Early Career
With our annual minimum billing requirement of 1,500 hours, WAVS IP associates and patent agents have more control over their personal and professional lives. Our practitioners are paid a percentage of their collected billings. Additional bonus compensation can be earned by exceeding certain billing thresholds. Practitioners may choose a billing and compensation level comparable to that of a large firm or may choose to have more time available for pursuing other interests.
At a very early stage in their careers, WAVS IP associates have direct contact with clients, including in-house counsel and inventors.
Every new associate is assigned a mentor who is responsible for initial work assignments and early professional development. Aside from day-to-day training received from partners and senior practitioners, the firm provides training sessions during lunch on Mondays for new associates, as well as more advanced presentations during lunch on Thursdays. In addition, the firm supports attendance at outside seminars pertaining to intellectual property and technology law topics.
Normal partnership track for our associates is six full years of IP prosecution practice, with at least two full years with the firm. However, a longer or shorter partnership track may be appropriate in some cases.
Entry Level Patent Attorney/Agent – Chemistry
We have on-going recruiting for entry level patent agent and patent attorney applicants for patent preparation and prosecution in our chemical group. Technical areas include those relating to semiconductor processing, chemistry and materials sciences, polymer chemistry, and advanced materials.
Qualification Requirements:
Eligible to be admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in chemistry, or other relevant physical sciences field; or pertinent industry experience
0 to 3 years of patent attorney or agent experience
Strong writing and communication skills
Interest in patent prosecution
Ability to work with colleagues in various time zones in the U.S.
Preferred Requirements:
Admission to practice before the USPTO
Ph.D. in chemistry, or other relevant physical sciences field
Prior patent prosecution experience in a law firm setting
Email wavsrecruiting@wavsip.com with “Entry Level Patent Prosecution Position – Chemistry” in the subject line with the following:
Cover letter (In your cover letter, please provide a brief introduction of technical knowledge gained during your technical degree or industry experience and your interest in or commitment to patent prosecution.)
Resume
Transcripts (college, graduate school, and law school if applicable)
Writing samples
References (upon request)
Benefits
Medical Insurance: PPO/Kaiser
Dental and Vision Insurance
Long Term Disability Insurance
Life and Supplemental AD&D Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
529 Educational Plan
401K Plan
Profit Sharing Plan
Employee Referral Bonus Program
Public Transportation Assistance
Use of firm’s Tahoe cabin
Reimbursement for State Bar review course and exam, and Patent Bar exam
Stipend paid during review for California state bar exam
Contact Information
Michael Tse
Hiring Partner
510-663-1100
Patricia Tsai
Hiring Partner
510-663-1100
WAVS IP is a growing, San Francisco Bay Area-based patent law firm with over 25 registered patent practitioners and a diverse client base. WAVS IP offers robust training for entry-level candidates with opportunities for advancement within the firm and also has reputable informal and formal mentorship. We have a friendly work environment and highly trained support staff. Our Bay Area offices are in downtown Oakland and Menlo Park. Remote, in-office, and hybrid working arrangements are supported. We offer a percentage-based compensation plan that generously rewards hard-working practitioners while providing flexibility to maintain a reasonable work/life balance and a competitive benefits plan. WAVS IP does not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or any other legally protected characteristic.