Summer Patent Agent Intern

The paid 10-week internship is offered by the law firm of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP (Shumaker). As a Patent Agent Intern, you will work in Shumaker’s Charlotte, NC or Tampa, FL office for the summer of 2026, learning about all aspects of patent preparation and prosecution. Our interns are paired with a mentor and get hands-on experience working with inventors, patent agents, and patent attorneys. Compensation starts at approximately $1,300/week. Upon completion of the Patent Agent Internship, interns will be considered for full-time employment beginning in 2027.

Have you considered a career as a Patent Agent?

Patent agents are licensed by the Federal Government to prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications and are entitled to represent clients before the U.S. Patent Office without attending law school. They work with inventors to identify and to understand inventions. Then, they prepare a written specification of the invention and work with a draftsperson to prepare drawings that illustrate the invention. Lastly, as the patent application is examined by the U.S. Patent Office, the agent engages with government patent examiners to argue in favor of the patent application.

What is the Patent Agent Internship?

The paid 10-week internship is offered by the law firm of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP (Shumaker). As a Patent Agent Intern, you will work in Shumaker’s Charlotte, NC or Tampa, FL office for the summer of 2026, learning about all aspects of patent preparation and prosecution. Our interns are paired with a mentor and get hands-on experience working with inventors, patent agents, and patent attorneys. Compensation starts at approximately $1,300/week. Upon completion of the Patent Agent Internship, interns will be considered for full-time employment beginning in 2027.

Qualifications

• Must be a rising senior or graduate student enrolled in a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctor of Philosophy degree program in one of the following disciplines: electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or the like.
• Applicants should intend to live in the geographic area of one of our firm’s offices after graduating.
• Must exhibit a proficiency for technical writing and analytical thinking, coupled with a strong scientific acumen and research skills.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit the below materials via our website (https://www.shumaker.com/company-overview/careers/) no later than February 1, 2026.

• Resume
• Current transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
• Technical writing sample
• Optional: Letters of recommendation from academic or professional references

We are unable to provide sponsorship for this opportunity. Shumaker reserves the right to extend an offer or the deadlines. If you have any questions, please contact Colleen Miller, Director of Recruitment, at cmmiller@shumaker.com.