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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 10/23/23
Are you interested in a career in intellectual property law, but less excited about going to law school? You can have both as an intellectual property paralegal!
Bees—they’re pesky, ruin picnics, and leave a painful sting. But, bees are also essential to our survival; they provide us with honey, pollen, beeswax, and are the largest pollinators, contributing to a third of the world’s food production. These hard workers are essential parts of our agriculture but do not get the same credit as farmers.
You can think of paralegals playing a similar role, minus the annoyance. While they tend to work behind the scenes with lawyers that get credit for cases, they are essential to the legal field!
While they do not provide honey, they do complete about a third of lawyer’s tasks by ensuring they have all the information required to create the most compelling cases. To learn more about how to become an intellectual property paralegal, one of the most in-demand and high paying legal specialities, read on!
Becoming an intellectual property paralegal only involves a few steps, but will require dedication and hard work:
Paralegals require a good foundation in law to join the legal field. There are three options you can pursue to gain this education:
While associate’s degrees allow you to enter the field as soon as possible, bachelor’s degrees are often preferred by employers. Considering intellectual property law is a popular speciality, having this degree can give you a competitive advantage.
Completing a degree or certificate in paralegal studies is the only requirement to become a paralegal. However, joining this field with only a general education in paralegal studies may be difficult.
To gain more expertise in intellectual property law, you should consider taking courses in this specific legal specialty. You may be able to take electives while you’re completing your degree or additional courses afterwards.
For instance, UC Berkeley offers a Paralegal Intellectual Property Law course to students enrolled in their paralegal studies degree and those that have completed some paralegal studies courses elsewhere.
This is an excellent option for aspiring intellectual property paralegals to learn more about trademark, copyright, patent, and trade-secret law. Berkeley is also a prestigious law school, so completing a course from this institution can strengthen your resume!
While gaining paralegal certification is not necessary to become an intellectual property paralegal, doing so will differentiate your resume and make you a more attractive employee. There are three organizations that offer paralegal certification:
Some organizations also offer experienced paralegals certification courses in intellectual property law. If you’re considering getting a specialized certification, ensure you do so through a reputable institution. Our top pick is the University of Texas’ Intellectual Property Law Specialist Certificate.
As you learn more about this career, you may wonder, “what does an intellectual property paralegal do?” The general tasks these professionals are responsible for include:
Your exact duties will depend on the firm you work for! Depending on the level of assistance the attorney requires, you may be responsible for more or fewer duties.
The final aspect to consider when discussing how to become an intellectual property paralegal is your expected salary. Considering intellectual property law is one of the highest paying specialties, there is a wide range in this field.
Intellectual property paralegals generally make around $67,000 to $85,000 a year, but earn more as they gain experience and a more advanced skill set.
Below, you’ll find the answers to frequently asked questions about how to become an intellectual property paralegal.
At the minimum, students should have an associate’s degree or post-baccalaureate degree in paralegal studies, however bachelor’s degrees in this subject are more marketable. Aspiring intellectual property paralegals should also take electives in this speciality during or after the completion of their degree.
The most important skills for intellectual property paralegals to possess include:
Successful intellectual property paralegals will also have significant knowledge in the field and a willingness to continue expanding their knowledge, so that they may serve the attorneys and clients they work for better.
Yes, intellectual property law is a great career. You will be an integral part of the law firm you work for and will be well-paid for your hard work! Intellectual property is a field that is constantly evolving, so you can expect to take on diverse cases and have various opportunities to advance your career as you gain more experience in the field.
No, paralegals are not lawyers. You do not have to go through the arduous process of going to law school and completing a JD to become an intellectual property paralegal! While you’ll still be heavily involved in your firm’s cases, you will not require an expensive legal degree to do so!
While you’ll be a busy bee as you complete the necessary education and training to become an intellectual property paralegal, this legal speciality is all the buzz lately! By joining it, you’ll be playing an essential role in the legal field and entering a lucrative, high-paying profession!
