Patent Paralegal or Administrator - Permanent Full time Role
- Recruiter
- Dehns Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys
- Location
- Bristol (City Centre), Bristol
- Salary
- Competitive
- Posted
- 30 Jul 2021
- Closes
- 27 Aug 2021
- Sectors
- Legal
- Contract Type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full Time
Brand New Position working for 1 Partner, 1 Senior Associate and their Technical Assistants in the Engineering Team
(Please note experience is not essential as training will be provided)
Purpose of role:
To provide a full support service to qualified and trainee Patent Attorneys (and a willingness to assist trade mark colleagues if needed). Work as part of an overall team to ensure a high level of support is delivered across the Bristol office and the Firm as a whole.
Job Specification:
- Maintaining records for fee earner cases in respect of various formalities eg maintaining US IDS records for a patent family.
- Assisting fee earners in obtaining information from EPO, UKIPO, EUIPO, WIPO and other IP related websites and databases.
- Preparing reports to clients in respect of UKIPO and EUIPO surveillance notifications, and EUIPO Search Reports.
- Reporting grants of protection of designations of International Registrations.
- Assistance with assignments, changes of name/address and other recordals, including obtaining/collating information on requirements/costs, preparing documents (eg Powers of Attorney) for execution by clients, preparing forms/instructions to overseas associates, monitoring progress of recordals and reporting to client.
- Preparing basic correspondence/emails to clients, IP offices and overseas agents.
- Preparing standard reporting letters to clients.
- Preparation of documentation relevant to patents, designs and/or trademarks as appropriate and monitoring various formalities processes relevant to the filing of UK, European, International and Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT) applications.
- Preparation of various documentation and presentations relevant to fee earner involvement in committees and other professional activities.
- Transcribing dictation (Big Hand).
- Dealing with incoming and outgoing communications.
- Preparation and handling of all ancillary documentation as necessary (eg file management, photocopying, scanning etc).
- Instructing overseas agents to attend to filing of new patent, design and trade mark applications (including national phase of PCT applications), to include attending to all filing formalities
- Preparing and/or sending emails on behalf of fee earners.
- Monitoring fee earner deadlines/workloads, liaising with central Records Department and taking necessary action in respect of deadlines wherever appropriate.
- Maintaining fee earner diary.
- Preparation of cost estimates for clients.
- Running status reports and portfolio schedules as and when required by clients.
- Adding official fees and firm service charges to our billing system.
- Preparation of invoices.
- Monitoring of fee earner Work In Progress (WIP) eg unbilled time or service charges wherever appropriate.
- Checking new client details on Inprotech database and updating various other records.
- Maintaining client files with relevant client specific information, eg standard procedures re billing, correspondence etc.
- Arranging fee earner travel as required. Preparation of Travel Itineraries and dealing with expense claims on behalf of fee earner, if required.
- Acting as point of contact for client enquiries on behalf of fee earner. Making and receiving telephone calls and dealing with general enquiries.
- Point of contact when arranging internal and external meetings, booking of rooms, venues and refreshments.
- As required, assisting with ad hoc responsibilities and administrative tasks to support fee earners. This will include office administrative duties.
Person specification:
- Ability to work independently to a high standard and use own initiative wherever appropriate
- Excellent organisational skills
- Efficient, able to prioritise to meet deadlines and multi-task
- Must be able and willing to learn new systems and procedures
- Must be a team player, personable and approachable
- Able to work under pressure and respond to changing demands on a daily basis
Essential skills/knowledge/experience:
- Very high attention to detail
- Good typing speed
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook (2010)
For a full Job Description, please contact: careers@dehns.com