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Temporary Patent Attorney Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Fenwick & West LLP

I.P. - Patent Agent

New York, NY · Hybrid

$250K/yr

... attorneys, and regular feedback aimed at accelerating technical and legal growth. While patent ... Except as otherwise required by law, temporary employees are generally not entitled to these ...

Fenwick & West LLP

I.P. - Patent Agent

Washington, DC · Hybrid

$250K/yr

... attorneys, and regular feedback aimed at accelerating technical and legal growth. While patent ... Except as otherwise required by law, temporary employees are generally not entitled to these ...

Fenwick & West LLP

I.P. - Patent Agent

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$250K/yr

... attorneys, and regular feedback aimed at accelerating technical and legal growth. While patent ... Except as otherwise required by law, temporary employees are generally not entitled to these ...

Fenwick & West LLP

I.P. - Patent Agent

Boston, MA · Hybrid

$250K/yr

... attorneys, and regular feedback aimed at accelerating technical and legal growth. While patent ... Except as otherwise required by law, temporary employees are generally not entitled to these ...

Fenwick & West LLP

I.P. - Patent Agent

Seattle, WA · Hybrid

$250K/yr

... attorneys, and regular feedback aimed at accelerating technical and legal growth. While patent ... Except as otherwise required by law, temporary employees are generally not entitled to these ...

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Temporary Patent Attorney information

See salary details

$67K

$149.4K

$259.5K

How much do temporary patent attorney jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for temporary 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 the difference between Temporary Patent Attorney vs Patent Agent?

AspectTemporary Patent AttorneyPatent Agent
CredentialsLaw degree, bar admission, patent law experienceTechnical degree, patent bar exam
Work EnvironmentLaw firms, corporate legal departmentsPatent law firms, corporate IP departments
Employer & Industry UsageLegal services, patent prosecutionPatent prosecution, IP consulting

Temporary Patent Attorneys and Patent Agents often work in similar environments, handling patent applications and legal matters. The main difference is that Temporary Patent Attorneys are licensed lawyers with legal training, while Patent Agents are technically qualified to prepare and file patents but are not lawyers. Both roles are essential in patent law, but their credentials and scope of practice differ.

What are some common challenges faced by temporary patent attorneys when integrating into new teams or projects?

Temporary patent attorneys often face the challenge of quickly adapting to different organizational cultures and workflows, as they may join teams on short notice for specific projects. They must rapidly familiarize themselves with ongoing cases, existing patent portfolios, and internal processes. Effective communication and flexibility are critical, as temporary attorneys frequently collaborate with in-house counsel, inventors, and other attorneys to ensure smooth transitions and maintain project continuity. Building rapport and demonstrating expertise early on helps overcome these challenges and contributes to successful project outcomes.

What does a Temporary Patent Attorney do?

A Temporary Patent Attorney is a legal professional hired on a short-term or contract basis to assist with patent-related work. Their responsibilities include drafting and filing patent applications, conducting patent searches, providing legal opinions on patentability and infringement, and assisting with patent litigation or prosecution. Temporary Patent Attorneys often help organizations manage overflow work or cover staffing gaps, ensuring timely and compliant handling of intellectual property matters. They may work in law firms, corporate legal departments, or as independent contractors.

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

To thrive as a Temporary Patent Attorney, you need a law degree, admission to the bar, registration with the USPTO, and strong expertise in intellectual property law and patent prosecution. Familiarity with patent management software, legal research databases, and document management systems is typically required. Excellent analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective written and verbal communication skills help you stand out in this role. These skills ensure accurate patent filings, effective client representation, and compliance with complex legal standards in a fast-paced environment.
More about Temporary Patent Attorney jobs
What cities are hiring for Temporary Patent Attorney jobs? Cities with the most Temporary Patent Attorney job openings:
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Temporary Patent Attorney jobs near you
Infographic showing various Temporary Patent Attorney job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 10% Full Time, 73% Part Time, 5% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 9% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,437 per year, or $71.8 per hour.
I.P. - Patent Prosecution Associate - Life Sciences

I.P. - Patent Prosecution Associate - Life Sciences

Fenwick & West LLP

Boston, MA • Hybrid

$235K - $390K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

Job Description Summary:

For over 50 years, Fenwick & West has helped some of the world's most recognized companies become, and remain, market leaders. From emerging enterprises to large public corporations, our clients are leaders in the technology and life sciences sectors and are fundamentally changing the world through rapid innovation. One reason for this success is Fenwick's nationally recognized Patent Group, which was named the Patent Prosecution Firm of the Year by Managing Intellectual Property (Nationwide 2023 & 2022 and Western U.S. 2024 & 2021-2022), ranked as a Tier 1 Patent Prosecution Firm in California by Chambers USA (2025), named as Highly Recommended for Patent Prosecution in California by IAM Patent 1000 (2025), and is consistently recognized as a leading patent prosecution practice by The Legal 500, including receiving the Highest Tier Nationally for Patent Prosecution (2024).

Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced patent attorney for our life sciences patent practice in our Silicon Valley, Boston, New York or Washington, DC offices. The ideal candidate has at least 3 years of law firm experience, though a candidate with fewer years of experience could also be a fit. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated individual with a Ph.D. (or M.S. with research experience) in Cellular & Molecular Biology, Immunology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or a related field to join our busy life sciences patent prosecution and counseling practice as a patent attorney. Some experience with medtech, AI, and/or medical/biotech devices is also a plus. Duties include but are not limited to: manage client relationships and client patent portfolios; conduct prior art database searches for patentability and freedom to operate analyses; counseling; litigation support; conduct IP due diligence for financings and corporate deals; draft patent applications and responses to office actions; train and mentor junior patent agents and attorneys; and participate in post-grant procedures at the USPTO. Must have superb technical, written and verbal communication skills. Broad scientific knowledge in biotechnology is required. The individual must possess initiative, be a fast learner, and work well on disparate teams. Must be registered with the USPTO as a patent practitioner. This is a full-time position with in-office requirements of at least three days a week.

To apply, the candidate must complete our online application and include a cover letter, resume, full academic transcripts (undergraduate and graduate transcripts), and two writing samples (1. an application drafted by the candidate, and 2. an office action response with persuasive argument drafted by the candidate).

Agency recruiters: please submit separately via your agency's Workday portal.

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Benefits and Compensation Details:

At Fenwick, we believe that our partners and employees are our most important asset. Helping you and your families achieve and maintain good health - physical, emotional, and financial - is the reason we offer a comprehensive benefit program. We provide benefits to eligible employees under plans such as Healthcare, Life Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Wellbeing. Except as otherwise required by law, temporary employees are generally not entitled to these benefits.

The anticipated range for this position is:

$235,000 - $390,000

Depending on the role, the actual base salary offered may depend upon a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.

A discretionary bonus for eligible employees may also be available based on performance. Additional information about employee eligibility for benefits and discretionary bonus will be made available upon request.

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