bonus may be available based on performance and associates are also eligible to share in client origination credit.


Firm Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, group term life insurance, short and long term disability, unlimited PTO, 401(k) automatically vested company contributions (3% of salary), employee assistance program.  In addition a large list of discounted third party services, products and supplementary benefits are offered through our benefits provider network.


Position Summary:

The Patent Attorney provides support to the partners and their clients related to projects such as patent preparation and prosecution, technology evaluation and opinion work, due diligence, prior art searching, litigation support and associated technology evaluation.


Job Requirements:  

  • Subject matter experience in all aspects of domestic and international patent prosecution.  Desired technical and educational/industry background is for electrical engineering or related subject matter.  Applicants with physics, computer science, software, mechanical engineering, consumer products, medical devices, semiconductor fabrication and associated equipment, robotics, data storage, materials science, and/or diagnostic tools will also be considered if the applicant can provide support on and/or has significant experience in prosecuting EE-based inventions. 
  • Experience in trademark prosecution/counselling and litigation is welcome but not required.
  • Patent Office Registration Number (or qualified to sit for the Patent Bar Exam with significant prosecution experience).
  • Admitted to Colorado Bar or the ability to sit for the Colorado Bar Exam.
  • Academic credentials that qualify for this role and the ability to comprehend and become proficient in new technology areas.

General Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

  • Provide excellent client service by maintaining a positive and professional attitude as well as positive and cooperative relationship with legal staff, peers and administrators, as well as when interacting by phone or in person with the firm's clients and external contacts.
  • Experience and familiarity with the Patent Application Information retrieval System (PAIR), Electronic Filing System (EFS), and Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS).
  • Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, MS Teams, Adobe, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio.
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.


Check out all we have to offer at www.neugeborenlaw.com