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Contract Patent Attorney Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mercor

Patent Attorney

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$85 - $120/hr

Contract Compensation: $85-$120/hour Location: Remote Commitment: 20-40 hours/week Role ... Registered patent agent or patent attorney ( USPTO/CIPO/UKIPO ), or trademark prosecution ...

Mercor

Patent Attorney

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$85 - $120/hr

Contract Compensation: $85-$120/hour Location: Remote Commitment: 20-40 hours/week Role ... Registered patent agent or patent attorney ( USPTO/CIPO/UKIPO ), or trademark prosecution ...

Gentex

Patent Attorney

Holland, MI

Registered as a Patent Attorney and admitted to practice before the United States Patent ... employment, contracts, corporate law, securities law, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual ...

Gentex Corporation

Patent Attorney

Holland, MI · On-site

Registered as a Patent Attorney and admitted to practice before the United States Patent ... employment, contracts, corporate law, securities law, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual ...

Langley Research Center

Patent Attorney

Hampton, VA · On-site +1

$127K - $165K/yr

Summary As a Patent Attorney within the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at NASA Langley ... Supports legal review of intellectual property provisions in Federal procurement contracts, grants ...

Robert Half

Patent Prosecution

Irvine, CA · On-site

$69.03 - $79.93/hr

We are looking for a Patent Prosecution specialist to join a respected legal team in California on a Contract to Permanent basis. This opportunity is well suited for an attorney with a strong blend ...

Unified Patents

Senior Patent Counsel

Washington, DC · On-site +1

... patent attorney. Applicants should have at least 5 years of law firm or other relevant experience ... Contract, licensing, and other legal support services Legal writing, support, and other various ...

Unified Patents

Senior Patent Counsel

Washington, DC · Remote

... patent attorney. Applicants should have at least 5 years of law firm or other relevant experience ... Contract, licensing, and other legal support services Legal writing, support, and other various ...

Unified Patents

Senior Patent Counsel

Washington, DC · On-site +1

... patent attorney. Applicants should have at least 5 years of law firm or other relevant experience ... Contract, licensing, and other legal support services Legal writing, support, and other various ...

Mercor

IP Expert - Patent Specialist

New York, NY · On-site +1

$85 - $120/hr

Contract Compensation: $85-$120/hour Location: Remote Commitment: 20-40 hours/week Role ... Write "golden" reference responses at attorney/agent-level quality. * Grade AI-generated responses ...

Magna

Patent Counsel

Troy, MI · On-site

Patent Attorney Registration required. Education/Experience: * Bachelors Degree in Electrical ... contracts, investigate disputes, and propose solutions to mitigate IP and legal risks. * Solid ...

Magna

Patent Counsel

Troy, MI · Hybrid

Patent Attorney Registration required. Education/Experience: * Bachelors Degree in Electrical ... contracts, investigate disputes, and propose solutions to mitigate IP and legal risks. * Solid ...

Robert Half

Patent Paralegal

Southfield, MI · Remote

$38 - $44/hr

This Long-term Contract opportunity focuses on coordinating domestic and international patent ... The position works closely with attorneys, inventors, outside counsel, and government agencies to ...

Eastman

Senior IP Attorney

Kingsport, TN

S. patent applications while overseeing international patent firms in their filings and ... Draft and negotiate IP-related agreements and advise on IP provisions in commercial contracts ...

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Contract Patent Attorney information

See salary details

$67K

$149.4K

$259.5K

How much do contract patent attorney jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract patent attorney in the United States is $149,437.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $112,000.00 and $175,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Contract Patent Attorney job?

A Contract Patent Attorney is a licensed legal professional who provides patent-related services on a contract or freelance basis rather than as a full-time employee. They assist clients with patent applications, intellectual property (IP) protection, patent prosecution, and legal opinions. Companies, law firms, or inventors may hire them for specific projects or on a temporary basis to handle workload fluctuations. This role allows flexibility in work arrangements while ensuring expert IP legal services.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Contract Patent Attorney position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Patent Attorney, you typically need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, admission to a state bar, registration with the USPTO, and expertise in patent law and intellectual property. Familiarity with patent docketing systems, prior art search databases, and legal research tools such as LexisNexis is often necessary. Strong analytical skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly are standout soft skills. These abilities are essential to ensure legal compliance, protect clients’ innovations, and collaborate efficiently with inventors and legal teams.

What types of projects and clients do Contract Patent Attorneys typically handle?

Contract Patent Attorneys often work with a diverse array of clients, including individual inventors, startups, universities, and established corporations, across various technological fields. Projects can range from preparing and prosecuting patent applications, conducting infringement analyses, drafting legal opinions, to advising on intellectual property strategies. You may work independently or as an extension of an in-house IP team, depending on the needs of the client. The variety of clients and technologies ensures ongoing opportunities to expand your expertise and build a versatile portfolio.

More about Contract Patent Attorney jobs
What cities are hiring for Contract Patent Attorney jobs? Cities with the most Contract 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 Contract Patent Attorney jobs? States with the most job openings for Contract Patent Attorney jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Contract Patent Attorney jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Patent Attorney jobs are:
Contract Patent Attorney jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Patent Attorney job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% As Needed, and 33% Full Time. Highlights an 80% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,437 per year, or $71.8 per hour.

Patent Attorney

Mercor

San Francisco, CA • On-site, Remote

$85 - $120/hr

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

About the job

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

Position: IP Expert — Patent / Trademark (Remote, Hourly)
Type: Contract
Compensation: $85–$120/hour
Location: Remote
Commitment: 20–40 hours/week

Role Responsibilities

  • Design realistic IP scenarios from your practice, including Office Action responses, prior art analysis, and patent drafting.
  • Write "golden" reference responses at attorney/agent-level quality.
  • Grade AI-generated responses against structured rubrics.
  • Provide written feedback to the research team to improve model behavior.
  • Participate in onboarding office hours and specialty calibration sessions.

Qualifications

Must-Have

  • Registered patent agent or patent attorney (USPTO/CIPO/UKIPO), or trademark prosecution experience with a J.D. or LL.B./LL.M.
  • 1–4 years of professional experience in IP prosecution or litigation.
  • Bar admission or USPTO/CIPO/UKIPO registration in good standing.
  • Technical background in engineering, computer science, life sciences, or chemistry preferred for patent work.
  • Excellent written communication skills with high attention to detail.

Preferred

  • IP litigation experience (claim charts, invalidity analysis, Markman hearing prep).
  • IP portfolio management experience.
  • Inter Partes Review (IPR) or Post-Grant Review experience.
  • Familiarity with patent analytics tools (PatSnap, Derwent, Google Patents).

Start Date

  • Immediately; applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

Compensation & Legal

  • Hourly contractor

Application Process (Takes 20–30 mins to complete)

  • Upload resume
  • AI interview based on your resume
  • Submit form

Resources & Support

  • For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcome
  • For any help or support, reach out to: support@mercor.com

PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.