Broad question I know, but what’s life and pay like at boutique and smaller patent firms in HCOL markets (e.g., DC, LA, NYC, SF)? Also curious about the same in smaller markets if anyone has data/info.

Anyone have any scoop on Mono? I’m interviewing with them for a remote role and not currently based in MN.

Orally accepted a job offer that I’m excited about, but have another interview this week for a different job. I didn’t realize the first offer would come so quickly! Should I cancel the interview this week or go through with it? Small legal community- people talk.

How is wlb in EY TTT?
Yoe:. 4 .net dev role

Hey, Any idea about @AptosRetail salary range and structure for 8 years exp professional ? Job role is Principal QA.

Thoughts on working for a search fund investor, e.g. Peterson Partners or Miramar?

Hey gang, can anyone recommend a good synergy checklist? Mostly on the capex spend and real estate side. It has been a while for me and I am rusty.

What's everyone's Halloween costume?

How is everyone doing?

I and my boyfriend have been dating over a year now. Our relationship in general is pretty smooth and sweet. The only problem is he has not come out to his parents yet. It was not an issue before the pandemic thing since we were just living in the city, being in our own bubble. But Covid happened and he moved back to stay with his dad. Since he is not out, he can’t pick up the phone call whenever I call him, he can’t tell his parents he is dating someone in the city. Cont.

I am the partner leading our local office lgbt group. What should I be doing to engage more with our people during this time? Zoom once a month only goes so far I think but I have run out of other ideas.

Hi everyone,
Does the gap of one month will affect job opportunities or interview calls for IT jobs especially in current market scene?

I applied for a role at Amazon bit the status has not changed from Under Consideration since May, should I wait longer or consider it closed?
They have not contacted me for any rounds yet.

Hi Fishes,
Got an opportunity with Optum hcentive centre and looking forward to joining also just
Need to know about few things regarding hcentive Noida centre of optum,
How is the wlb
Work culture
Medical benefits
Learning opportunities

Who are some fantastic black directors y’all have worked with? Both scripted and documentary. I need to expand my knowledge in this space.

Looking to relocate to Boston (fiance grew up there and wants to settle down around family). Sadly I dont have much of a network up there. Does anyone know of current searches?

Edward Jones advisor with 30 million AUM and roughly 250k gross production. Been there for almost 4 years. Got an offer at Merrill Lynch to take over a 100 million dollar retirement transition plan in 5 years, or to join a 5 person Merrill Lynch team that manages a lot.

Pros to EJ: Have my own office, a year or two away from partnership, great office setting and client satisfaction.

Pros to Merrill: Bump in compensation, additional tools and services w banking, ability to take over assets.

Currently a MS in Finance candidate. Got into the MBA program with a finance concentration at the same school - Johns Hopkins. Don’t care about target , non -target (already happy with my role, industry, firm). What’s more valuable in terms of longer term prospects between the two degrees? Any thoughts or guidance?

Need 11 likes to discuss on offer I have from Singapore.

How many times do we have to tell you, Karen, posting on 2 Instagram accounts doesn't mean you own a marketing agency 👀

Hey all! I am trying to get creative with recruiting in Chester/Richmond, VA area. What are some great sites I should post on?

What would you say the going rates are for (i) non provisional application drafting and (ii) office action responses?

What are the pros and cons of the following IP boutique firms: Finnegan, Fish, Banner Witcoff, Oblon, Knobbe?

Anybody know anything about Lerner David for patent pros? Culture, pay, hours etc? Mid level looking to lateral

For those at small/medium patent pros boutiques, what is your compensation structure, billing requirements, and salary like?

What do folks find most frustrating about patent prosecution? Drafting, OAs, client relations, other?

For me, I dislike drafting the spec to explicitly recite the basic things it does, eg, server talks to client to do <basic action>.

I’m looking for a tool that allows me to search for text in Office Actions and responses. For example, is there a way to search for ‘written description’ or ‘improper Markush’ issued by Examiner John Smith? Does something like this exist?

Does anyone’s practice also include patent lit? I’m thinking of switching from prosecution to litigation (my firm has separate lit and pros practice groups). If you practice patent lit, is there anything that you dislike about it/anything you wish you would have known earlier?

If a client asks law firm A to transfer a couple of patent prosecution cases to law firm B, does law firm A need to deliver all relevant documents to law firm B? Can law firm B just submit POA and access all the files via Private Pair? Thank you

I do prosecution and am looking to lateral. Does anyone have recommendations on firms to consider, or ones to avoid? I’m flexible on location.

Where the best way to process POA for a large number of patent applications?

Is it to get a form 82 signed and attach it to different transmittals for each application and file separately in each case? Is there an easier way?

In what order do you draft a patent application? I know the official answer is “it depends.” But what do you find yourself do most often? For me, it’s claims —> drawings —> spec.

Has anyone on here ever requested redaction of a filed application? I'm looking to redact a few paragraphs of a provisional application.

What do hiring partners (or HR in in-house) generally think about a lateral that are in the middle of a part-time MS degree program (STEM MS program)?

Any recommendations for free or reasonably priced CLE courses for patent prosecution?

Taking the patent bar in a week and it’s been so tough studying while working. I’m so behind in my hours this month, and my firm (midlaw, IP only) was pretty clear that they expect my hours to stay on track this month regardless of the exam. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this week and then make it through 6 hours of testing. Please tell me the afternoon session is easier than the morning session, like some others have said 🙏🏽

Bit of a niche topic: I’ve been in TS/SCI processing for a Science/Tech/Weapons analyst position with the CIA for 3 yrs since I finished grad school in chemistry, but CIA positions are sort of set it and forget it since they can take so long. I’ve since been focused on a Patent Attorney track and am with a firm that will support me taking the patent bar/law school. If I get through processing and go to the CIA for some time, do you think would I be accepted back into patent law later on?

Just curious: how much time would you bill for on prepping instructions to a FA for a response? Feel free to break down by how long you’ve been practicing, complexity, or any other factor you think is relevant.

Prosecution associates - what are your hours looking like this year?

How do firms handle export control rules compliance for inbound disclosures for new filings?
Do you make the determination of export control classification number (ECCN) yourself based on each inbound disclosure? Do you ask the client to provide the ECCN, if they know it? Do you play ostrich? Or something else?

How many billable hours do people in prosecution tend to average each month? I’ve gone through waves of feeling like my billable hours requirement is reasonable to feeling like I’m drowning and can’t possibly do it for that long.