PARALEGAL PROFILE
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Nathalie Kongtcheu: Paralegal at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, in New York, NY [By Judith Earley] Paralegal Nathalie Kongtcheu works in the New York office of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, where she assists the attorneys in all matters related to patent and trademark prosecution in the United States and foreign countries. Her responsibilities include the electronic filing of patent and trademark applications, handling issue fees, research, and preparation and analysis of documents. She found her current placement through a headhunter.
Kongtcheu said what she enjoys most about
documents-to be submitted in a portable
project, I usually try to get my work right the
her position is searching patent law and
document file (PDF) format,” said Kongtcheu.
first time,” said Kongtcheu.
flip side, one of her most difficult challenges
Another change she has seen is the online
“I also try to have a time that I could use
is meeting deadlines to prevent her clients
availability of file wrappers and patent law
to make improvements on my career.
from losing their rights to inventions. Some
and rules.
I’m taking some physics classes to meet
rules to find answers to questions. On the
the requirements to pass the patent bar
of the highlights of her career have been getting to know her clients and giving her
“These changes are making our work as
examination with the USPTO (United States
clients and the attorneys at her firm the best
paralegals more efficient,” said Kongtcheu.
Patent and Trademark Office). During the weekend, I usually have activities that
service every time they need her. One person who significantly influenced
my family can do all together-gardening,
Over the course of her career as a paralegal,
Kongtcheu’s career was the senior paralegal
swimming, walking, etc.”
one of the changes she has seen in the legal
who served as her mentor when she joined
industry has been the United States Patent
the firm. “[She] was very demanding,” said
and Trademark Office’s implementation of
Kongtcheu. “Her requests increased my
the electronic filing system (EFS) for patent
curiosity and my knowledge in the field.”
correspondence and, in particular, the webbased electronic filing system (EFS-Web).
Kongtcheu works very long hours-sometimes 55 hours per week. “I have to commute
On the Net Greenberg Traurig, LLP www.gtlaw.com New York City www.nyc.gov
“EFS-Web permits most patent
about three hours every day and take care
correspondence-that is, most patent
of my family (my five-year-old son and my
United States Patent and Trademark Office
applications and other patent-related
husband). Therefore, when I’m assigned to a
www.uspto.gov
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