Friday, July 9, 2010

Netflix Assistant General Counsel?

Here is another interesting job post I found on craigslist. Even though I don't think I'll apply because I don't have the requisite 10 years of governmental relations experience, I thought I would share:

"Netflix-Associate General Counsel/Director-Government Relations-3946 (Washington, DC)

Date: 2010-07-09, 7:38PM EDT
Reply to: see below

Netflix, the world’s leading on-line movie rental company, seeks an Associate General Counsel/Director with the responsibility for managing all of the Company’s government relations matters. The successful candidate will be located in Washington, D.C. and will have oversight of all federal, state and international public policy and government relations matters. Major areas of focus will include but not be limited to:

• Internet Access/Net Neutrality
• Telecommunications
• E-Commerce Issues
• Privacy and Data Security
• Consumer Protection
• Financial Services
• Patent and Copyright
• Postal Issues

Reporting to the General Counsel this highly visible role in the legal department is fundamental to the continued success and growth of the company. The role involves setting up our DC operations, and working closely with senior management and outside consultants and attorneys to establish and execute the Company’s public policy and government relations objectives. This role will involve monitoring various legislative and rulemaking initiatives and determining the appropriate level of the Company’s involvement. The position will involve advocating before Congress and federal agencies, with a particular emphasis on the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission, and developing analysis and interpretation of public policy issues potentially impacting the Company. Frequent travel to the Company’s San Francisco-Bay Area headquarters is likely and will be an important component of understanding the Company’s business and culture. The individual will be expected to perform duties which would require registration as a federal lobbyist.

The Netflix legal and public policy team is a small group of highly talented and experienced lawyers who work closely with their business counterparts to advance the strategic goals of the company. The team is perceived within the Company as solutions-oriented and as a welcome part of the Company’s business team.

The successful candidate will have at least 10+ years of government relations experience, preferably with both Congressional and private sector, in particular, corporate experience. Candidates with a law degree are preferred. The successful candidate will also possess excellent interpersonal skills, being able to work effectively cross-functionally and be solution-oriented."

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Outgoing attorney or judge needed for new reality TV show.....

I recently found this interesting posting on the Pittsburgh Craigslist legal job board:

Outgoing attorney or judge for TV show (Pittsburgh)

If you're interested in pursuing the possibility of starring in your own reality show using your legal expertise and outgoing personality, drop us a line. We're looking to cast a single character in the Pittsburgh area that knows civil law and has an assertive personality.


The post has since been deleted by the author, so I can't provide the link for everyone to see....but I thought it was a pretty funny jobpost!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Job Search Daily Log: Tuesday June 1, 2010 - Friday June 4, 2010

I had a feeling that I wouldn't be able to keep up daily posts to this blog, but I never thought it would take me less than a week to start combining 4+ days of job searching into one post!

While still at home in Erie, I found out that I didn't get another job: As a Patent Attorney with the USPTO's Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. This one had taken quite a long time from application to denial, but I heard that is common place for a government job! I think I applied originally back in January. I went through several stages of hiring from being told I was qualified and then being sent to the hiring committee. To being told they filled the position, and then back to being told they were still in the "hiring process". And now being denied...so say tuned I might get the job next week!

This week has been kind of slow, what with the holiday and all. But I did apply to a few new positions.

I started the week off by forwarding my resume to a contact at the defense contractor Serco who had seen a press release concerning patent-related jobs within that company. However, it turned out that these patent jobs were in Harrisonburg, VA which as you can see from the map(below)is nowhere near where I want to be. Its about 3 hours to Annapolis and almost 5 to Pittsburgh (you might have to zoom out in order to see this). I mean I'm getting desperate for a job, but I don't want to be out in the stix by myself!


View Larger Map

Next up, I applied online to a patent attorney position at a company called NALCO, which is located at their corporate headquarters in Naperville, IL which I just visited over the Memorial Day Weekend.

Here was the job posting: "Patent Attorney
Job ID: 6852003
Position Title: Patent Attorney
Company Name: Nalco
Industry: Chemical
Practice Area: Patent Prosecution, Patent Litigation, Trademark Prosecution, Trademark Litigation
Type of Practice: Corporate
Location(s): Napervill, Illinois, 60563, United States
Posted: May 28, 2010
Entry Level: No
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Duration: Indefinite
Min Education: BA/BS/Undergraduate
Min Experience: 1-2 Years
Required Travel: 0-10%
Company: Nalco
view full company profile
APPLY FOR THIS JOB
Contact Person: Angela Spore

Apply URL: http://nalco.com/careers/apply-north-america.htm
Save Job Email Job Print Job Apply For Job
Job Description
Nalco has an opening for a Patent Attorney in our Legal/Patents Group located in Naperville, IL. The Patent Attorney will primarily be responsible for independently drafting, filing and prosecuting US patent and trademark applications and directing the filing and prosecution of foreign patent and trademark applications. As needed, the Patent Attorney will assist with the drafting of licenses and other agreements involving intellectual property; research and present opinions relating to patentability and infringement; review technical papers and product bulletins prior to publication; and counsel company personnel on all aspects of intellectual property law and practice.

