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Paralegal, Patent Prosecution Support

Job Description
We partner with the business to ensure we maintain our company’s values and high ethical standards, comply with the law, protect our people, and enhance our reputation. We strive to foster an environment that is inspiring, supportive, and diverse
Position Description:
The Office of General Counsel is seeking a Patent Prosecution Paralegal to provide global patent prosecution support to the Intellectual Property (IP) organization. This position is responsible for supporting multiple patent attorneys, managing U.S. and foreign dockets, and assisting with U.S. and foreign patent filing and prosecution.
This position has a flexible hybrid office schedule based in Rahway, NJ. 
A successful candidate should possess strong oral and written communication skills, be self-motivated and excel in a team environment. The candidate should also have a demonstrated capacity to manage and prioritize multiple tasks efficiently in a high-volume environment to timely meet all deadlines.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 
  • Maintain an independent docket of tasks to be handled by the paralegal; independently draft and/or prepare simple to moderately complex legal documents including "shell" amendments (requests for continued examination, notices to file missing parts, certificates of correction) and prepare applications and other documents for filing
  • Review notice of allowance and file history; prepare documents for internal review, including the preparation of allowed claims and payment of issue fee
  • Independently draft and/or prepare responses to ex-US patent prosecution agents including, responding to requests for prior art disclosure and Form 3 requests during prosecution in Israel and India
  • Demonstrate and maintain a strong working knowledge of US and foreign patent prosecution procedures, including familiarity with the Code of Federal Regulations (Title 37) and the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP).
  • Electronically file documents, including amendments and other responses, calculate and pay necessary fees using the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) Electronic Filing System (EFS-Web) and/or Patent Center
  • Proofread granted patents, with particular attention to the granted claims and application data and prepare certificates of correction where necessary
  • Calculate patent term adjustment (PTA) using electronic tools
  • Monitor the progress of patent applications and patent attorney dockets
  • Correspond with inventors, outside counsel and foreign agents
  • Ensure electronic prosecution documents are properly named and saved in the IP Group's document management system
  • Review contents of patent application files to check for compliance with USPTO requirements and departmental standards and best practices
  • Assist attorneys on patent-related projects including due diligence and acquisitions/divestures
  • Effectively liaise with patent attorneys, filing specialists, docketing staff, and administrative associates, as appropriate
A successful candidate may also be called upon to assist with other duties and special projects within the team/IP Group.
Position Qualifications:
Education Minimum Requirement:
  • High School degree required
  • Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, or Paralegal certificate preferred
Required Experience and Skills:
  • Minimum of three (3) years of patent prosecution experience in a law firm or in-house legal department
  • Substantive knowledge of US and foreign patent prosecution principles, strategies and technology, and strong legal advisory skills
  • Ability to independently handle routine legal issues/documents with employees and third parties under direction of attorney as appropriate
  • Ability to independently solve problems that arise within job responsibilities and expectations
  • Ability to independently develop legal solutions for business issues with minimal supervision/support 
  • Accuracy & attention to detail in analyses and communications
  • Ability to speak and write clearly and succinctly including on complex legal issues, and ability to craft effective communications that emphasize key points and ideas 
  • Effective time management to meet deadlines including project management skills, prioritization, consistent delivery of commitments, and ability to organize information and build upon ideas of others
  • Autonomy on routine tasks as well as projects of greater complexity, and ability to recognize need for and seek further direction of attorney
  • Discrete in handling sensitive and confidential information, and a high level of integrity  
  • Clear motivation and focus on achieving measurable, tangible results
  • Willingness to adopt change,
  • Advanced Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint) and Adobe Acrobat
  • Notary Public Commission (can be obtained after being hired into the role)
Preferred Experience and Skills:
  • Specific experience supporting pharmaceutical or biotechnology patent prosecution
  • Prior experience with PTA calculation, review, and analysis
  • Proficiency with ChemDraw software
Our Support Functions deliver services and make recommendations about ways to enhance our workplace and the culture of our organization. Our Support Functions include HR, Finance, Information Technology, Legal, Procurement, Administration, Facilities and Security.
Who we are …
We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.
What we look for …
Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.
NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS
In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.
If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.
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Click here to request this role’s pay range.
Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders). Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.
For more information about personal rights under Equal Employment Opportunity, visit:
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.
Under New York City, Washington State and California State law, the Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.
Expected salary range:
$80,320.00 - $126,500.00Available benefits include bonus eligibility, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days.  For Washington State Jobs, a summary of benefits is listed here.
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 
Employee Status:
RegularRelocation:
No relocationVISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
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