About the Role
We are recruiting for a Paralegal with trade mark experience to join our Document Review and Collation (DRC) team in Bristol. The DRC team is a recognised centre of excellence within TLT and a recognised leader in optimised managed legal services, operating as a seamless extension of both TLT and client legal teams to drive efficiency, quality and value. Working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, the team is trusted to deliver with distinction, underpinned by leading-edge technology, streamlined processes and advanced resourcing strategies.
The primary focus of this role is supporting our Tech, Intellectual Property and Data team with trade mark and IP matters. Whilst the role sits within the DRC team, your day-to-day work will principally be centred on trade mark filing, prosecution and portfolio management. You will also receive training in DRC workstreams, and where capacity allows, there may be opportunity to assist with document review and related matters.
This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate looking to apply and develop their trade mark expertise whilst being part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team at the heart of TLT's legal services delivery.
Your Role and Key Responsibilities
Tech, Intellectual Property and Data Team (Primary Focus)
- Assist the Tech, Intellectual Property and Data team with trade mark filing, prosecution and portfolio management, including preparing and filing trade mark applications with the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) and European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
- Monitor trade mark registers and manage deadlines, renewals and watch notices.
- Conduct trade mark searches and provide preliminary clearance assessments.
- Draft and assist with trade mark-related correspondence, including responses to examination reports and opposition proceedings.
- Support fee earners in advising clients on trade mark strategy, brand protection and IP portfolio management.
- Assist with IP-related agreements, including trade mark licences and assignments.
Document Review and Collation Team (Training Provided – Exposure Subject to Business Needs)
You will receive structured training in the following DRC workstreams. Where the volume of trade mark work permits, you may have the opportunity to assist with some of these areas; however, involvement cannot be guaranteed and will depend on capacity and business requirements at any given time:
- First-level reviews of Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs), including redactions, with close attention to detail, accuracy and speed.
- Use of e-disclosure platforms such as Relativity to conduct document reviews and e-disclosure exercises.
- Support to fee earners with pre-action disclosure, court bundle preparation and general document management.
Your Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Demonstrable paralegal experience in trade mark prosecution and/or intellectual property work, whether gained in private practice or an in-house environment.
- Familiarity with UKIPO and/or EUIPO filing systems and procedures.
- Familiarity with trade mark portfolio platform management.
- Proven ability to identify privilege and handle confidential information with discretion.
- Strong ability to build and maintain professional relationships with colleagues and clients across multiple teams.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a high standard of drafting ability.
- Strong self-management skills with the ability to multitask, prioritise competing demands and work to tight deadlines.
- Accuracy, good organisational skills and the flexibility to adapt across different areas of work.
- Any prior exposure to document review, e-disclosure or data subject access requests would be advantageous. Full training will be provided on DRC processes; prior experience is not required.
- Experience of using document review platforms such as Relativity is desirable but not essential.
What We Offer
This is a hybrid role with 50% office attendance expected. The role is primarily focused on trade mark and IP work in support of our Tech, Intellectual Property and Data team, with the added benefit of structured training in document review and collation processes. Whilst the opportunity to assist across DRC workstreams will be offered wherever possible, the core day-to-day expectation of the role is trade mark-focused, and candidates should join with that as their primary professional expectation.
This makes it an ideal role for a paralegal whose primary expertise and ambition lies in trade marks and IP, and who welcomes the additional context and training that working within the broader DRC environment provides.
Your Team
You will be joining our Document Review and Collation (DRC) team, an integral part of TLT's Managed Legal Services offering. The DRC team provides multi-disciplinary expertise and scalable legal resources to support TLT's legal groups in the delivery of large-scale projects and managed legal services for our clients.
The team brings together a talented mix of paralegals and both qualified and non-qualified legal professionals, working collaboratively to support contentious and non-contentious fee earners from across the firm on a broad and varied range of matters. It is a fast-paced, collegiate environment where you will have the opportunity to make a real contribution to the delivery of high-quality legal services.
About TLT
Fast paced, fast growing and forward thinking, TLT is the law firm that helps clients stay one step ahead, and we do the same for our people.
We work with high profile clients in innovative sectors. With local, national and international reach, we have over 1,800 people in offices across the UK and a network of partner firms across Europe, India and the US. TLT was named Law Firm of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2023. This marks the third year in a row the firm has taken away this accolade in industry awards - having previously been named Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards in 2021 and the British Legal Awards in 2022.
Our purpose is to protect, prepare and progress our clients for what comes next and it’s essential that we do the same for our people, our planet and our communities too. In our open and collaborative culture, we encourage everyone to be their whole self, to have a voice and to contribute.
Our Benefits
We value our employees highly and we want you to feel valued. You’ll receive a competitive salary with an annual pay review. You will also have access to an extensive range of benefits via our flexible benefits scheme including 25 days holiday (which will increase to 30 days based upon length of service) and private medical insurance.
At TLT we have a progressive fully flexible working approach. We empower our people to work in a place and at a time that meets their needs, those of their clients and of the wider team and firm. Part of this agile approach is a focus on hybrid working and supporting the work/life balance of our people. We’re happy to talk about how flexible working can work for you and this role.
TLT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment and encourages applications from all suitably qualified people, regardless of disability, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by the laws in the locations in which we operate.
We welcome applications from people with disabilities and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments, where necessary, to make interviews and jobs more accessible. Should you have any difficulty during the recruitment process, require any reasonable adjustments or an application to Access to work please contact the recruitment team on Recruitment.Operations@TLT.com
