How to Become an Intellectual Property Paralegal
Intellectual property paralegals work with lawyers, scientists and engineers to prepare legal documents, help secure patents, conduct research and provide administrative support. According to the Center for Intellectual Property Law and Innovation at Indiana University School of Law, the field of intellectual property law is expanding rapidly because of increases in technological research. The average yearly salary of an intellectual property paralegal was $56,000 as of Jan. 1, 2010, according to researchers at Simply Hired.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Complete a paralegal training program. The minimum requirement for working as a paralegal is a high school diploma, but most intellectual property law firms, government agencies, and private research and development corporations require intellectual property paralegals to have an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in paralegal studies.
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2
Participate in specialized intellectual property law training. Intellectual property paralegals must have a strong understanding of the technical topics they will deal with on the job. Depending on where the paralegal is employed, she may need to deal with chemical formulas, computer programming languages, medicine and pharmaceutical testing. To develop an understanding of these topics, prospective intellectual property paralegals should take undergraduate coursework in chemistry, biology and computer science.
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Develop your organizational and time management skills. Intellectual property paralegals are often responsible for maintaining and updating files, tracking patent applications and maintaining the schedules of their supervising lawyers and patent agents. It is crucial that IP paralegals have strong organizational skills and the ability to manage time effectively.
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Target your job search to technologically oriented firms and companies. There are many organizations that hire intellectual property paralegals, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office, private law firms, software manufacturers, record companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and research and development firms.
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