Legal Assistant, Intellectual Property

McCarthy Tétrault LLP; Toronto; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian law firm is seeking a Legal Assistant, Intellectual Property for its Toronto office. The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years of experience in a legal assistant role related to Intellectual Property, managing applications and documentation for patents and trademarks. This role offers a hybrid work environment and emphasizes professional development in a collaborative culture.

Benefits

Outstanding benefits including insurance premiums

Competitive compensation and paid overtime

Generous time off, including volunteer and birthday leave

Commitment to professional development

Strong community involvement and commitment to diversity

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience as a Legal Assistant in an Intellectual Property group.
• Strong Patent and Trademark experience is required.
• Ability to work independently and under minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Drafting and preparing correspondence for various legal documents.
• Filing patent, trademark, industrial design, and copyright applications.
• Managing physical and electronic files for the Intellectual Property group.

Skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Written communication

Oral communication

Problem-solving

Proactivity

Education

Legal Assistant Diploma or equivalent

Job description

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Job Description

McCarthy Tétrault is a Canadian law firm that offers a full suite of legal and business solutions to clients in Canada and around the world. At McCarthy Tétrault, we offer challenging and rewarding career opportunities in our offices in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Calgary and Vancouver. We are delighted to have been selected for the eleventh consecutive year in 2023 as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and to have earned the distinction of one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for the thirteenth consecutive year in 2025. Our culture is built on professional excellence, collaboration, innovation, thought leadership and entrepreneurialism. We embrace inclusion in all its forms and we provide the tools and opportunities to help our people develop to their full potential.

Job Description

McCarthy Tétrault is a Canadian law firm that offers a full suite of legal and business solutions to clients in Canada and around the world. At McCarthy Tétrault, we offer challenging and rewarding career opportunities in our offices in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Calgary and Vancouver. We are delighted to have been selected for the eleventh consecutive year in 2023 as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and to have earned the distinction of one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for the thirteenth consecutive year in 2025. Our culture is built on professional excellence, collaboration, innovation, thought leadership and entrepreneurialism. We embrace inclusion in all its forms and we provide the tools and opportunities to help our people develop to their full potential.

We are recruiting for a Legal Assistant, IP to join our team in our Vancouver or Toronto offices. The successful candidate must have a minimum of 3 years’ experience as a legal assistant in an Intellectual Property group, and will be responsible for filing patent, trademark, industrial design, and copyright applications with Canadian Intellectual Property Office, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and other administrative functions. McCarthy Tétrault employees benefit from a hybrid work environment with 3 days in the office per week.

As a Legal Assistant, Intellectual Property, you will be :

Documents

• Drafting and preparing correspondence, including standard letters and memos, working with Word and Excel templates.
• Editing, formatting, printing, and revising letters, memos, reports, forms, labels and other printed material from dictation or other instructions.
• Filing patent, trademark, industrial design, and copyright applications with Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) via fax, courier, and CIPO online tools, including generation of cover letters, and fax cover sheets.
• Filing patent and trademark applications with United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) using USPTO online tools.
• Filing Madrid trademark applications with World Intellectual Property (WIPO) using WIPO online tools.
• Liaising with foreign agents to file patent and trademark applications in other countries.
• Weekly monitoring of Trademarks Journal for advertisement of applications and generation of reporting correspondence.

File and Time Management

• Managing PATTSY database. Ensuring data is entered, maintained, and required follow–up dates are noted. Entering new applications, new deadlines from incoming trademark, correspondence and opposition matters, generating client specific reports, and generating bi-monthly trademark and opposition deadline reports.
• Managing physical and electronic files for the IP group. Ensuring they are current with all relevant documentation. Bringing forward and pulling files as necessary for Lawyers / Agent attention.
• Requisitioning new files, maintaining a record of all client files, related records and general files.
• Maintaining BF system.
• E-filing of emails.

Administrative Functions

• Performing Clarivate and CIPO searches and formatting search results as requested.
• Coordinating client meetings, arranging for catering or audio-visual equipment as needed. Organizing equipment and other materials for on-site and off-site presentations.
• Opening and routing incoming mail / distributing correspondence and other material to the appropriate party.
• Working in a team environment which includes supporting other legal assistants and other legal staff on the Intellectual Property team.
• Performing other duties as required.

As our ideal candidate, you will have :

• Legal Assistant Diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years of experience as a Legal Assistant in an Intellectual Property group.
• Strong Patent and Trademark experience is required.
• Strong attention to detail as it relates to drafting of correspondence, and proofreading.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Strong time management and the ability to prioritize your work to meet important deadlines.
• Energetic, proactive approach, and willingness to take charge to manage work with effectiveness and efficiency.
• High level of discretion and confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently and under minimal supervision.
• Problem-solving skills with the ability to visualize and deliver creative solutions.

As a member of the McCarthy team, you will have access to :

• Outstanding benefits from day one, including insurance premiums paid by the Firm and wellness and technology reimbursements.
• Competitive compensation, paid overtime and generous time off, including a day off to volunteer and a day off for your birthday.
• A commitment to professional development and growth opportunities for our people at all levels, supported by a culture that fully embraces and encourages two-way feedback.
• Strong community involvement and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• A collaborative, cohesive culture that connects lawyers and business teams through collective purpose.

How to Apply :

We encourage external candidates to apply online and internal applicants must apply directly through our internal careers portal on Espresso. We look forward to receiving your application.

We thank all applicants for their interest in McCarthy Tétrault; however, only chosen applicants will be contacted. We regret that we are unable to respond to individual inquiries about application status. McCarthy Tétrault is an equal opportunity employer that fosters an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment. Please notify us if you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process.

Seniority level

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Job function

Legal

Law Practice

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