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Patent Counsel Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

NetApp

IP Agent

Morrisville, NC · Hybrid

S/he will be responsible for conducting patent mining sessions, supervising outside counsel during the patent prosecution process, and harmonizing NetApp's patent strategy with its business strategy.

NetApp, Inc.

IP Agent

Morrisville, NC · On-site

S/he will be responsible for conducting patent mining sessions, supervising outside counsel during the patent prosecution process, and harmonizing NetApp's patent strategy with its business strategy.

JBT Marel Corporation

Patent Attorney

Apex, NC · Hybrid

Patent Attorney Development-oriented and visionary company is looking for a Patent Attorney. Are you experienced within IP and a self-driven person? 📍 Location: JBT Marel Boxmeer 🕒 Employment ...

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Patent Counsel information

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How much do patent counsel jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for patent counsel in Raleigh, NC is $22.33, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.01 and $23.56 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a patent counsel?

A patent counsel is a senior level patent attorney that works in a law firm. They handle cases related to patent law, which is legal ownership protection for scientific inventors. As a patent counsel, your responsibilities vary based on your specialization. If you work in patent infringement, you act as one of your client’s lawyers to defend their property in a federal court. If your focus is in prosecution, your duties revolve around getting your client’s patent application submitted, approved, and registered. While the primary qualifications are a law degree and licensing from the state bar, most patent lawyers also have a degree in a scientific field. While this is not technically necessary, experience in science can significantly improve your analytical and debate skills for this career.

How does a patent counsel typically collaborate with research and development teams within an organization?

Patent Counsel often work closely with research and development (R&D) teams to identify inventions with commercial potential and ensure proper protection through patent filings. This collaboration involves regular meetings to discuss ongoing projects, providing guidance on patentability, and educating researchers about intellectual property considerations. By being involved early in the innovation process, Patent Counsel help streamline the patent application process and align IP strategies with business goals. Effective communication skills are essential, as translating technical concepts into legal documentation is a key part of the role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a patent counsel, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Patent Counsel, you need a strong background in patent law, intellectual property strategy, and a technical degree (often in science or engineering), along with admission to the patent bar. Familiarity with patent management systems, legal research databases, and patent prosecution tools is standard. Exceptional analytical thinking, attention to detail, and strong communication skills set top candidates apart in this role. These competencies are crucial for effectively protecting innovations, navigating complex legal landscapes, and advising organizations on intellectual property matters.

What is the difference between Patent Counsel vs Patent Agent?

AspectPatent CounselPatent Agent
CredentialsLaw degree, bar admission, patent bar examPatent bar exam, no law degree required
Work EnvironmentLegal teams, law firms, corporate legal departmentsPatent offices, law firms, corporate R&D
Roles & ResponsibilitiesLegal advice, patent strategy, litigation supportPatent application drafting, prosecution, prior art searches

Patent Counsel typically holds a law degree and is admitted to the bar, enabling them to provide legal advice and handle patent litigation. Patent Agents, on the other hand, focus on patent prosecution and must pass the patent bar exam but do not hold a law degree. Both roles work within similar environments like law firms and corporate legal departments, but Patent Counsel often handles broader legal issues related to patents.

More about Patent Counsel jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Patent Counsel jobs in Raleigh, NC?

The most popular types of Patent Counsel jobs in Raleigh, NC are:

Patent Counsel jobs near you
Infographic showing various Patent Counsel job openings in Raleigh, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 7% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,441 per year, or $22.3 per hour.

IP Agent

NetApp

Morrisville, NC • Hybrid

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago

NetApp rating

9.4

Company rating: 9.4 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 496 rated business services

Job description

Job Summary

NetApp, a multi-billion dollar technology leader and highly sought-after employer, is adding an IP Counsel or Agent to join its award-winning legal department. The successful candidate will support the development of NetApp's global patent portfolio. S/he will be responsible for conducting patent mining sessions, supervising outside counsel during the patent prosecution process, and harmonizing NetApp's patent strategy with its business strategy.

