IP Expert — Patent / Trademark
Mercor • Remote, United States
Education
Bachelor's
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$100–$150/hr
Listed
156d ago
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- Weekly hours
- 15 hrs/week
About this role
From the Mercor listing
Mercor is partnering with a leading AI lab to train frontier models on high-quality legal reasoning data. We're hiring IP Practitioners — patent attorneys — to design realistic IP scenarios, evaluate model outputs against established standards, and help shape how the next generation of AI reasons about patent prosecution, trademark practice, and IP analysis.
We welcome registered attorneys (USPTO/CIPO), trademark practitioners, IP litigators, and senior associates in IP practice. Generalist patent counsel and life sciences/electrical/mechanical/computer science prosecutors are all encouraged to apply.
Location Requirements
About the Role
Mercor is partnering with a leading AI lab to train frontier models on high-quality legal reasoning data. We're hiring IP Practitioners — patent attorneys — to design realistic IP scenarios, evaluate model outputs against established standards, and help shape how the next generation of AI reasons about patent prosecution, trademark practice, and IP analysis. We welcome registered attorneys (USPTO/CIPO), trademark practitioners, IP litigators, and senior associates in IP practice. Generalist patent counsel and life sciences/electrical/mechanical/computer science prosecutors are all encouraged to apply.
What You'll Do
Design realistic IP scenarios drawn from your practice (Office Action responses, prior art analysis, patent drafting, clearance opinions, TTAB proceedings, FTO analysis) Write "golden" reference responses at attorney quality Grade AI-generated responses against structured rubrics Provide written feedback the research team uses to improve model behavior Participate in onboarding office hours and specialty calibration sessions
- Design realistic IP scenarios drawn from your practice (Office Action responses, prior art analysis, patent drafting, clearance opinions, TTAB proceedings, FTO analysis)
- Write "golden" reference responses at attorney quality
- Grade AI-generated responses against structured rubrics
- Provide written feedback the research team uses to improve model behavior
- Participate in onboarding office hours and specialty calibration sessions
You're a Good Fit If You
Are a registered patent attorney (USPTO/CIPO), or have trademark prosecution experience with a J.D. Have 1–4 years of professional experience in IP prosecution or litigation Hold bar admission or USPTO/CIPO/UKIPO registration in good standing Have a technical background (engineering, computer science, life sciences, or chemistry preferred for patent work) Demonstrate excellent written communication skills with high attention to detail
- Are a registered patent attorney (USPTO/CIPO), or have trademark prosecution experience with a J.D.
- Have 1–4 years of professional experience in IP prosecution or litigation
- Hold bar admission or USPTO/CIPO/UKIPO registration in good standing
- Have a technical background (engineering, computer science, life sciences, or chemistry preferred for patent work)
- Demonstrate excellent written communication skills with high attention to detail
Bonus Qualifications
IP litigation experience (claim charts, invalidity analysis, Markman hearing prep) IP portfolio management experience Inter Partes Review (IPR) or Post-Grant Review experience Familiarity with patent analytics tools (PatSnap, Derwent, Google Patents)
- IP litigation experience (claim charts, invalidity analysis, Markman hearing prep)
- IP portfolio management experience
- Inter Partes Review (IPR) or Post-Grant Review experience
- Familiarity with patent analytics tools (PatSnap, Derwent, Google Patents)
Role Highlights
Minimum 15 hours per week (ideally 40+) Fully remote - must be based in the United States. Role starts immediately, applications reviewed on a rolling basis
- Minimum 15 hours per week (ideally 40+)
- Fully remote - must be based in the United States.
- Role starts immediately, applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Compensation
We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.
- $100–$150/hr
Requirements
- Must be eligible to work in one of: Remote, United States
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
- Bachelor's's degree or equivalent professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in Legal
How long hiring takes
Across the AI training platforms we refer candidates to, the median gap between referral and hire is about 30 days. It varies by platform and role, so treat it as a rough guide for this one.
Talent Pool members
Apply through this link and we can put you forward to Mercor when your profile is a strong match. Not every applicant is submitted. If you're not in the pool yet, set up your profile first.
Set up your profile →Why this role
Mercor is partnering with a leading AI lab to train frontier models on high-quality legal reasoning data. We're hiring IP Practitioners — patent attorneys — to design realistic IP scenarios, evaluate model outputs against established standards, and help shape how the next generation of AI reasons about patent prosecution, trademark practice, and IP
Talent pool
We're light on Legal candidates
We've matched 7 people with a Legal background against 209 Legal listings we've tracked, so most go out without one. Set up a profile and we'll consider you for a role like this one.
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Common questions
Is Mercor for freelancers or full-time contractors?
Mercor places you with one client for a defined engagement, like 'Python Tutor for 3 months', rather than having you grab small tasks from a shared queue. Most roles function as steady contract work, not one-off gigs.
Does Mercor's application require an on-camera interview?
Yes, every applicant records a video interview with an AI interviewer that asks questions about your resume. Clients review that recording to judge communication skills before matching, so there's no way to apply without going on camera.
Why do these AI training roles pay so much?
Because general knowledge isn't what's being tested. The model already knows the basics; what it needs is expertise on edge cases, the rare, difficult, highly technical judgment calls only a senior professional in the field would make correctly.
What does the day-to-day workload look like for elite-expert AI training roles?
Slow and deep, not fast and repetitive. A single task can take 45-60 minutes of researching citations or verifying complex calculations. Quality is what's being measured here, not throughput.
What does Legal work look like for an IP Expert — Patent / Trademark?
Tasks here are scoped to Legal, not generic labeling. As an IP Expert — Patent / Trademark, expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to Legal) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on Legal background, this is likely not the right listing to start with.
What specific skills does this listing call for?
Expert is named directly in the listing. If you don't have hands-on experience with this, expect the screening process to test for it directly rather than accepting adjacent experience as a substitute.
How many hours per week does this role require?
Based on the listing, this role is scoped at about 15 hours per week. Treat this as a real commitment expectation, not a loose estimate.
How much does this specific role pay?
This listing is posted at $100–$150/hr, an hourly rate. The range reflects experience level and negotiated terms, not a placeholder, so where you land in it depends on your background and the assessment. Pay can change between when we last checked the listing and when you apply, so confirm the current number on the platform's own application page before committing time.
What happens when I click Apply on this listing?
You'll be taken to Mercor's external site to complete your application there. This listing links through a referral, but the process is identical to applying directly; the link just routes you correctly. Create an account on their site and follow their onboarding steps.
Can I apply from outside the United States?
This specific role is open only to people based in the United States. If you are somewhere else, applying is unlikely to lead to an offer even if you pass the assessment, because the restriction is usually about where the work can legally be contracted rather than your skills. Read the full description for any tax-residency or right-to-work caveats before you apply.
How soon will I start working after applying to Mercor?
Not immediately. Mercor is a talent marketplace, not a task queue, so applying puts you in a pool of candidates. You start working only once a specific client, like a major AI lab, selects your profile, and that matching process can take weeks.