Mid-Level Patent Attorney (Life Sciences / Chemistry)

Description

This is not just another attorney role. This is a leverage role. 

If you’re a solid patent attorney but tired of: 

• Producing work with no influence  
• Working in broken systems you can’t fix  
• Managing chaos without authority  

This is your opportunity to step into a role where you build, lead, and scale. 

What This Role Actually Does 

You will operate as both a high-level contributor and internal leader. 

• Draft and prosecute complex patent matters  
• Handle client communication and relationship support  
• Oversee legal assistants (workflow, deadlines, quality)  
• Build and improve internal legal workflows  
• Act as the right hand to the CEO on legal operations  

This role is about production + leverage. 

What You’ll Be Measured On 

• Billables, realization rate, and budget targets
• Quality (minimal CEO revisions, zero errors)  
• Team leverage (how effectively assistants are utilized)  
• Workflow improvement (things get smoother, not messier)  
• Reduction of CEO involvement in day-to-day legal ops  

What Success Looks Like 

By 30 days:
You’re producing work and understanding systems + team 

By 60 days:
You’re managing assistants, running check-ins, fixing friction points 

By 90 days:
You are owning legal workflows, acting as QA layer before CEO, reducing CEO time spent on filings + oversight  

This Role Is NOT For You If: 

• You only want to produce work and not lead  
• You’ve never successfully managed support staff  
• You wait for permission instead of solving problems  
• You resist ambiguity or evolving systems  
• You lack the interpersonal skills to lead respectfully  

Requirements

Required Background 

• Chemistry / life sciences background (required)  
• JD + Patent Bar +
• Prior patent prosecution experience (multi-year)  
• Demonstrated experience managing legal assistants or similar staff  
• Experience improving or owning workflows (not just participating in them)  

The Kind of Person Who Thrives Here 

• Operator mindset—you fix things, not just flag them  
• Strong communicator (clear, direct, respectful)  
• Highly organized and systems-oriented  
• Humble but confident—no ego, no passivity  
• Comfortable in a growing, non-corporate firm  

About Hylton-Rodic Law 

We are a boutique, growth-focused IP firm serving life sciences clients. 

We combine: 

• High-quality legal work  
• Strong client relationships  
• A flexible, human-centered culture  

We are building a firm where: 

• People do meaningful work  
• Systems actually improve over time  
• Growth creates opportunity—not burnout  

We offer: 

• Reasonable billable expectations
• Health, dental, and vision insurance 
• 401(k) and commuter benefits 
• Mental health days + birthday leave   
• “Sunshine Fridays” (early Fridays when targets are met)   
• A collaborative, respectful team environment   

Apply If You Want to Build, Not Just Bill 

If you want to: 

• Step into real responsibility  
• Help shape how a firm operates  
• Grow into leadership  

Apply. 

If you just want a stable role where you execute tasks and go home—this is not that role. 

Application Requirements: 

Please submit a resume and a brief cover letter explaining your interest in this role and in working at a smaller, non-corporate law firm.