trademark

Trademark Attorney Jobs – What You Need To Know

A trademark attorney is an attorney who is trained and has in depth knowledge in matters related to trade mark law. He may give advice to clients on trademarks and design issues and represent them in legal cases pertaining to the same.

Job Responsibilities

As a trademark attorney your main job will be to advice clients who are seeking a trademark for their product or service name, slogan or logo. This would include conducting a search for the proposed name and advising the client on whether it is safe to proceed with it. Helping draft the trademark proposal and completing all documentation for trademark registration is also part of the job, as is handling cases such as if the client receives a cease and desist letter, which is sent when someone fears that their trademark is being infringed upon.

Essential Skills

Besides relevant education and certification and trademark attorney must have excellent communication and negotiation skills as he will be required to listen carefully and explain clearly to clients on one hand, and at the same time negotiate with other lawyers while defending trademark issues. Communication skills are also necessary to draft clear trademark proposals and to interact with institutions such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office. An ability to research comprehensively and quickly is also a vital skill since this is the first task to be completed when a client is contemplating a particular trademark name.

Valued Traits

As a trademark attorney you must always keep your client informed of current developments, pertaining to what you are working on. For example, if you receive correspondence from the US Patent and Trademark Office you should immediately communicate this with your client. This will give him confidence. Clients also value attorneys who respond promptly and in person to their queries. This indicates that you personally take that client and his concerns seriously. Finally as an attorney you must allow the client to make the decision. You may present various sides to a particular case and provide a risk analysis, but ultimately the decision must be the client’s.

Career Path

You would usually begin your career by joining a trademark firm or a patent attorney firm that has a trademark department as well. Some large or multinational companies that require considerable advice on trademark matter also hire trademark attorneys. With enough experience and a good reputation you could become a partner at a reputed firm or could start your own practice.

Work Conditions

When compared to other legal professions, the work of trademark attorneys is usually considered to be more glamorous, as interactions are usually with high level marketing professionals of multinational companies. There is also a fair scope for creativity, such as when working consumer goods. A lot of the basic work can also be done over the telephone, which makes it easy, though there are usually deadlines that have to be met. This profession also has scope for international travel and interaction, because of the nature of the job.