There are a number of sites that have sprung up on the internet that offer a listing of patent law jobs. In addition, there are a few companies that specialize in the placement of Patent Agents and Patent Attorneys.

We suggest that when you start looking for a job, you start with any contacts you may know who may either need or know someone who needs a Patent Practitioner. From there, you should put a resume together along with a cover letter and be sure to give it to your contacts. Remember, contacts may be university professors, individuals at law firms or corporations, or even collegues from school or places of past employment.

Additionally, you should post your resume at one of the many job sites on the internet. While most of these sites are not specifically law job sites, it is possible that your resume may get viewed by the right person (finding a job can truly be a numbers game, the more people who hold your resume, the better the chance of it coming into contact with the right person).

Since posting your resume on these websites is free, there really isn't any reason not to post it. We list these and other resources here.

You will also want to search the local newspaper for positions in your area (you would be surprised at the number of high profile positions that are still posted in newspapers around the country).

You may also wish to contact law firms or corporations with patent counsel on your own. We suggest you send them a short form letter explaining that you are interested in working for their company (flatter them without going overboard) and would be happy to send them a resume or set up a meeting if they so desire.

It is also wise to network at science and technology or legal gatherings and meet as many people as you can who may lead you to a position.

For your convenience, we've put together a list of the top legal job sites and companies here. This list is by no means exhaustive. If you know of any others, please contact us and we will add them for everyone's convenience:

• Intellectual Property Law Server - Updated listings of Intellectual Property and Patent Jobs
  
• William K. McLaughlin Associates - An executive search firm for Patent and Trademark Attorneys. They do have a list of positions available on their site.
  
• Legal Mojo - Legal Mojo has an extensive job board for legal professionals.
  
• MyLawJob.com - Provides listings of any and all available law jobs.
  
• IP Law 360 - Search the job board that caters to IP professionals.