IP Legal Specialist II

Lear For You We work hard for the people who work for us. We champion our teams and foster collaboration, inclusion, respect and excellence. Because we want to be more for you. A path to a better career. A better future.

About the role

The IP Legal Specialist II supports attorneys and patent professionals in managing domestic and international patent portfolios. This role involves coordinating patent filings, maintaining docketing systems, ensuring compliance with deadlines, and acting as a liaison between inventors, attorneys, and external agencies.

Responsibilities

• Patent Prosecution Support: Prepare documents and instructions for international patent applications under the direction of attorneys. Identify and learn the requirements of key foreign jurisdictions (EP, DK, DE, CN, JP) for preparation of formal documents and filings. Draft and review any related formal documents, including declarations, assignments, powers of attorney, and Information Disclosure Statements (IDS) and e-file using Patent Center. Assist with Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filings, national phase entries, and foreign filings.
• Docketing & Deadlines: Monitor and update deadlines in accordance with USPTO, PCT, and EP rules. Notify attorneys and stakeholders of upcoming deadlines and required actions. Monitor patent maintenance payment deadlines and instruct payment under the direction of attorneys.
• Communication & Coordination: Serve as a liaison between attorneys, inventors, foreign associates, and clients. Interface with inventors and technical contacts to submit invention disclosures, confidentiality disclosure agreements requests, investigations, and risk mitigation reviews. Correspond with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and international patent authorities. Coordinate document execution and submission processes. Organize Patent Committee Meetings, create meeting minutes, and action tasks. Monitor communications with outside counsel and foreign associates to follow the standard process (SOPs) and report inconsistencies. Provide support to IP function leaders on ad-hoc basis for driving key team activities (e.g., organizing IP events, trainings, workshops, preparing material, etc.) for engagement and any required administrative support.
• Portfolio Recordkeeping Management: Maintain accurate records of patent applications, issued patents, and related documentation. Track patent lifecycle milestones, including filings, office actions, renewals, and patent awards. Assist in portfolio reporting.
• Support management in generating reports from docketing system, data clean-up and data extraction. Support management in maintaining and developing dashboards & data digitization initiatives.
• Compliance & Documentation: Ensure compliance with applicable patent laws, regulations, and internal policies. Maintain electronic and physical files in accordance with document retention policies. Support due diligence efforts for transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, or licensing.

Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree required; Paralegal certification preferred
• 2–5+ years of experience in handling Paralegal/IP administrator, patent prosecution, or intellectual property law
• Experience with both U.S. and foreign patent filings strongly preferred

Benefits

Equal Opportunity Employer Lear Corporation is committed to fair, merit-based employment practices and equal opportunity. We provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable law. For assistance during the application process, contact your recruiter directly.

Applicants must submit their resume for consideration using our applicant tracking system. Due to the high volume of applications received, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies, or similar, will not be paid a fee and will become the property of Lear Corporation.