The Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) is an office within the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO).  The PTAB is responsible for hearing and deciding appeals from adverse decisions of examiners concerning applications for patents; and making final determinations of questions of patentability. The PTAB is also responsible for conducting trial proceedings established under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) (Public Law 112-29; Sept 16, 2011) including Inter Partes Review proceedings, Post-Grant Review proceedings, Covered Business Method Review proceedings, and Derivation proceedings. 

The PTAB is currently hiring for a Judicial Law Clerk position.  The job announcement (found at the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/543995400) is currently open through September 10th, 2019 for a position that will begin on or around October 1st, 2020

The Judicial Law Clerk will be responsible for assisting Administrative Patent Judges with their statutory duties indicated above and will give the selected individual(s) invaluable insight into how the USPTO and PTAB operates, how the PTAB makes and processes decisions, and the opportunity to develop and hone researching, analytical, writing, and communication skills at the highest levels within patent law. 

The job is available to all 3L/4LEs who will be graduating from law school before the October 1st start date.  An engineering, science, and/or equivalent degree is required and bar membership must be obtained within the first 14 months of the start date.