council for innovation promotionWashington, DC
IP Policy Fellow
$150,000-$200,000
Apply (opens in a new tab)IP Policy Fellow
Apply for this role (opens in a new tab)Position Summary:
C4IP seeks an IP Policy Fellow to drive the legal research and policy analysis behind its intellectual property policy work. This is a full-time, primarily remote role based in the Washington, DC area role for an attorney with 3 to 8 years of IP experience at a law firm, on Capitol Hill, in government, or from academia who wants to shape IP law and policy. It is initially offered as a one-year fellowship, with a possibility to extend. As part of a small team, the selected candidate will be a key source of legal and policy research for C4IP, turning complex developments into clear, credible materials for Congress, agencies, and coalition partners. About C4IP: The Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP) is a bipartisan coalition that advocates for strong and effective IP rights as a driver of innovation and economic competitiveness (c4ip.org). Its work spans the full range of intellectual property (patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets) and the laws, regulations, and enforcement mechanisms that give those rights force, in Congress, at federal agencies, in the courts, and internationally. About the fellowship: The role is structured as a one-year fellowship providing extensive experience at the center of national IP policy. The Fellow reports to C4IP’s Chief Policy Officer and Counsel and works across the team on projects at the request of senior leaders and other colleagues. What the position offers:
- Active involvement in creating written works and reports that carry weight with policymakers and Administration officials.
- Engagement with Capitol Hill, agency officials, and leading voices across the IP community.
- Collaboration with C4IP's globally respected board, senior leaders and access to a professional network of IP experts.
- Visibility and relationships across government, private practice, industry, and the policy world.
Duties and responsibilities:
As a small team covering a broad and fast-moving range of issues, C4IP relies on flexibility and nimbleness. The duties below reflect how time is typically spent, though the mix will vary. Shifting focus on short notice is part of the role, and it gives the Fellow a breadth of experience that few roles can match. Legal research and analysis (40%)
- Track and analyze developments in patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law, including court decisions, PTAB practice, USPTO rules and guidance, and congressional hearings and markups, with timely briefing notes for leadership.
- Prepare legal memoranda, bill analyses, and section-by-section summaries of pending IP legislation.
- Assess the legal and economic effects of proposed policies, including march-in rights, standard essential patent licensing, regulatory gaps and international IP and trade measures.
- Maintain a research base of cases, statistics, and studies that supports C4IP's positions and rebuts common misrepresentations about IP.
- Fact-check written materials against primary sources, verifying statistics, case holdings, quotations, citations, and statutory and regulatory references, and confirming that each source supports the point it is cited for. Policy development, writing, and review (35%)
- Draft public comments, letters to Congress, responses to agency requests for information, issue briefs, reports, fact sheets, blog posts, and op-eds.
- Review C4IP materials before release, including work by colleagues and partners, for clarity, consistency, and correct citation form.
- Prepare draft testimony, speeches, and talking points for C4IP leadership.
- Support the Congressional Innovation Scorecard and contribute to the development of C4IP's policy agenda and recommendations for the Administration and Congress. Advocacy and outreach (20%)
- Participate in meetings with congressional staff, agency officials, and coalition partners.
- Help plan and staff C4IP events, panels, and webinars, including speaker research and briefing materials.
- Prepare substantive responses to questions from coalition partners and provide background support for press inquiries. Organizational support (5%)
- Contribute content to the newsletter, website, and social media.
- Support grant reports and other materials that describe C4IP's work.
- Take on other projects as needed in a small, fast-moving team.
Qualifications and experience
Required:
- J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
- Active bar membership in good standing in any U.S. jurisdiction, or eligibility to waive into the D.C. Bar.
- 3 to 8 years of relevant experience, such as IP litigation, prosecution, or counseling at a law firm; IP or Judiciary Committee work as a congressional staffer; a judicial clerkship; or work at a federal agency or IP-focused policy organization.
- Working knowledge of intellectual property law and policy, including how IP rights are obtained, enforced, impacted by regulatory practices, and how legislation moves through Congress.
- Strong research and writing skills, including Westlaw or Lexis, legislative history, and agency dockets, with clear prose for both legal and lay readers.
- Sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to work independently on a small team.
- Based in, or willing to relocate to, the Washington, DC area.
Preferred:
- Experience working on IP policy issues in a congressional office or committee (especially Judiciary), at the USPTO, or at a trade association.
- Familiarity with standard essential patents, technology transfer, trademark and counterfeiting issues, or international IP and trade.
- Published work on IP law or policy, such as articles, public comments, or op-eds.
- Ability to build working relationships with congressional and agency staff.
- Strong presentation and public speaking skills. The Fellow may speak on panels and present on C4IP's behalf.
- Commitment to C4IP's mission and to working with people across the political spectrum.
- Research experience or coursework in economics, or comfort working with economic data and studies on innovation and IP.
Position details:
Title: IP Policy Fellow Advisor Location: Washington, DC area; primarily remote, with in-person attendance expected for meetings, conferences, events, and other activities as needed.
Type:
Full-time, exempt; one-year fellowship, with a possibility to extend Salary Range: $150,000-$200,000 Start date: January 1, 2027 (est.)
Benefits:
Health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with C4IP paying 100% of the Fellow's premium. Coverage begins on the first of the month following the start date.
Retirement:
Competitive retirement benefits, including access to C4IP’s retirement savings plan, with employer contributions subject to plan eligibility requirements.
Paid annual leave: Paid annual leave, plus 11 paid federal holidays.
Sick and safe leave: Paid sick leave per year, for the Fellow's own health needs, to care for a family member, or for safe-leave purposes under DC law.
How to apply:
Apply through LinkedIn and upload a single PDF that includes your cover letter, resume, and a writing sample of no more than 10 pages (policy or legal analysis preferred). References will be requested from finalists. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. C4IP is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.
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