Attorney-Advisor (Trademark)

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Register Protection Office within the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Examination Policy at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

As a Trademark Attorney Advisor, you will analyze legal issues involving trademark law, register protection, and fraud-related matters, and assist in developing legal analyses, recommendations, and policy guidance to support efforts that safeguard the integrity of the federal trademark register.

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position.

You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at General Attorney Series, 0905.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.

To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the federal service.

To qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, you must possess at least one (1) year of Specialized Experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level AND two (2) years of the Professional Legal/Law Experience.

Specialized experience for this position includes: (1) performing legal research in the area of trademark law or closely related areas; (2) applying knowledge of trademark law to draft analyses, summaries, or recommendations in support of legal counsel; AND (3) assisting internal and external stakeholders by researching and drafting responses to policy-related questions under the guidance of senior attorneys.

AND Professional Legal/Law Experience is defined as having experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled in the area.

This experience is characterized by breadth and depth of experience in rendering professional legal advice and services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of a Federal government agency, private sector, law firm, or other organization; preparing interpretative and administrative orders, rules, or regulations to give effect to the provisions of governing statutes or other requirements of law; drafting, negotiating, or examining contracts or other legal documents; drafting, preparing formal comments, or making substantive recommendations regarding proposed legislation; editing and preparing for publication statutes enacted by Congress and opinions or decisions of a court, commission, or board; drafting and reviewing decisions for consideration and adoption by an organization or official; conducting investigations to obtain facts; determines questions of law; studies, analyzes and evaluates legal precedents, to present findings.

Legal work is described as extremely complex and difficult and requires a high order of original and creative legal endeavor in balancing conflicting interests; has broad or wide-scope impact on an economy, industry, private or public interests; and may involve directly or indirectly very large sums of money.

Work may also involve acting as principal attorney in charge of the preparation and presentation of cases; recommending policies and developing procedures and regulations to implement new or amended legislation; and acting as legal, general or senior counsel to a major firm or organization.

To qualify for this position at the GS-14 level, you must possess at least one (1) year of Specialized Experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level AND three (3) years of the Professional Legal/Law Experience.

Specialized experience for this position includes: (1) performing legal research in the area of trademark law; (2) utilizing knowledge of trademark law to recommend procedural and substantive changes to the legal counsel; AND (3) assist internal and external stakeholders with any policy-related questions.

AND Professional Legal/Law Experience is defined as having experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled in the area.

This experience is characterized by breadth and depth of experience in rendering professional legal advice and services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of a Federal government agency, private sector, law firm, or other organization; preparing interpretative and administrative orders, rules, or regulations to give effect to the provisions of governing statutes or other requirements of law; drafting, negotiating, or examining contracts or other legal documents; drafting, preparing formal comments, or making substantive recommendations regarding proposed legislation; editing and preparing for publication statutes enacted by Congress and opinions or decisions of a court, commission, or board; drafting and reviewing decisions for consideration and adoption by an organization or official; conducting investigations to obtain facts; determines questions of law; studies, analyzes and evaluates legal precedents, to present findings.

Legal work is described as extremely complex and difficult and requires a high order of original and creative legal endeavor in balancing conflicting interests; has broad or wide-scope impact on an economy, industry, private or public interests; and may involve directly or indirectly very large sums of money.

Work may also involve acting as principal attorney in charge of the preparation and presentation of cases; recommending policies and developing procedures and regulations to implement new or amended legislation; and acting as legal, general or senior counsel to a major firm or organization.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Major Duties:

The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia.

Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is a requirement for this role as this position includes on-site functions that must be performed in-person.

Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per calendar year.

The individual selected for this position will...

Collaborate with a diverse and highly skilled team to address improper behavior, intentional violations of USPTO rules, and inaccurate or fraudulent trademark submissions.

Lead analysis of proposed legislation, rulemaking decisions, and legal developments affecting trademark matters, agency policy, strategic planning, international treaty obligations, and stakeholders across the USPTO, Department of Commerce, and related communities.

Prepare concise summaries of trademark decisions issued by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Conduct legal research on complex factual, legal, and policy issues and provide legal advice and guidance regarding applicable privilege claims in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.