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[Lucky..]

Hi.
I got an offer today.
I was so excited.
However, before I accept the offer, there are couple of things I wanna know.

1) Do the USPTO assist any relocation fee?
As I live far away from Alexendria, I would like to have any kinds of stipend.

2) Where will be a nice, good, and cheap place to live?

3) If I once accept the offer, it is required to work there for 2 years?
As I heard there is a 8 month training, and it seems there is gonna be a penalty if I leave earlier than 2 years.

[smgsmc]

Hi, for Questions (1) and (3), I'd recommend that you simply call the OED.  I assume your acceptance letter must have contact info; if not, call the general OED number found on their website, and they will connect you to the right person.  That way you'll get the up-to-date official answers.

I have experience only with private industry; those questions are usually handled by HR.  Relocation expenses, for example, depends on how far away you presently are.  You may also want to consider other benefits such as health and life insurance, retirement benefits, and such.  But if your goal is to gain experience and then split in short order, these may not be critical <depending on your personal circumstances>.  I recommend that you gather up as much material on policies and benefits as you can (either printed or pulled off the web).  Caveat:  In industry, there is usually a disclaimer in fine print that all this can be changed at any time for any (or no) reason at all <assuming you're not in a position represented by a union>.  Check the fine print on USPTO forms.  Congratulations.

[guest]

Hi.
I got an offer today.
I was so excited.
However, before I accept the offer, there are couple of things I wanna know.

1) Do the USPTO assist any relocation fee?
As I live far away from Alexendria, I would like to have any kinds of stipend.

2) Where will be a nice, good, and cheap place to live?

3) If I once accept the offer, it is required to work there for 2 years?
As I heard there is a 8 month training, and it seems there is gonna be a penalty if I leave earlier than 2 years.

1) no relocation fee. i came from the west coast and got nothing.

2) good luck ... you can find nice and good but it won't be cheap!

3) you're not 'required' to work for 2 years. You might be on probation for 2 years, you can leave before that if you want with any penalties. Many do.

[Lucky..]

So do you mean that there is a penalty if I leave before the 2 year period probation?

[Isaac]

So do you mean that there is a penalty if I leave before the 2 year period probation?

No.  The probationary period is a period in which the PTO can easily let you go.   What kind of penalty were you thinking would be applied if you left early?

[Lucky..]

Ok..
Besides the offer from USPTO, I also got accepted from several law schools.
So, I am planning to defer one of those school for a year and thinking about attending there after I work at the USPTO for a year.
Is it possible to do this?
Will it hurt me if I wanna work back to USPTO after I finish law school?
Are there any kinds of fines I have to pay or penalty?

[Isaac]

Ok..
Besides the offer from USPTO, I also got accepted from several law schools.
So, I am planning to defer one of those school for a year and thinking about attending there after I work at the USPTO for a year.
Is it possible to do this?

It would be possible to do this as long as the law schools cooperated by letting you defer.   While I'm sure that the PTO would be less than pleased if they knew about your plan, as would the applicants' whose cases you will work on and then beat feat in the middle of, presumably they won't know.

You will be an at will employee who can leave any time.  You won't be on any kind of two year contract during which you cannot leave.

[guest]

You won't be able to have the PTO pay for law school until you are off of probation.  However, if you are planning to foot the bill yourself, you can go whenever you think you'll have the time.

No penality for leaving early.  Probation is probation.  You don't like them...leave.  They don't like you...you're gone.

It is not a cushy job.  Expect long hours.  Most people  I know work lots of voluntary overtime just to make it.

No relocation assistance.

Contrary to the other poster, don't call OED.  OED isn't for examiner-types.  They only deal with practioners with reg numbers.  They don't know how to handle questions from newbie examiners.  Call HR or whoever interviewed you/gave the OK to hire you.

There are lots of places to live within walking/biking distance.  If you aren't too picky, a 1 bedroom (800 sq ft.) can run anywhere from $1200 w/utilities to $1700 without. It all depends on how close you want to be and how nice a place you want to have.

Best wishes!

[Lucky..]

Thanks for all of you guys who left comments.
I really appreciate it.
I hope all the best wishes for all of you.
Thanks again.