Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

**About Abbott**

Abbott is a global healthcare leader, creating breakthrough science to improve people’s health. We’re always looking towards the future, anticipating changes in medical science and technology.

**Working at Abbott**

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:

+ Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.

+ Free medical coverage for employees* via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO

+ An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution.

+ Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save (https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/strategy-and-strength/tackling-stude...) student debt program and FreeU (https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/strategy-and-strength/college-degree...) education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.

+ A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.

+ A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

**The Opportunity**

Our location in Plymouth, MN currently has an opportunity for a Senior Patent Paralegal. The Senior Paralegal Provides legal services and resolves legal matters for assigned responsibilities or clients. Supports the business in the achievement of business objectives by communicating advice of the Legal Department and managing legal risks to the corporation. The Sr. Paralegal is an intermediate individual contributor position for paralegals in Abbott’s Legal Division.

**What You’ll Work On**

+ Identifies moderately complex legal issues related assigned matter; proposes alternative solutions.

+ Performs substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and identifies moderately complex legal issues related to assigned matter; proposes alternative solutions.

+ Independently resolves routine and moderately complex to complex legal matters in area of responsibility with minimal supervision.

+ Performs independent analysis of unique problems and proposes solutions to a more experienced paralegal or attorney.

+ Assists more experienced paralegals and/or attorneys in resolving complex legal issues on projects involving multiple disciplines within the Legal Division and/or multiple functional areas or divisions within Abbott.

+ Possesses solid knowledge of Abbott’s businesses supported and knowledge of the broader business impact.

+ Keeps abreast of changes in laws that affect client areas.

+ Represents Abbott externally to customers, suppliers, competitors, opposing counsel or government agencies; resolves legal issues using negotiation skills and legal experience involving more complex matters.

+ Represents Legal Division internally to clients.

+ Helps select and/or directs the work of outside counsel, outside paralegals, contractors and vendors; defines project objectives and manages project.

+ Has an intermediate understanding of:

+ U.S. and international patent application processes and timelines as well as the legal, business and budgetary impact of various milestones between patent application filing and expiration of a patent.

+ Freedom-to-Operate (“FTO”) analysis and various legal, technical, and business inputs required to complete an FTO analysis and

+ the data and its significance in the patent database

+ fundamental contract law

+ Performs complex queries in patent database and generates reports from patent database as requested.

+ Performs analysis of reports from patent database, identifies gaps and errors in patent database, and resolves gaps and errors.

+ With supervision, conducts Patent Governance meetings by convening appropriate stake holders and developing:

+ reports that are used to make patent portfolio decisions and can include potential applications for filing, convention and national phase dates, European validations, and annuity/maintenance information and

+ back up materials for reference

+ Records minutes and decisions made at Patent Governance meetings for attorney review and ensures decisions are accurately recorded in database for future execution.

+ Identifies and obtains necessary legal and technical documents for FTO analysis with minimal supervision.

+ Proficient at review and negotiation of standard agreements such as Confidentiality, Material Transfer, Investigator Initiated Studies, Clinical Study and Services with minimal supervision.

+ Reviews more complex agreements with supervision from attorney or paralegal supervisor

+ Assists paralegal with minor agreements as necessary.

+ Supports complex legal projects.

+ Coaches and directs assigned support staff (may include junior paralegals and legal assistants) in their responsibilities.

+ Serves as role model for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

+ Advises legal department managers of critical project developments in a timely manner.

+ Executes core job responsibilities in a timely manner.

+ Assigned matters generally have a significant impact on business activities and operations.

+ Interacts across all levels of management.

+ No direct department budget responsibility; must however operate within budget. Develops estimates for outside counsel fees for assigned legal matters with supervision from more experienced paralegals and/or attorneys.

+ Demonstrates strong leadership competencies, considered as a potential successor to the Paralegal Supervisor.

**Required Qualifications**

+ Bachelor’s Degree and / or relevant legal education (Paralegal certificate)

**Preferred Qualifications**

+ Generally 4 – 7 years of relevant experience

+ Proficient in area of responsibility

Apply Now (https://www.jobs.abbott/us/en)

* Participants who complete a short wellness assessment qualify for FREE coverage in our HIP PPO medical plan. Free coverage applies in the next calendar year.

**Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives:** www.abbottbenefits.com (http://www.abbottbenefits.com/pages/candidate.aspx)

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.

The base pay for this position is $64,000.00 – $128,000.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Abbot welcomes and encourages diversity in our workforce.

We provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.

To request accommodation, please call 224-667-4913 or email corpjat@abbott.com