Patent Legal Secretary

Spoor & Fisher is looking for a dedicated Patent Legal Secretary (Chemical) to support our patent team with critical administrative and filing tasks. If you have strong secretarial skills, a keen eye for accuracy, and a proactive attitude, this is your chance to work with one of the leading IP firms in South Africa.

• A secretarial/paralegal diploma will be advantageous
• At least a basic understanding of patent and design applications
• Proficiency in:
  • MS Word, Outlook and Excel
  • CIPC online
  • WIPO online
  • Experience with Inprotech/Inproweb will be advantageous
• A sense of urgency to meet deadlines and to handle high pressure/time sensitive tasks
• A high attention to detail and a focus on accuracy and quality of work output
• Analytical thinking and problem solving
• Must be proactive and take initiative
• The ability to work independently without close supervision
• A growth mindset - willingness/enthusiasm to receive constructive feedback, to learn from and implement knowledge gained from feedback
• Effective, clear and proficient communication and English language skills

• Checking daily reminders
• Checking monthly grant cases
• Pre vetting checks and preparing vetting memo
• Preparing and filing amendment applications
• Preparing checklists for applications to be lodged by Patent Agency and Patent Foreign
• Preparing Divisional applications for filing
• Preparing and filing extension of acceptance applications
• Preparing reports to client on allowances
• Preparing reports, invoices and credit notes
• Preparing draft correspondence and acknowledgements to clients
• Maintaining and updating precedents
• Assisting with formal changes
• Uploading documents to client portals
• Preparing provisional applications and PCT applications for filing
• Preparing reports and invoices for foreign patent applications
• Updating IDS reports
• Preparing and updating schedules
• Adhering to Standing Instructions
• Updating Inproweb and DMS
• Keeping a strict record of diary
• Recording lodgings on the lodgement book and updating on Inproweb
• Downloading abstracts from eJournal
• Downloading documents from WIPO
• In office printing of paper lodgings as part of the printing roster
• Assisting with basic patent/design searches and preparing reports