About this role
Job SummaryJoin the USPTO Records Program Office, Public Records Division, Assignment Recordation Branch as a Legal Instrument Examiner. In this role, you will review, process, and record legal documents related to patent and trademark ownership, helping ensure documents meet recordation requirements and that USPTO official records remain accurate and complete.
QualificationsYou must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at Clerical and Administrative Support Positions. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 in the Federal service: For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-06. Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience providing review and recordation services for documents submitted by members of the organization, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and proper processing in accordance with established procedures. Experience processing requests for changes in assignment and other information for numerous types of legal documents in accordance with regulatory requirements. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Major DutiesThe 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. As a Legal Instrument Examiner, the individual selected for this position will be... Conducting a detailed examination of the cover sheet for the request and supporting legal documents to ensure that information is complete, recordation requirements have been met, and correct fees have been paid. Based on this analysis, determines whether documents are recordable in comparison with specific criteria in the manuals governing patent and trademark examination which are based in law and regulation. Examining and updating fee information in PTO automated systems to ensure payment of statutory fees. Verifing and calculating fees to ensure that amounts are correct, charges fee to customer's deposit account or credit card, generates a non-recordation notice when problems are encountered, and processes payments for any additional fees that are imposed. Determining when a refund is necessary and processes refunds as authorized. Responding to customer inquiries from applicants and/or their attorneys regarding procedures for filing documents, making corrections, forms required, pertinent rules and regulations, processing procedures, and guidance in navigating through the online system. Explaining rules, regulations, and requirements as needed and describes discrepancies which may occur in a wide variety of documents.