This patent professional will work closely with NetApp's engineering, technical, and business organizations as an integral partner throughout the research and development process. The ideal candidate will be comfortable engaging directly with engineers, facilitating invention disclosure discussions, identifying patentable innovations, and influencing technical stakeholders on intellectual property strategy.

We are looking for a highly motivated, tech-savvy patent counsel or agent with at least five years of patent prosecution and portfolio experience in software, cloud computing, hybrid cloud technologies, AI-enabled technologies, and enterprise technology solutions.

This is a hybrid position based in Morrisville, NC RTP or Witchita, KS. 

Areas of Responsibility
  • Conduct patent mining sessions with product engineering teams in an efficient manner.
  • Provide recommendations to senior leadership about what inventions should be patented.
  • Supervise outside counsel in all aspects of patent prosecution, including drafting, office actions, and appeals.
  • Build awareness and perform outreach about NetApp's patent program among product engineering teams and educate them about the importance of intellectual property.
  • Manage technology and systems for patent portfolio management, including evaluating possible uses of AI tools.
  • Partner directly with software, cloud, and engineering teams to identify, evaluate, and protect innovative technologies.
  • Review patent claims and prosecution strategy to ensure appropriate quality, breadth, scope, and alignment with NetApp's business objectives.
  • Manage and strategically develop patent portfolios while balancing business priorities, innovation goals, and intellectual property protection.
Qualifications
  • Strong interest and ability to develop in-depth knowledge of NetApp's wide range of data management solutions and obtain patent protection for new innovations.
  • Registered and in good standing to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  • Experience as a registered Patent Agent or Patent Attorney is acceptable. A law degree is not required provided the candidate is qualified to practice before the USPTO.
  • Preferred experience includes a combination of law firm patent prosecution experience and in-house patent portfolio management experience within the technology sector.
  • Four years of experience prosecuting patents and managing patent portfolios for software, cloud computing, hybrid cloud technologies, AI-enabled technologies, and related enterprise technologies.
  • Proficient in the use of AI and patent portfolio management tools.
  • Management and copyright experience desirable.
  • Ability to build credibility, advocate, and influence business and other teams.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with engineers and technical stakeholders and translate complex technologies into strong intellectual property strategies.
  • Ability to prioritize and deliver multiple simultaneous projects under pressure.
  • Strong collaboration skills across teams and organizations.
  • Experience working with software, cloud, SaaS, data management, storage, AI, machine learning, or related enterprise technology environments strongly preferred.
  • Domestic and international travel may be required.

Compensation:
The target salary range for this position is 147,900 - 191,000 USD. The salary offered will be determined by the candidate's location, qualifications, experience, and education and may be outside of this range. Final compensation packages are competitive and in line with industry standards, reflecting a variety of factors, and include a comprehensive benefits package. This may cover Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement or Pension Plans, Paid Time Off, various Leave options, Performance-Based Incentives, employee stock purchase plan, and/or restricted stocks (RSU's), with all offerings subject to regional variations and governed by local laws, regulations, and company policies. Benefits may vary by country and region, and further details will be provided as part of the recruitment process. 

What NetApp employees say

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About NetApp

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The NetApp portfolio of leading data, application, and storage solutions helps organizations manage applications and data everywhere across hybrid multicloud environments. Our 30 years of innovation have made us the proven leader in all-flash storage. We have the only enterprise-grade storage OS available natively on the world’s biggest public clouds. Our data services offer the best security and protection in the industry. We have CloudOps services that will revolutionize how you work in the cloud. And that’s just scratching the surface. In a world of hybrid multicloud complexity, we envision a better IT experience—an evolved cloud state where on-premises and cloud environments are united as one, always delivering simplicity, security, savings, and sustainability. To get you there, we build solutions that drive faster innovation wherever your data and applications live, with unified management and AI-driven optimization. No walled gardens. No lock-in. You get the freedom to do what’s best for your business today and the flexibility to adapt to whatever tomorrow throws at you.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Sunnyvale, CA, US

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