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.

What is the pay range for supervising associate?
Yoe 9.5

I’m a true night-owl that begins thinking clearly about 5 PM. I often send projects out after midnight. Early morning emails and calls are an adventure. Has anyone else had to work through this issue? Fight it or embrace it?

I keep making stupid minor mistakes at work lately presumely cause I’ve been so burnt out, and my senior is constantly mad at me, which made me want to avoid the dirty work even more… I really should care but is it bad that I don’t really care anymore

Have a connection through Salt Lake City on Thursday. How well does the airport perform during snow showers? How much delay should I mentally prepare for?

Am I understanding utilization rate correctly? It’s chargeable time over total time? Charged 40 hours and had 10 hours non-charge so my utilization is 80%? If so, wouldn’t it benefit me to understate non-charge hours so my utilization is higher since they only really care about chargeable time anyways? Charge 40 hours still but only put 5 hours non-charge for utilization to be 89% instead of 80%? Or am I misunderstanding how utilization works?

I am interested in learning data science and excel in that path. Please let me know any opportunities.

Any (not too corny) anniversary gift suggestions for a man? 5 year anniversary of dating, moving in together finally in a few months... maybe something we can add to each year? Any suggestions?

Hi

I am working as PL/SQl developer having 5YOE with 5.45lakh CTC.
Today I got offer from TCS for the same with 10.5lakh.Is it good to accept?

Thoughts on Ashwagandha to feel better? more energy, less stress, etc. Has anyone here taken it and recommend?

Hi all,
I have an offer for 16 LPA (fixed) + discretionary bonus
I have a HR round coming up soon with another company. Could somebody please suggest how much I should ask the other company for?
YOE: 3
Skill: Cybersecurity

How do you handle billing disputes? Already feel like we’re a steal compared to other firms, but it’s the pits when clients kvetch about the bill after working hard on their matters. For five figure disputes, anyone recommend collections? Don’t really want to institute retainers, especially since it doesn’t seem common for our practice area.

Hey guys,
Could you please help me with likes since it would help me interact and probably get more referrals and opportunities.

Thank you!!!

Hi PWC AC Bangalore folks. Can anyone please tell me how many days before they will share invite for joining day formalities.

TIA

Apartment hunting in LA… having a bit of sticker shock. did everything go up? Will it go down in the fall??

My agency is just now launching d and I but no talks of equity, how should equity begin to be discussed in a way that isn't some new foreign concept to agency with probably 3 to 5 pct black/Hispanic

I am working on a NFOA for a design case. The Examiner identified a primary references and four secondary references. The Examiner also pointed out five differences between the primary reference and the claimed design. For the reply, I found nine additional differences between the claimed design and the primary reference, two of which are not present in any of the cited references. Should I clarify the level of a designer having ordinary skill in the art first? Complex/Expensive article. TY!

Does anyone find an attack on the Examiner’s prima facia showing of obviousness a lot more effective than distinguishing each and every prior art reference.

I recently underwrote a reply to final. Didn’t even bother with the references since I just got the case. Overcame the rejections.

Can anyone comment on how effective this is?

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

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

Anybody know anything about Nicholson de vos Webster Elliott for patent pros? Culture, pay, hours etc? Mid level looking to lateral

Is it reasonably possible to jump from patent prosecution to trademark prosecution?

Any recommendations for patent prosecution practice management software for a small firm? Currently not using anything and want to be able to better manage and monitor associates.

Any tips on starting a solo patent law firm from working in Biglaw? Worth it?

Has anyone regretted going in-house as patent counsel? If so, were you able to successfully transition back to a firm?

Any recommendations for a document management system that automatically saves emails into the proper folders?

First year associate thinking about making the just from medium sized reputable IP firm to In House. Started at said firm summer of 1L year as a law clerk/patent agent in May 2019, have worked through school and full time as associate since Sept 2021. Feeling very “stuck” in day to day work. Love the patent/IP space but drafting and pros w/minimal human interaction is getting very difficult. Thinking In House would be better, but not sure how much experience needed. Thoughts?

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

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?

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.

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

What do y’all use to draw informal figures? I currently use powerpoint but am curious if there are more efficient ways. What have you found most efficient/convenient?

A frustrated colleague asked for help with a difficult prosecution. I agreed to help. I just reviewed up the case and the examiner is combining NINE references. I think that’s a record for me. What’s your record for most number of references combined?

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

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 🙏🏽

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)?