Trademark Paralegal

In the Information Age, information is everything. Unfortunately, information can’t be fenced in or locked in a safe. Instead of wire and steel, it must be guarded with the mind. And when you’re a Trademark Paralegal, that mind belongs to you.

It’s true: While real property — jewelry, currency and real estate — can be physically protected, intellectual property — words, phrases, names and images — is immune to burglar alarms and guard dogs. Its only source of protection, therefore, is the law. And that makes the Trademark Paralegal a cerebral Bodyguard, defending the world’s best ideas from the thought thieves that want to borrow, steal or otherwise take credit for them.

Although you’re not a Trademark Attorney, you most likely work for one as a Trademark Paralegal, assisting him or her with the nitty-gritty of intellectual property law. Like most Paralegals, you can’t give legal advice or present cases in court (you need a law degree for that); however, you’ll do just about everything else that might be asked of a Trademark Attorney, including corresponding with clients; researching intellectual property laws and cases; preparing and monitoring trademark and copyright applications; performing searches related to trademark availability; and monitoring and addressing trademark infringement disputes, including drafting and sending cease-and-desist letters.

Because intellectual property encompasses patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, you might be charged with protecting and defending everything from company’s names, logos, inventions, technologies and secret recipes to individuals’ books, photographs and even website domain names. And as the Information Age persists, that means one thing for you and your fellow Trademark Paralegals: job security.