Trademark attorney

Trademark attorneys are experts on how the law relates to trademarks. They help clients who want to register new trademarks. They also advise on how best to use and protect those trademarks. Trademarks come in many forms. For example, they might be a company name, a brand name or a logo.

Work activities

Trademark attorneys advise their clients on a wide range of trademark-related issues. They are experts on how the law relates to trademarks. Clients can register their trademarks themselves. However, it is a complicated process so many people use the services of an attorney. When a client wants to register a new trademark, the attorney will first do some searches to see if the trademark has been used before or is currently in use. The attorney will then need to register the trademark in each separate country in which the client wants trademark protection.

Trademark attorneys make sure clients aren’t breaking any laws related to trademarks. These could be their own trademarks but attorneys also advise clients about issues related to other organisations’ trademarks. In some cases, attorneys may have to support solicitors and barristers during legal cases. However, wherever possible, the trademark attorney will try to avoid litigation. Trademark attorneys are mainly office-based. However, work-based travel opportunities are common, both in the UK and abroad.

Personal qualities and skills

To do this job well, you’ll need:

A good knowledge of UK and foreign trademark law.
To be a good communicator, both on paper and in person.
Good teamworking skills but also able to work well alone.
To be well-organised, able to cope with a varied caseload and meet deadlines.
IT skills.
Working knowledge of issues such as copyright and industrial designs.
Good research skills.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for trademark attorneys are similar to other professionals in legal work. The pay rates given are approximate. Trainees start on around £25,000 a year. Newly qualified attorneys earn This can rise to around £90,000 with experience. Trademark attorneys typically work a 37-39-hour week. However, some late finishes and weekend work may be required.

New entrants normally join a firm of trademark attorneys, or a firm of patent attorneys with a trademark department. Vacancies are also found in large companies with enough trademark interests to warrant an attorney to deal with trademark matters. Some trademark attorneys establish their own firms in private practice.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Jobs are some listed on the Institute of Trademark Attorneys’ (ITMA) website. Vacancies are also advertised on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

You would most likely enter this career by joining a firm of trademark attorneys, or a firm of patent attorneys with a department specialising in trademark work. The minimum educational requirements to enter the profession are GCSEs at grades 9-4 in five approved subjects, and A-levels in two approved subjects, or their equivalents. Contact the Institute of Trademark Attorneys (ITMA) for a list of approved subjects.

Many candidates have higher-level qualifications, such as degrees. Having a degree in a subject such as law may lead to exemptions from some of the ITMA exams. However, your choice of degree subject to enter this career is quite broad and many subjects are acceptable depending on the firm you apply to. Foundation degrees, HNCs and HNDs in law and related subjects are available at various universities and colleges of higher education throughout the UK; progression is usually possible to a full law degree.

To call yourself a trademark attorney, you need to be listed on the Register of Trademark Attorneys. To register, you’ll need a minimum of two-years’ experience as a trademark attorney. You’ll also need to have passed the Foundation Level Examinations.

Training in mainly on-the-job and is coupled with independent study towards the ITMA’s exams. The training scheme for trademark attorneys includes the following:

A part-time law course
A part-time practice course
Work experience of around two years, keeping a training diary as evidence.

Once fully qualified, the main progression route is simply to more senior roles within a firm. The major goal for many in this profession is to become a partner in a firm.

There is not currently an apprenticeship programme in this field.

Qualifications

The minimum you’ll need to get into this job is five GCSEs at grades 9-4, plus two A-levels. In reality, many new entrants have degrees. The usual entry requirement for any degree course is:

Two to three A-levels. Subjects like law, English and a foreign language might be most useful.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in two to three other subjects.

Other qualifications are often acceptable as alternatives to A levels, for example:

Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

You should check prospectuses carefully for specific requirements.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

People with considerable experience in a company’s patent department may be able to become trademark attorneys. Some professional and scientific staff, for example, in research and development work, may be able to transfer into this work with further study.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

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