Imagine starting your career as a Legal Instrument Examiner working in an office that is on the cutting edge of planning, developing, implementing and evaluating all initiatives needed to support the examination of patent applications throughout the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This position is waiting for you to bring your technical expertise to our agency.
This is a term position not to exceed two years. This appointment may be extended without further competition to a maximum of four years. The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it 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... Review and analyze legal documents to determine the appropriate fees to be charged. Perform an extensive review and analysis of applications and related legal documents including amendments, applications for power of attorney, petitions, requests for continued examination and other associated requirements.
Calculate fees in accordance with appropriate fee schedules, prepares fee determination record, and charges the authorized applicant or attorney. Determine the appropriate type of information Disclosure Statement (IDS) completed and identifies and corrects inaccurate or incomplete information and data. Apply critical thinking skills to utilize automated systems to research, evaluate and process applications efficiently and accurately.
As a general rule, education is not creditable above GS-5 for most positions covered by this standard; however, graduate education may be credited in those few instances where the graduate education is directly related to the work of the position.
If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements.
Please refer to General Schedule Qualification Policies for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities.
Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - US Department of Education.
Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
CATHERINE.ZURASKI@USPTO.GOV · 571-270-5632
This position is with Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce.
The posted pay range is $57736 – $75059/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
Applications close on 2026-09-23.
This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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