Sterne Kessler attorneys are highly sought-out for their expertise and are the foremost in their field.
The world’s most innovative companies trust Sterne Kessler with their most complex intellectual property matters. We are passionate about the practice of IP law and committed to our clients and our culture. While we are proud to receive numerous industry awards each year, we measure our success by the success of our people and our clients. At Sterne Kessler, every day is a new opportunity to help shape innovation and work with companies at the cutting edge of science and technology.
Our people are our greatest asset, and we offer unmatched training and development opportunities in an inclusive, collaborative environment. You will work with and be trained by lawyers who have directly influenced IP law (we literally wrote the book on PTAB proceedings), and you will have the opportunity to forge a long-term career at a firm that values you as an individual.
If Sterne Kessler sounds like the place for you, explore our current openings or read first-hand accounts below from lawyers at our firm.
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The Sterne Kessler Experience
We’re not your average IP firm. Our lawyers are passionate about IP and are highly sought-out for their expertise as thought leaders and strategic advisors. We are committed to developing a team that strives for excellence, both in the quality of work and client service.
Lawyers choose Sterne Kessler because we offer the best of many worlds in one incredibly special place. No matter your practice or industry specialty, there is a place for you here. Our teams collaborate across the full spectrum of IP, including patent prosecution, trademarks, IP litigation, and practicing at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. We offer flexible career paths that allow for growth and transition as your individual needs and goals evolve.
Our Cutting-Edge Clients
Sterne Kessler works with some of the most innovative companies in the world across a wide range of industries. Our clients are making discoveries, building brands, and creating inventions that impact our daily lives. If working with companies like 23andMe, AstraZeneca, BioNTech, Thule, SAP, and Volkswagen—to name a few—sounds interesting, you’ve come to the right place.
Benefits & Wellness
With flexible hours and a scalable compensation structure, we offer greater choice and convenience—including hybrid home/office schedules. We understand that everybody has different career goals, financial needs, lifestyle pursuits, and ambitions. At Sterne Kessler, flexibility goes both ways—so no matter how you map out those hours, we know they’ll be spent productively.
Training & Professional Development
At Sterne Kessler, you never stop learning. We have training programs for all levels, and our course roster is always evolving to keep up with legal and technical developments. This ensures our lawyers have a robust menu of training content to support them as they learn and cultivate their specialties.
Early-Career Associate Training
Junior Patent Prosecution Training Series: An introduction to Patent Prosecution, 26-course learning path that includes:
- Application Drafting
- Prior Art Searching
- Replying to Office Actions
- Foreign Prosecution
- Allowance to Grant
- Freedom to Operate
- Opinion Writing
- Interviewing with Examiners
Litigation Skills Training Series: 16 Courses that cover PTAB, District Court, Federal Circuit Court & ITC, such as:
- Fundamentals of ITC, PTAB, and Appeals
- Written Discovery Skills
- Deposition Prep
- 4-part Trial-Prep Course
- Effective Legal Research
Mid-Level Associate Training
An additional 22-course program that includes advanced topics that include:
- Reissue Applications
- Ex-parte Reexamination
- PTAB Litigation
- Expedited Examination
- Patent Term Adjustment & Extension
Specialty Learning Paths/Programs
We offer specialized training programs that include:
- Biotech Patent Law – a 6-month course taught by Founding Director, Jorge Goldstein
- Patent Law Small Group Discussion series with Senior Directors
- Professional Skills – a series of courses covering oral presentation skills, legal and professional writing, time management, and leadership development
- PTAB Legal Experience and Advancement Program (LEAP) – provides opportunities for training and development of the next generation of attorneys and patent agents. The program provides up to 15 minutes of extra argument time during an oral hearing for the LEAP practitioner
- Fifth Year Academy – a special multi-day intensive learning path for Fifth Year Associates focused on leadership development and career planning
- Roundtables – monthly continuing education programs in patent prosecution and PTAB practices
- Patent Quarterly (PQ) Meetings (Biotech and Electronics) – regular industry-focused continuing education programs
Feedback From Our Associates
Our associates participate in annual, anonymous surveys administered by The Vault and Chambers Associate, and they consistently give the firm high marks for work-life balance, culture, quality of work, training and diversity. We believe those aspects of work-life are important, and we strive to maintain an environment where our attorneys can thrive. Learn more about what our associates think about working at Sterne Kessler by viewing our Vault (2024) and Chambers Associate profiles.
Applicants who need assistance submitting an application for employment to Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC, may contact us at 1.202.371.2600, or through our TTY line at 1.202.772.8948, or at recruiting2@sternekessler.com (legal positions) or employment@sternekessler.com (administrative positions). It is our policy to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities with advance notice of need. Sterne Kessler is an equal opportunity employer.
Join our dynamic team at Sterne Kessler
We've been voted "Top Workplace" in the Washington Post and "Best Place to Work" in the Washington Business Journal. Learn more about current job openings and how to apply, along with information on our benefits and training.
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