Job Requirements
The minimum qualifications the candidate will have include:
Undergraduate or Graduate degree in a physical science
JD from an ABA accredited law school
Current license to practice before the highest court of at least one state and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Chemical knowledge required
1-3 years of U.S. patent application drafting and prosecution experience
"

They are probably looking for someone with more of a chemistry background, but it looked like I am at least minimally qualified.


Lastly, I applied on Friday to a posting I found on the Patently-O job board.

The job posting read: " Patent Agent / Associate - Law Firm - Alexandria, Va.

Buchanan Ingersoll & RooneyBuchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's Intellectual Property Group is experiencing growth regionally and nationally. The Alexandria office has an immediate opening and seeks an intellectual property patent agent or associate for the Firm's Chem/Biotech Practice Group with 1-4 years of patent drafting and prosecution experience. Preferred candidates will have strong academic credentials and technical expertise in the area of biochemistry or molecular/cell biology or organic chemistry or related disciplines, graduate degree preferred.

The law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney provides competitive salaries and an associate bonus program.

Contact:
Interested candidates may mail or email their cover letter, resume, law school and undergraduate transcripts directly to Laurie Lenigan, Director of Legal Recruiting"


I will leave you with this quote, that I actually found on the American Eagle career site: "A salary of $42,000 in Pittsburgh would require a $68,000 salary in San Francisco to maintain the same standard of living." It is going to be tough to leave Pittsburgh given this staggering statistic, but right now I need to start a career!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Job Search Daily Log: Saturday May 29, 1010

This first part is not really about the job search but I guess it is related. I just updated my USPTO Patent Attorney information to reflect my leaving the last firm: USPTO Reg.No.63,318

So that link shows you that I really am an officially registered and barred Patent Attorney in the eyes of the law...now I just need to convince someone to let me protect their invention.

One other item of note is that yesterday evening I talked with one of the (I think) four staffing agencies (just in the D.C. region) that I am working with. My contact there sent me two new places to apply to on my own: The first one was with: Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz
I will probably wait to apply to this one until Tuesday after the holiday just in case my email gets lost in the shuffle.

It saddens me to inform my loyal readers that I am moving out of the Burgh. Effective immediately. I have had more job leads in the DC region and even up in Erie, so I can no longer justify keeping my apartment there.

The job posting I saw today on the Pittsburgh Craigslist is a testament to how fruitless my search for work has been in the Burgh:

LAW STUDENT/CLERK (DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH)
Date: 2010-05-28, 6:08PM EDT
Reply to: job-s2rub-1764575167@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Downtown General Practice Law Firm is seeking law students for immediate internship positions.

Areas of practice include Real Estate, Business, Litigation, Estates, Family Law and Entertainment.

Please email resume and references, along with availability for an interview.

* Location: DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH
* Compensation: Negotiable
* This is a part-time job.
* This is a contract job.
* This is an internship job

I say fruitless, because this is probably the closest to a position that I would potentially apply to (business, litigation, entertainment sort of matches up with my background) but they want Law students....and there's plenty of those to go around in the Burgh!

That's all till after the holiday.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Job Search Daily Log: Friday May 28, 1010,

Today I applied to two separate positions that I found on the Pittsburgh Craigslist last night but didn't want to email until the next business day.

POSITION #1:
The first position was for a contracts specialist, which I think they are probably looking for more of a paralegal-type. However work is work and the post made it sound like a technical type job. I found the post on the Pittsburgh Craigslist site. The posting stated:

Contracts Specialist (Saxonburg, PA)
Ibis Tek, LLC, with three campuses in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and with approximately 500 employees is developing and producing a wide range of quality products for civil and military applications. We seek to fill a contracts team position reporting to the V.P. - Contracts.

SUMMARY OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Review and data entry of sales orders in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Draft and review a wide range of contracts and proposals for the purchase and sale of goods and/or services;
• Support and interface with other departments such as sales, engineering, quality, and shipping to resolve contract issues, create proposals, ensure timely response to customer and supplier requests and comply with applicable laws;
• Provide guidance for contractual performance and adherence to applicable laws;
• Process, control, and maintain contract file documentation; and
• Support the development and implementation of contracting policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s Degree, Paralegal Certification preferred;
• Government Contractual experience preferred;
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills;
• Strong analytical, organizational, follow-up and planning skills;
• Excellent ability to identify and proactively solve problems;
• Ability to work under pressure and work overtime on short notice;
• Very proficient in Excel and MS Word. Database experience desired (running reports and queries, etc);
• 2 to 5 years experience working for a company in the aerospace or defense industry preferred;
• Prior audit experience preferred;
• This position requires U.S. citizenship and candidates must be able to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
• The level of this position will be determined based on the applicant’s education, skills and experience.
• Resumes may be considered in the order that they are received.



