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General Overview

Do you combine insatiable curiosity with serious smarts? Do you believe there’s no such thing as a minor detail? Do you want to work with people who encourage and inspire you?

Then you belong here.

We’re constantly on the lookout for bright, motivated individuals looking to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others. Who believe the law isn’t what’s written in a book, but an instrument of change.

It’s a big challenge. But nothing great ever came from small ones.

Benefits

Staff, Patent Scientists & Patent Counsel Benefits

  • Medical Insurance Coverage
    Comprehensive and affordable EPO, PPO and HSA medical plans are offered to full-time employees and their qualified dependents through Aetna. Availability of these plans varies by state and all plans are not available in all states.

  • Dental Insurance Coverage
    PPO dental plan provided through Aetna.

  • Vision Insurance Coverage
    Comprehensive vision coverage through Aetna.

  • Prescription Drug Coverage
    Our prescription drug program provides employees with choice, flexibility, affordability and access to an extensive network of retail pharmacies.

  • Flexible Spending Accounts
    A FSA allows an employee to set aside money for qualifying health and childcare expenses not covered or reimbursed by any other source such as medical insurance. All contributions are made and utilized on a pre-tax basis. This means the amount of income the employees’ taxes are based on will be lower, resulting in a tax savings.

  • 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
    Those who are at least 21 years of age are eligible to enroll on the first of the month, following their date of hire. The plan includes generous Firm discretionary contributions.

  • PTO (Personal Time-Off)
    PTO time is to be used for any sick, personal, or vacation days. Time is accrued according to the following schedule:

    16 days per year for your 1st year of employment
    18 days per year for your 2nd year of employment
    20 days per year for your 3rd through 5th year of employment
    25 days per year for your 6th through 10th year of employment
    30 days per year for your 11th year and all subsequent years of employment

  • Care Days
    A CARE day may be taken as a partial or single day and is intended to provide employees additional time to take care of personal obligations. CARE time accrues at the rate of 5 days per year to a cap of 40 hours.

  • Holidays
    Employees are paid for an average of ten holidays per year.

  • Four-Day Work Week Option Upon Return From Pregnancy Disability Leave
    In addition to time off for pregnancy disability leave, employees returning to full-time positions after an approved leave may apply for authorization to work a four-day work week (at 80% salary) for up to three months following their return.

The Firm’s Executive Committee has the exclusive right to revise these benefits at any time and from time to time, with or without notice.

Benefits

Associate Benefits

  • Medical Insurance Coverage
    Comprehensive and affordable EPO, PPO and HSA medical plans are offered to full-time employees and their qualified dependents through Aetna. Availability of these plans varies by state and all plans are not available in all states.

  • Dental Insurance Coverage
    PPO dental plan provided through Aetna.

  • Vision Insurance Coverage
    Comprehensive vision coverage through Aetna.

  • Prescription Drug Coverage
    Our prescription drug program provides employees with choice, flexibility, affordability and access to an extensive network of retail pharmacies.

  • Flexible Spending Accounts
    A FSA allows an employee to set aside money for qualifying health and childcare expenses not covered or reimbursed by any other source such as medical insurance. All contributions are made and utilized on a pre-tax basis. This means the amount of income the employees’ taxes are based on will be lower resulting in a tax savings.

  • 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
    Those who are at least 21 years of age are eligible to enroll in the plan on the first of the month, following their date of hire.

  • Quota Credit Days
    Quota credit is accrued according to the following schedule:

    15 days per year for the Associate’s 1st through 5th years of employment
    20 days per year for the Associate’s 5th and all subsequent years of employment

  • Holidays
    Associates are paid for an average of ten holidays per year.

  • Four-Day Work Week Option Upon Return From Pregnancy Disability Leave
    In addition to time off for pregnancy disability leave, employees returning to full-time positions after an approved leave may apply for authorization to work at 80% quota (80% salary) for up to three months following their return.

  • Bar Exam and Bar Review Course Reimbursement
    The Firm will reimburse usual costs associated with preparing for and taking the Bar Examination in the state where the associate works. Such expenses include a review course (e.g. BarBri), exam registration fees, moral character fees, fingerprinting fees and MPRE fees. In addition, the Firm will reimburse hotel room and tax expenses for three nights while taking the Bar Exam. PMBR expenses are excluded. All reimbursements apply only for those charges incurred after accepting an offer with the firm.

