Patent Legal Secretary at Spoor & Fisher – Apply Now!

🧾 Job Details

🏢 Employer: Spoor & Fisher
📍 Location: Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa
💼 Job Type: Permanent
🆔 Job Identification: SPO251212-3
📂 Job Category: Legal / Patent Administration
📅 Closing Date: 12 January 2026
🧑‍💼 Number of Positions: 1

📌 About Spoor & Fisher

Spoor & Fisher is one of South Africa’s leading Intellectual Property (IP) firms, offering expert services in patent, trademark, and design law. The firm is committed to excellence, transformation, and providing comprehensive legal support to clients across diverse industries.

🏢 Department Overview – Patent Chemical

The Patent Chemical Department manages patent filings, design applications, and associated administrative and secretarial support. The team ensures high-quality, accurate documentation and timely submissions for local and international clients.

🧑‍💼 Role Overview

The Patent Legal Secretary will provide critical administrative support to the patent team, assisting with filing, client correspondence, and documentation management. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented, proactive professional who thrives in a fast-paced IP law environment.

📝 Key Responsibilities

📂 Administrative and Secretarial Duties

• General secretarial duties, including diary management and document handling

• Checking daily reminders and monthly grant cases

• Preparing vetting memos and reports for patent applications

• Filing amendments, divisional applications, and extensions of acceptance

• Preparing pre-allowance reminders and client allowance reports

• Drafting correspondence, acknowledgements, and client reminders

• Maintaining and updating precedents and schedules

• Uploading documents to client portals and internal DMS

• Recording lodgements in the lodgement book and updating Inproweb

• Printing paper lodgements as part of the printing roster

• Assisting with basic patent/design searches and preparing reports

• Preparing provisional and PCT applications for filing

• Preparing reports and invoices for foreign patent applications

• Updating IDS reports and ensuring adherence to standing instructions

💻 Technical Skills

• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Outlook

• Familiarity with CIPC online, WIPO online platforms

• Experience with Inprotech/Inproweb is advantageous

🧠 Minimum Requirements

• Higher Certificate (or equivalent)

• Secretarial or paralegal diploma advantageous

• Basic understanding of patent and design applications

• Strong organizational skills and high attention to detail

• Ability to work independently and proactively

• Analytical thinking and problem-solving mindset

• Excellent English communication skills

• Sense of urgency and ability to handle high-pressure tasks

• Growth mindset, willing to learn from constructive feedback

📄 CV Application Tips

• Highlight any patent or IP-related experience, including internships or clerical work

• Emphasize administrative, secretarial, and filing skills

• Showcase attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to meet deadlines

• Include experience with MS Office, WIPO, CIPC, or Inprotech/Inproweb

• Demonstrate proactive problem-solving, analytical thinking, and effective communication

⚖️ Policy and Culture

Spoor & Fisher is committed to Employment Equity and Transformation. Recruitment decisions consider the firm’s equity plan to ensure diversity, inclusion, and fairness.