Intellectual Property Paralegal - Patents & Contracts

Location: Akron, Ohio (Hybrid)
Sponsorship Available: No 
Relocation Assistance Available: No 

Goodyear. More Driven.

The Intellectual Property Paralegal- Patents & Contracts will support a variety of administrative functions relating to the company's global technology groups. This position's work is detail-oriented emphasizing accuracy, consistency and efficiency. The work is generally short-cycled and operates under general supervision, with limited guidance from Senior Legal Counsel or Program Manager - Global Intellectual Property. 

Primary Responsibilities 

• Assist with the preparation of United States (U.S.) patent applications (under the supervision of the Intellectual Property attorney). Coordinate the procurement of drawings/invoices with outside vendor. Contact inventors to obtain updated information and acquire signature documents. Prepare draft information disclosure statement (IDS) for attorney review/approval. File U.S. patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• Assist with the drafting and preparation of responses for U.S. and foreign office actions. File U.S. responses with the USPTO and send foreign responses to foreign associates. Prepare/Manage attorney docket in order to meet critical deadlines to avoid abandonment of patent assets.
• Coordinate, prepare and lead quarterly global intellectual property (IP) committee meetings- Resulting in decisions related to patent filing, foreign patent strategy and maintenance/abandonment of patent assets. Support Intellectual Property Attorney on budget monitoring/planning.
• Craft, evaluate, edit/monitor a wide variety of standard and non-standard agreements (from request to execution) under guidance of Senior Attorney. Communicate with internal and external parties and handle extensions of agreements. Manage agreements in contract management system. Work closely with internal business partners to understand cutting edge technology and business concepts. Maintain records and dockets of work being performed.
• Provide general administrative support (proofread legal documents/drawings, make recommendations, perform due diligence reviews for notice of allowances and pay issue fees for utility patent applications). Support Intellectual Property Attorney on patent clearance work.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma
• 5 or more years of experience with a law firm or corporate law department, providing legal support

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors degree
• Paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program
• Experience with patent matters (including filing practices [foreign/domestic])
• Experience with agreement management

Knowledge/Skills

• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral, in person and virtual) and superior attention to detail
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate with business partners at various organizational levels (internal/external to Goodyear)
• Strong ability to manage and meet deadlines - Handle a high-volume of work consistently
• Excellent writing, organizational and analytical skills
• Ability to work effectively both autonomously and as part of a team. 

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Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 57 facilities in 23 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate. 

Goodyear is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual's race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need reasonable accommodation to complete the online application, or any other part of the employment process, please contact the Goodyear Candidate Care Line at 330.796.4500.

Click here for more information about Equal Employment Opportunity laws, and here for additional supplementary information.