Job Description

The role is mainly to support patent attorneys in patent prosecution work in Southern Africa and South Africa and in other administrative tasks . A candidate with a patent background from Southern Africa and South Africa is preferred.

Key responsibilities

Procedural work in relation to new patent and design filings (confirming new filing instructions; opening new matters, preparing and filing application, preparing formality documents, monitoring deadlines/diary and liaising with various local agents); Procedural work in relation to Official Notices (preparing reports and response to formal examination reports, monitoring deadlines and corresponding with clients re reminders, posting corresponding fixed fee); Reporting office actions (substantive examination); Preparing responses to office actions (substantive examination) and amended claims based on clients detailed instructions; Procedural work in relation to Official Notices (preparation of Reports, ideally gradually taking over all the responsibilities thereof, i.e. reporting to client directly, recording correspondence, posting corresponding fixed fee); Invoice related work (checking payment status, monitor client payment status, chasing payment ); Other procedural work (preparing routine late filing/rectification documents); Patent Search, download and preliminary screen (conducting necessary patent search and downloading worldwide patent documents and screening target documents upon required); Checking results of search reports from foreign patent office / agents and compiling draft search report letters to client reporting results of searches; Checking and reporting letters patent; Preparing draft amended claims to comply with local practice when filing corresponding applications in foreign countries, e.g. revising claim dependencies, converting method of treatment claims to recite patentable subject matter; Monitoring deadlines and sending annuity reminders and attending to payment of annuities; Preparing cost estimates and quotes for clients; Updating/maintaining Patricia reminders for own work and for patent attorney.

Person specification

LLB / Paralegal qualification is an advantage; Patent experience is preferred; Excellent at spoken and written English; Good communication skills; Confident, proactive, motivated, strong sense of personal responsibility, patient, detail-orientated and self-disciplined; Excellent time management and can work under pressure, a team player; * Excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, etc).