POSITION #2:

The second position was more like something that matches my skill set and its located in Pittsburgh proper. The job listing was also much shorter:

Intellectual Property Attorney (Pittsburgh)

Mid-sized corporation looking for trademark attorney with 3-5 years experience at a
minimum at a law firm and/or in-house legal department. Good communication and interpersonal skills are a must. Admission before the USPTO and drafting/prosecution
experience required. Please send resume with cover letter and salary requirements by
email to the address listed above.

That's all for today, I hope everyone has a great memorial day weekend!

My Resume - May 27, 2010

JAMES M. DOLAK, ESQ

EDUCATION

Duquesne University School of Law
Pittsburgh, PA
Juris Doctor
June 2009
• President, Duquesne Intellectual Property Law Association (2-time AIPLA conference attendee)
• Passed Patent Bar during 2L summer (registration # 63,318 – 10/2008)
• Team Member, Giles S. Rich IP Moot Court Competition (2008)
• Relevant Courses: Patents & Trade Secrets, Patents & Pharm. Industry, Copyrights & Trademarks, Commercial Use of IP, Advanced Contracts(J.E. Murray),Sales, Business Planning

The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA
B.S. Mechanical Engineering (Minor: Engr. Leadership Devel.)
December 2005
• 2nd Place Overall, Senior Design Capstone Project (Sisal Decorticator)
• Study Abroad: University of Melbourne, Australia, Spring 2005
• Team Member, FutureTruck Hybrid SUV Competition, Engr. Mentors, Student Red Cross,ASME


EXPERIENCE


The Ronald Law Group, LLC
Cranberry Twp, PA
Patent Attorney/Patent Agent
May 2009-April 2010
• Started work as patent agent for diverse IP practice while still studying full-time for the PA bar
• Drafted patent applications and prepared responses to office actions
• Gained experience in copyright and trademark filings as well as trademark litigation
• Represented diverse clientele in IP matters from large international companies to small start-ups
• Discussed basics of patenting and researched patentability for a variety of clients

Ference & Associates, LLC
Sewickley, PA
Patent Law Clerk/Patent Agent
October 2007-May 2009
• One of two clerks in small but diverse intellectual property practice, representing IT clients
• Rewarded with three separate hourly raises during the two year period of employment
• Contributed to dramatic reduction in late fees paid for responses to Office Actions
• Interviewed small inventors at beginning stages of IP consultation,including prior art searches
• Researched and drafted responses to office actions (75+ Amendments)
• Conducted examiner interviews with supervising Attorney and drafted interview agendas
• Drafted U.S. patent applications from invention disclosures and foreign-filed applications

Penn State Research Foundation – Intellectual Property Office
University Park, PA
Legal Research Intern
January-August 2006
• Experienced in working with and interviewing professors/researchers involved in the IP process
• Performed initial prior art/patent feasibility research for a variety of cutting-edge technologies
• Worked with supervisor on initial preparation of patent applications and amendments
• Reviewed patents filed to create Non-Confidential Disclosures to pursue licensing opportunities

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Erie, PA
Engineering Intern
Summer 2002, 2003, 2004
• Supervised work of contractors to ensure proper and timely completion of projects, and gained experience in inspection, materials testing, reviewing engr. drawings, and project management


PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS/BAR ADMISSIONS


Pennsylvania Bar – admitted 10/19/2009 (PA Bar I.D. #306511)
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) – admitted 10/2008 (Reg. No. 63,318)
Pittsburgh Intellectual Property Law Association (PIPLA)
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) – 2008, 2009 conference attendee
American Bar Association (ABA) – Intellectual Property Section
Allegheny County Bar Association

Job Search Daily Log: Thursday May 27, 1010,

Hi everyone. Today I started by checking up on a number of job posting sites that I tend to go to daily. Including: Craigslist (D.C. region) and Intellectual Property Law Server.


I also started and finished working on tooling up my resume and coverletter to apply to the biggest law firm in Northwestern PA: MacDonald Illig, LLP. I heard about this firm possibly having an opening in their IP department in a few months. This was great news for me, since while I have been focusing my search mainly on Pittsburgh and the DC region so far, Erie has always been my home and I would love to return there. So keep your fingers crossed.

I am putting the resume and coverletter in the mail tomorrow so hopefully I will hear something back soon. MacDonald Illig's patent practice is the biggest in the Erie region and I would love to start/continue my career there.