Our specialist, award-winning IP team has the resources and skills to assist our clients in protecting, maximising and monetising their technology and intellectual property assets across a wide spectrum of industry sectors. They are a highly regarded team working with a number of the firm's key clients, structuring and negotiating complex IP transactions and working to resolve patent, trade mark, copyright, design, and other IP disputes. The team also advises clients on clearing, registering and maintaining trade marks and designs throughout the world, and has secured the ability to continue with the filing of European Union trade marks and designs post Brexit.

We now have an opportunity for a Paralegal to join them based out of our Leeds office.

What will you be doing?

In this busy and varied role you'll be working alongside experienced solicitors and trade mark attorneys, helping you to develop a specialism in trade marks. You'll be an integral part to the day-to-day workings of the team, and provide much needed support as the team grows. As part of the team, you'll work to build relationships with clients, colleagues and overseas agents, to ensure the smooth running of the trade mark and designs practice.

This will involve creating, updating and monitoring the records in our specialist database (WebTMS), and gathering information to generate weekly reports. You'll be responsible for allocating tasks to team members, to keep everyone on top of their deadlines, and for dealing with incoming notifications, requiring you to liaise with trade mark and design registries, and with foreign agents, to progress client instructions.

So what are we looking for?

Whilst previous legal or IP experience is not essential, demonstration of any practical skills in the area of record and data management, would be helpful. What is more important to us is that you're able to provide good quality and accurate data entry in a fast paced environment, demonstrate excellent time management skills and be able to meet key deadlines

Who are we?

A Top 100 law firm globally and Top 20 law firm in the UK, Womble Bond Dickinson has more than 400 partners and 1,000 lawyers based across 19 US cities and seven UK cities including a significant presence in London. The firm's reach also extends to Europe where it has strategic partnerships with other law firms in Germany and France.

In the UK, Womble Bond Dickinson advises in excess of 40 FTSE 350 companies, many of the largest businesses in the country, government organisations and wealthy individuals. With a focus on eleven key sectors (Energy & Natural Resources; Financial Institutions; Healthcare;  Insurance, Manufacturing;  Real Estate; Retail and Consumer; Transport, Logistics & Infrastructure; Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals; Technology and Private Wealth) the firm's experience allows it to build strong relationships and deliver an excellent service to clients.

What makes it great to work here?

We continually work hard to create an open culture that sets us apart from other firms. Our culture gives us much more of a human feel, emphasising that we're more than just suits!  We like and make time for each other enabling us to establish professional relationships that can often become lasting friendships. 

Through our D&I initiatives we create an environment in which difference is valued.  We have a Diversity and Inclusion Group, led by our Board Sponsor, which works with our colleague networks (we currently have firm supported networks for ethnic diversity, LGBTQ+, disabilities, families, and women's career development and we're in constant dialogue with our people about how we expand our networks to better support everybody).  We encourage applicants from all social backgrounds, ethnicities, disabilities, gender identities and sexual orientations.

As signatories to the Mindful Business Charter, it's important that our people are able to maintain healthy and happy lives, both in and out of work.  We have a number of resources and initiatives designed to support health and wellbeing, including our team of dedicated mental health first aiders.  We recognise that getting the right work life balance is a priority for all of us and we're very happy to talk flexible working, full-time or part-time working patterns.  We also recognise the challenges of relocation and post-pandemic return to the office.

And that's not all, alongside a competitive salary you'll receive a flexible benefits package so you can choose and vary the benefits that matter most to you.

Next steps

If this sounds like your next career move then please get in touch to find out more. No agencies please, we're an in-house recruitment team!

If this isn't the role for you (or the right time) why not connect with us on LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@WBD_CareersUK) to keep up to date with all of our opportunities.  We also have a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/womblebonddickinsoncareers/)