Senior Docketing Specialist, Patent

About Us:

Ballard Spahr is a renowned national law firm with more than 750 lawyers across 18 offices in the United States. A career at Ballard Spahr offers a diverse group of mentors, colleagues, and friends, and strong leadership that provides support and encouragement for career growth.

The Senior Patent Docketing Specialist plays a critical role in maintaining the accuracy, integrity and efficiency of the firm’s patent docketing operations. This position requires a highly skilled professional with a deep understanding of US and foreign patent procedures, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to interpret and apply complex patent rules. The Senior Specialist will work closely with the Docket Manager to ensure the practice groups quality control, compliance, and timely updates across all patent related matters.

This position is remote, as long as you are in a state with a Ballard office.

Why Join Us?

• Innovative Work Environment: Become part of a forward-thinking firm that enjoys substantial support and visibility from the firm’s executive leadership.

• Professional Development: Take advantage of continuous learning opportunities and avenues for career growth.

• Inclusion: Join a Business Resource Group and share cultural, experiential, or job-related interests, experiences, and/or backgrounds.

• Impactful Contributions: Play a pivotal role in developing industry-leading solutions that make a significant difference in legal practice and client service.

Your Role:

As a Senior Patent Docketing Specialist within the Intellectual Property team, you will:

• Work with attorneys, paralegals and legal administrative assistants to ensure that patent related issues are addressed in a timely and efficient fashion.

• Manage and maintain U.S. and foreign patent dockets with precision, ensuring all deadlines are accurately captured, tracked and communicated.

• Maintain docketing databases for all domestic and foreign patent prosecution matters including accurately entering, monitoring and clearing deadlines in a timely manner as well as scanning and attaching relevant patent images.

• Review and determine actions and due dates from various types of communication regarding domestic and foreign patent filing (including communication with foreign correspondents), prosecution, renewal and Patent Trial and Appeal Board matters.

• Conduct detailed quality control checks on docket entries to ensure compliance with the practice groups and client requirements.

• Prepare custom reports to track issues such as open deadlines and audits of recently docketed items.

• Work within multiple shared docketing mailboxes daily, handling diverse correspondence from domestic and foreign patent offices.

What We’re Looking For:

• Growth Mindset: Self-motivated with a passion for continuous learning and problem-solving.

• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication abilities.

• Detail-Oriented: Keen attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines independently.

Required Experience:

• Minimum of 5-7 years of dedicated patent docketing experience across both U.S. and Foreign Prosecution.

• Proficient in managing all patent -related deadlines, including U.S. continuation, divisional, Provisionals, foreign filing and PCT National Phase Entries.

• Well versed in applying USPTO, PCT, and foreign jurisdiction rules to ensure accurate and timely docketing.

• Ability to perform advanced quality control of docket entries, ensuring accuracy and compliance with firm and jurisdictional standards.

• Strong collaboration skills to work closely with attorneys, paralegals, and vendor partners.

• Demonstrates ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, balancing priorities with accuracy and efficiency.

• Regular and predicable attendance is a core requirement of this position and the ability to work beyond the standard scheduled hours, as needed.

The salary range for this position is from $85,000 – $90,000, which reflects the Firm’s good faith and reasonable estimate of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual pay will depend on several factors such as the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and location.

Ballard Spahr offers an excellent benefits package. A summary of available benefits can be found here in the Careers section of the firm’s website.

Ready to Grow with Us?

If you are ready to play a vital role in the Firm’s success, we encourage you to apply and be a part of our commitment to excellence.

At Ballard Spahr, we believe that our skills, perspectives, and backgrounds drive innovation and excellence, while our unique culture fosters collaboration and success. Our culture of thriving together forms the cornerstone of how we deliver exceptional service and position our firm for a strong future. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

Ballard Spahr is an equal opportunity employer. We offer equal consideration to all qualified applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, national origin, handicap or disability, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, transgender status, sex stereotyping, genetic information, ancestry, veteran status or any other category protected by applicable law.

The firm is not accepting resumes from search firms for this position.