Paralegal Trademarks and Patents

Job Summary:

Western Digitals intellectual property (including patents trademarks designs logos and slogans) are valuable assets that are vital to the Companys success and reputation allowing Western Digital to distinguish itself in a competitive market. Western Digitals global Patent and Trademark teams focus on obtaining protecting and managing its everexpanding patent and trademark portfolios. 

This role will be responsible for supporting both the Trademark and Patent legal functions working alongside senior attorneys and program manager for the strategic development of Western Digitals worldwide IP portfolios.  The position reports to the Companys Senior Program Manager responsible for global Trademark prosecution.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Trademark Prosecution:

• Support the management of the Companys global trademark portfolio including preparation of applications maintenance of the portfolio and identification and escalation of certain related matters and issues within the Trademark team.
• Partner with attorneys and program manager to implement procedures improvements and safeguards for maintaining the docket and timely responding to USPTO and foreign trademark registry requirements.
• Collaborate with internal clients to obtain information and drive the trademark application lifecycle from clearance to drafting to registration and maintenance in order to meet timesensitive deadlines.
• Support trademark opposition and cancellation actions including actions before the TTAB.
• Develop track and communicate department metrics including status and activity reports.
• Assist program manager in review and approval of invoices and tracking the department budget.

Patent Prosecution:

• Manage invention disclosures in online management systems.
• Assist inventors with submission issues status inquiries and invention submission process steps.
• Prepare for and facilitate invention disclosure review meetings.
• Assign patent filings to outside counsel and assist with outside counsel management postassignment/filing.
• Assist in patent team operational tasks such as report generation award payment instructions and renewal and foreign filing instructions.
• Assist with invoice review patent budget planning inventor award distribution and award event coordination.

Qualifications :

• Bachelors Degree.  Paralegal certificate from ABAapproved program preferable but not required.
• 5 years relevant professional experience preferably in an intellectual property department at either a technology company or a top tier law firm (combination of law firm and corporate settings preferred).
• Exceptional organizational skills and analytical and problemsolving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication (both written and oral) skills.
• Knowledgeable regarding intellectual property (IP) asset management tools (e.g. Anaqua Foundation IP and Orbit).
• Knowledgeable regarding Microsoft Office suite in particular Excel and PowerPoint.
• Able to adapt to change and learn new systems or processes as well as an interest in learning new technology and technology products.
• Familiar with the intricacies of the IP asset procurement process.
• Able to identify creative ways to improve the IP capture and development process.
• Perform work efficiently under moderate to light supervision.
• Dependable competent trustworthy selfmotivated and efficient.

Additional Information :

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race color ancestry religion (including religious dress and grooming standards) sex (including pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions breastfeeding or related medical conditions) gender (including a persons gender identity gender expression and genderrelated appearance and behavior whether or not stereotypically associated with the persons assigned sex at birth) age national origin sexual orientation medical condition marital status (including domestic partnership status) physical disability mental disability medical condition genetic information protected medical and family care leave Civil Air Patrol status military and veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our nondiscrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here: Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (dol.gov)

Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees our company our customers and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging respect and contribution.

Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at  to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

Based on our experience we anticipate that the application deadline will be 01/09/2025 (3 months from posting) although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline we will update this posting with a new anticipated application deadline.

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Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employees pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills ability knowledge of the job; (3) performance contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting.  We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California Colorado New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California Colorado and New York.  This range may be modified in the future.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digitals ShortTerm Incentive (STI) Plan which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance.  Depending on your role and your performance you may be eligible to participate in our annual LongTerm Incentive (LTI) program which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires subject to Western Digitals Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life accident and disability insurance; taxadvantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D legal plan pet insurance critical illness accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program employee stock purchase plan and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned vested and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus commission benefits or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Companys sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Companys sole discretion consistent with the law.

Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employees pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills ability knowledge of the job; (3) performance contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting.  We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California Colorado New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California Colorado and New York.  This range may be modified in the future.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digitals ShortTerm Incentive (STI) Plan which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance.  Depending on your role and your performance you may be eligible to participate in our annual LongTerm Incentive (LTI) program which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires subject to Western Digitals Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life accident and disability insurance; taxadvantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D legal plan pet insurance critical illness accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program employee stock purchase plan and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned vested and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus commission benefits or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Companys sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Companys sole discretion consistent with the law.