Patent Practice Assistant (San Diego)

Sheppard Mullin is a global Am Law 50 firm seeking a Patent Prosecution Practice Assistant. The role involves supporting attorneys and paralegals in patent prosecution and requires general knowledge of U.S. patent rules and procedures. Responsibilities Support life sciences and healthcare IP attorneys, patent agents, paralegals, and practice specialists in all aspects of patent prosecution Assist paralegals and practice specialists with the team’s daily workflow tasks Handle multiple projects, often in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, requiring prioritization and flexibility Collaborate with firm personnel at all levels Skills A minimum of 1-2 years of U.S. patent prosecution experience in a law firm Ability to work independently and within a team environment Strong attention to detail, high degree of accuracy, ability to prioritize tasks, and excellent time management skills to meet deadlines Ability to handle multiple projects with changing priorities while working independently in a fast-paced environment Clear and concise communication skills Possess excellent spelling, grammar, and punctuation skills Proficient working knowledge of filing in USPTO Patent Center Ability to work overtime, evenings, and weekends, as needed Must have proficiency in Windows 11, Microsoft Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, Zoom, and Teams, and experience working with a document management system Must be able to quickly learn new skills and systems A high school diploma or equivalent is required A bachelor's degree or some college Company Overview Sheppard Mullin is a full service AmLaw 50 firm with over 1200 attorneys in 16 offices located throughout California and in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Washington, D.C., Brussels, London, Seoul and Shanghai. It was founded in 1927, and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, USA, with a workforce of 1001-5000 employees. Its website is Company H1B Sponsorship Sheppard Mullin has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 5 in 2025, 7 in 2024, 2 in 2023, 2 in 2022, 4 in 2021, 4 in 2020. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.