Job Description

The Future Talent Program features internships that last up to 12 weeks and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Global Support Functions Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.

Our Company's Intellectual Property Group (IP Group) is seeking two highly motivated law students to join our Rahway, New Jersey site for an internship of 10-12 weeks, for the period spanning May to August, 2027.  

The IP Group holds the critical responsibility of procuring and protecting our Company's patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property, playing a pivotal role in incentivizing scientific discovery and contributing to the development of important medicines in use today.

As an intern with the IP Group, you will not only contribute to our vital mission, but also gain invaluable knowledge and skills working on real-world projects that will set you on the path to a successful career at the intersection of the biopharmaceutical industry and the law. You will be paired with a mentor who will work closely with you to tailor your work and enhance your experience.  You will work directly with IP Group attorneys, gaining hands-on experience in crucial aspects of intellectual property law. Likely projects include:  

• Participating in drafting, filing and prosecuting patent applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and patent offices worldwide

• Working alongside our attorneys to analyze our Company's and third party patents and applications

• Collaborating with our attorneys and our researchers to devise the most effective patent strategy for a specific innovation

• Helping our attorneys counsel our Company researchers on patent issues, including freedom to operate and patentability studies

• Assisting our attorneys in support of current or potential patent litigation

• Working with our attorneys on trademark strategy for our Company products and initiatives worldwide

• Assisting our attorneys with copyright matters

There will be opportunity to collaborate with various legal functions and other functional areas within the Company, providing you with valuable insights into the overall drug development process. Furthermore, you will participate in projects, meetings, and department presentations, and obtain valuable exposure to pharmaceutical industry strategies and best practices.  For a final internship project, you will present to the Company's IP Group leadership on an issue of patent law.

Logistics:

Work Schedule: Five days a week, four of which are to be on-site

Travel to different Company sites within the Northeast may be required

Required Education and Experience:

• Candidate must have an undergraduate or graduate degree in a science or engineering field, and should be a current law student (1L full time, or IL or 2L part time) pursuing a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, returning to school in fall 2027

• Candidate must be available for the full 10 to 12 week internship

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Candidate should have a cumulative undergraduate or graduate GPA of at least 3.0

• Candidate should have a strong understanding of and interest in the pharmaceutical industry

• Candidate should have a strong interest in IP law and in taking the USPTO patent bar exam

• Candidate should have superior personal character and ethics

• Candidate should have strong personal communication and interpersonal skills

• Candidate should have excellent academic achievement and analytical ability

Please note that this position may be closed before the posted end date or may remain open longer, at the discretion of the company.

Salary range:
The salary range for this role is $39,908 - $111,111 USD.

FTP2027

GSF2027

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

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