Patent Paralegal / Docketing Specialist

Job Title: Patent Paralegal / Docketing Specialist
Location: 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Duration: 12-month contract (Potential for extension or permanent hire)
Pay Rate: $20.43 - $48.08/hour (W2)
Benefits: Weekly pay, Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage

Position Overview
The Patent Paralegal / Docketing Specialist provides key support to the Intellectual Property (IP) team by managing patent docketing, data integrity, and administrative tasks. This position ensures timely and accurate maintenance of patent records and assists in daily paralegal operations to uphold compliance and efficiency within the IP department.

Key Responsibilities
Docketing & Data Management

• Review and validate incoming U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and foreign filing correspondence.
• Perform de-docketing, quality checks, and data corrections to maintain system accuracy.
• Ensure data integrity across patent management systems and related records.

Auditing & Quality Control

• Conduct detailed audits of docketed items to confirm accuracy of due dates, task types, and documentation.
• Verify that all correspondence actions are properly reflected and captured in the docket.
• Update record statuses and manage rolling or non-statutory deadlines.

Paralegal & Administrative Support

• Support patent paralegals with prosecution and formality-related tasks.
• Audit and update inventor information, rename files, and save correspondence per documentation standards.
• Manage administrative data within the patent management system (Anaqua).

Qualifications
Required:

• 3-5 years of experience in patent prosecution and docketing.
• High school diploma (bachelor's degree preferred).
• Proficiency with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive, etc.).
• Experience using USPTO electronic filing systems and a patent docketing system (Anaqua preferred).

Key Competencies

• Strong organizational and analytical skills with high attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision.
• Effective communicator and collaborative team player.