Patent Paralegal

Patent Paralegal

This role is accountable for end-to-end paralegal patent support to patent attorneys, from the filing of new patent applications, worldwide filings and PCT applications, National Phase entry, all the way through to the patent being granted, exhibiting good execution in terms of proactivity, quality, and quantity. The role will report to the Patent Paralegals Team Leader for Europe.

We create a place where people can grow, be their best, be safe, and feel welcome, valued and included. We offer a competitive salary, an annual bonus based on company performance, healthcare and wellbeing programmes, pension plan membership, and shares and savings programme.

We embrace modern work practises; our Performance with Choice programme offers a hybrid working model, empowering you to find the optimal balance between remote and in-office work.

Discover more about our company wide benefits and life at GSK on our webpage Life at GSK | GSK

In this role you will

• Provide full patent paralegal support to attorneys covering end-to-end patent prosecution, from filing of new patent applications, worldwide filings and PCT applications, National Phase entry, all the way through to the patent being granted in all appropriate countries.
• Responsibilities include, but not limited to preparing patent specification, figures, sequence listings, IDS and other cited reference documentation, preparation of all internal and external documentation/forms, routine drafts of responses to Official communications and Office actions, sending instructions to agents and monitoring acknowledgements, calculation of any applicable fees payable on filing, actively resolving procedural issues as they arise, and any other activity related to patent preparation and prosecution.
• Work with internal docket systems, actively managing attorney dockets ensuring attorneys have full visibility of future, upcoming and urgent matters, where appropriate performing cross checks and closing out office actions. Monitoring and complying with deadlines for all required filings throughout the entire patent prosecution process.
• Manage electronic files relating to attorney case dockets, incorporating internal and official correspondence from patent offices around the world. Initiate and compose routine correspondence, ensuring timely and accurate drafting.
• Communicate with relevant patent offices and external counsel globally to ensure requirements are understood and convey any necessary information to attorneys in respect to the patent prosecution process.
• Assist attorneys with the tasks involved in-licence/out-licence of cases working with third parties and external counsel to ensure an efficient and seamless transfer. Be part of any patent prosecution team if required

Why you?

Basic Qualifications & Skills:

We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:

• Secondary/High school education or equivalent is required,
• Experience working as a patent prosecution paralegal, legal secretary, patent administrator or comparable position with experience working in a private practice or in-house legal environment.
• Strong understanding of EU/US and international patent prosecution procedures.
• Excellent IT skills (Windows, Excel, Adobe) and ability to use patent database management systems. Competent in software packages that support patent prosecution work.
• Must be well-organized and able to handle a heavy workload and cope with ever increasing changes, multiple deliverables, and deadlines, while maintaining a calm and professional manner.
• Demonstrated capacity to work and deliver on tight timelines whilst maintaining a focus on quality.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

Please note the following skills are not necessary, just preferred, if you do not have them, please still apply:

• Formal paralegal training/certificate is preferred.
• Excellent attention to detail, with strong capability for problem solving, analysis, judgment, and reasoning.
• Strong interpersonal skills and good communication (written and verbal).
• The ability to engage and interact effectively with a diverse team, build strong partnerships, and develop relationships that enable honest and open conversations.
• Decisive, performance and customer driven.

Closing Date for Applications – 21st February 2025 (COB)

Please take a copy of the Job Description, as this will not be available post closure of the advert. 
When applying for this role, please use the ‘cover letter’ of the online application or your CV to describe how you meet the competencies for this role, as outlined in the job requirements above. The information that you have provided in your cover letter and CV will be used to assess your application.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on the science of the immune system and the use of new platform and data technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas (infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/ immunology and oncology).

Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it’s also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued, and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are open to all talent. In the US, we also adhere to Affirmative Action principles. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to neurodiversity, race/ethnicity, colour, national origin, religion, gender, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, disability, genetic information, military service, covered/protected veteran status or any other federal, state or local protected class*(*US only).

We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on [email protected] or 0808 234 4391.  The helpline is available from 8.30am to 12.00 noon Monday to Friday, during bank holidays these times and days may vary.

Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels. However, we have created a UK Recruitment FAQ guide. Click the link and scroll to the Careers Section where you will find answers to multiple questions we receive

As you apply, we will ask you to share some personal information which is entirely voluntary. We want to have an opportunity to consider a diverse pool of qualified candidates and this information will assist us in meeting that objective and in understanding how well we are doing against our inclusion and diversity ambitions. We would really appreciate it if you could take a few moments to complete it.  Rest assured, Hiring Managers do not have access to this information and we will treat your information confidentially.

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