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Summer Patent Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Foley & Lardner LLP

Legal Recruiting Coordinator

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$23.50 - $31.50/hr

Serve as a point of contact for summer associates, summer and entry-level patent engineer recruits, law student candidates, and entry-level associates throughout the recruiting cycle. * Build and ...

Foley & Lardner LLP

Legal Recruiting Coordinator

Denver, CO

$20.50 - $27.50/hr

Serve as a point of contact for summer associates, summer and entry-level patent engineer recruits, law student candidates, and entry-level associates throughout the recruiting cycle. * Build and ...

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Summer Patent Engineer information

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$74K

$152.7K

$300K

How much do summer patent engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for summer patent engineer in the United States is $152,666.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,500.00 and $180,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Summer Patent Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering or science (often pursuing or holding a relevant degree), strong analytical skills, and a keen understanding of patent law basics. Familiarity with patent databases, prior art search tools, and technical writing software is typically required. Excellent attention to detail, communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively set top candidates apart. These skills ensure accurate patent documentation, effective intellectual property protection, and successful teamwork in a highly technical legal environment.

What is a summer patent engineer?

A Summer Patent Engineer is typically an intern or temporary employee who works with patent teams during the summer months, often at a law firm or within a corporation's intellectual property department. Their main duties include supporting patent attorneys or agents with technical analysis, prior art searches, drafting patent applications, and evaluating the patentability of inventions. This role is ideal for students or recent graduates with an engineering or technical background who are interested in intellectual property law. The position provides hands-on experience with the patent process and can help individuals decide if they want to pursue a career in patent law or patent engineering.

What is the difference between Summer Patent Engineer vs Patent Agent?

AspectSummer Patent EngineerPatent Agent
CredentialsTypically pursuing or holding a technical degree; internship or summer program experienceMust pass the patent bar exam; technical background often required
Work EnvironmentInternship or temporary role within law firms, corporations, or patent officesFull-time role in law firms, corporations, or patent agencies
Industry UsageUsed as a training or internship position for studentsLicensed professionals authorized to prepare and file patent applications

While both roles involve patent law and technical expertise, a Summer Patent Engineer is typically an internship for students gaining experience, whereas a Patent Agent is a licensed professional authorized to practice patent law full-time.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a summer patent engineer expect during their internship?

As a Summer Patent Engineer, you can expect to work closely with patent attorneys, inventors, and R&D teams to assist in drafting patent applications, conducting prior art searches, and analyzing technical disclosures. Typical responsibilities include reviewing invention submissions, preparing technical descriptions, and helping evaluate the patentability of new ideas. This role often involves a mix of independent research and collaborative meetings, offering hands-on experience with intellectual property processes while developing communication skills essential for working with cross-functional teams.
More about Summer Patent Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Summer Patent Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Summer Patent Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Patent Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Patent Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Summer Patent Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Summer Patent Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Summer Patent Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Summer Patent Engineer jobs are:
Summer Patent Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Summer Patent Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $152,666 per year, or $73.4 per hour.

Legal Recruiting Coordinator

Foley & Lardner LLP

San Diego, CA

$21.25 - $28.50/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Overview

Foley & Lardner LLP is a great place to work because of what we do and how we do it. Here, your unique perspectives, experiences, and abilities will be embraced and developed, so you can excel. Being a part of Foley means having the opportunities and resources necessary to gain experience, advance professional goals, and forge meaningful connections. It's a place where you can build your career and enjoy professionally satisfying work. We have over 2,300 people who are #HappyatFoley, and we think you will be too.  

Foley & Lardner LLP is seeking a Legal Recruiting Coordinator to execute entry-level attorney recruiting and summer recruiting activities for the firm's California, Denver, and Salt Lake City offices. Reporting to the Legal Recruiting Manager, the Legal Recruiting Coordinator will also contribute to firmwide Intellectual Property entry-level recruiting efforts. This role is responsible for coordinating day-to-day recruiting operations, candidate and summer program experiences, and executing outreach initiatives that support the firm's entry-level legal recruiting goals. The Legal Recruiting Coordinator will regularly interact with candidates, attorneys, law school representatives, and serve as a proactive representative of the firm.

Responsibilities
  • Coordinate and execute law student interviewing programs, patent engineer job fairs, and recruiting outreach events.
  • Facilitate candidate interview scheduling and logistics, including communications and attorney coordination.
  • Support planning and administrative processes associated with the summer associate and summer patent engineer programs.
  • Serve as a point of contact for summer associates, summer and entry-level patent engineer recruits, law student candidates, and entry-level associates throughout the recruiting cycle.
  • Build and maintain strategic relationships with law schools, student organizations, and key recruiting contacts to enhance the firm's visibility and support recruiting initiatives.
  • Maintain accurate recruiting records, candidate files, and budget tracking to support recruiting and summer program operations.
  • Coordinate recruiting committee meetings, materials, and related processes for assigned offices.
  • Collaborate with and support the Legal Recruiting Manager and other members of the Legal Recruiting team on recruiting initiatives, projects, and strategic priorities, including firmwide entry-level Intellectual Property recruiting efforts.
  • Attend recruiting and summer program events as needed. 
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree required.
  • Minimum of one (1) year of recruiting experience in a professional services industry required.
  • Law firm and event planning experience is strongly preferred.
  • Strong organizational, project management, and attention to detail skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with candidates, attorneys, and external stakeholders.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and viRecruit (or a comparable applicant tracking system) required.
  • Ability to travel occasionally and work extended hours during peak recruiting periods.

In support of transparency and equity in the workplace, Foley provides salary ranges for all positions. The figures below represent the full compensation range for this position. The actual amount offered will be between the range minimum and midpoint based on the following factors: education, experience, geographic market, and internal pay equity at Foley.  We are accepting ongoing applications.   Foley & Lardner LLP will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with California's Fair Chance Act.

Salt Lake City - $58,100 to $81,300

Denver and San Diego - $63,900 to $89,400

Los Angeles - $66,800 to $93,500

Silicon Valley - $72,600 to $101,600

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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