  • Continuing Legal Education Reimbursement
    The Firm encourages its associates to participate in continuing legal education by attending programs conducted outside of the Firm.

The Firm’s Executive Committee has the exclusive right to revise these benefits at any time and from time to time, with or without notice.

Diversity

From our founding, Knobbe Martens has been committed to creating and fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. It’s a commitment that has yielded real and meaningful results, and today we are recognized as among the most diverse mid-size firms in the nation.

We promote diversity through active outreach and recruitment, as well as through internal programs that ensure the needs and goals of all our diverse employees are recognized and valued. Our Diversity Committee includes a broad spectrum of attorneys reflective of our diverse workforce. Our attorneys have varied cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds and combined, speak over 20 foreign languages.

As part of our commitment to diversity in the workplace, Knobbe Martens is proud to offer 1L and 2L Diversity Scholarship Programs which are open to qualified law students interested in Intellectual Property Law. For more information, please click here.

The Knobbe Martens Diversity Committee promotes the following firm objectives:

Foster understanding, communication, and respect among all people in the firm, including people of different races, religions, ages, sexes, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, national origins, sexual orientations, gender identities, medical conditions or disabilities, and marital, veteran, or family statuses; attract qualified candidates for attorney positions with such diverse backgrounds; retain and provide equal opportunity for attorneys with such diverse backgrounds; promote the firm’s diversity in connection with business development opportunities; and address other diversity-related issues that may arise.

No Glass Ceiling to Equity Partnership

  • Short partnership track – Associates may be considered for partnership as early as six years after joining the firm
    Single-tiered (equity) partnership

  • Unique Culture and Programs That Promote Diversity

    1,750 hours-per-year quota
    Quota credit (at least 15 days per year) available to assist in meeting quota
    Significant client contact and responsibility for associates
    Reduced quota program for associates and partners
    Return-to-work transition period for associates and partners after pregnancy disability leave
    1L and 2L Diversity Scholarship Programs
    Over 20 foreign languages spoken, including Arabic, Croatian, Farsi, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu

  • Diversity Leadership

    Numerous committees chaired by a diverse attorney
    Equal opportunities for attorneys with diverse backgrounds to have major roles in litigation and at trial
    Firm includes internationally recognized leaders in IP across a vast spectrum of technology areas

Diversity Achievements

Ranked Fourth For “Best Law Firms for Minority Equity Partners” based on Firm Size – 2022 “Diversity Snapshot” by Law360

Ranked Top 20 for Overall Attorney Diversity Nationwide – 2021 “Diversity Scorecard” by The American Lawyer

Ranked #1 “Best Law Firm for Minority Attorneys” based on Firm Size – 2019 “Diversity Snapshot” by Law360

Community & Pro Bono

We believe a law firm exists to serve both its clients and its community. That’s why we provide extensive pro bono legal services to deserving individuals and institutions, as well as donating our time and financial resources to a wide range of professional, community and nonprofit organizations.

And we back our commitment in real and meaningful ways, including recognizing and rewarding employees for their contributions during review. It’s part of a firm-wide philosophy of growing by giving back. And working to serve the people we’re proud to call friends, and places we’re proud to call home.

  • Pro Bono Representations
    Prepared a visa application for a victim of domestic violence
    Immigration asylum applications
    Represented an indigent and disabled renter in a lawsuit against his condominium association
    Represented Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in drafting an amicus brief in a veterans appeal to the Federal Circuit
    Represented a UC Hastings Startup Legal garage program
    Drafted a patent application for a school related to a device benefitting those with visual impairments
    Submitted amicus briefs on behalf of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)

  • Community Involvement

    American Diabetes Association (Bay Area)
    American Heart Association (Orange County Division)
    Constitutional Rights Foundation
    Human Options
    Lawyers Club of San Diego
    Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
    Legal Aid Society of Orange County
    Orange County Bar Foundation

  • Choosing To Care

    Our Choose to Care program provides employees with the time and resources to participate in various charitable causes and non-profit organizations each month. These are just a few of the groups we’re honored to have helped.

    Habitat For Humanity
    Red Cross International
    Leukemia Society
    Make-A-Wish Foundation
    National Multiple Sclerosis Society
    Race For The Cure
    Toys for Tots
    Ronald McDonald House
    California Animal Rescue
    OC Early Literacy Program
    OCBA Food Drive
    Working Wardrobes
    Project Cuddle