Patent Paralegal

IP Support, The Law Support Group; England; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

IP Support, The Law Support Group is seeking an experienced Patent Paralegal to take ownership of a varied portfolio of patent and design matters in a collaborative firm environment. You will work closely with attorneys and clients to ensure delivery of excellent service.

You will also support the wider team, share knowledge, and help develop more junior colleagues while managing deadlines and client expectations with strong organisational skills.

Qualifications

• Paralegal experience in patents, ideally in private practice.
• CIPA, IPPC or IPAC qualification.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Proactive approach with good judgement and delegation.
• Supportive, mentoring attitude towards junior colleagues.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day patent and design portfolio from filing to prosecution.
• Maintain records and monitor deadlines.
• Provide updates to clients on progress.
• Liaise with clients, attorneys and overseas associates.
• Review correspondence from offices and foreign associates.
• Coordinate workloads across teams and allocate tasks.
• Monitor time recording, billing and cost estimates.
• Provide coaching to junior team members.
• Identify service issues and suggest improvements.

Skills

Paralegal experience

Client management

Attention to detail

Time management

Education

CIPA/IPPC/IPAC

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About the firm

Our client is a highly respected European intellectual property practice with an established presence in the UK and international markets. The firm continues to expand and offers a collaborative, supportive working environment, combining high professional standards with a friendly and approachable culture. Its paralegal function is particularly well regarded within the profession.

The opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Patent Paralegal to take ownership of a varied portfolio of patent and design matters. This is a senior-level role offering considerable client interaction and responsibility, working closely with attorneys and clients to ensure the smooth delivery of an excellent service.

Alongside managing your own portfolio, you will play an active part in supporting the wider team, sharing your knowledge and helping develop the skills of more junior colleagues.

What you will be doing

• Taking responsibility for the day-to-day management of an allocated patent and designs portfolio, overseeing matters from initial application preparation and filing through to subsequent prosecution stages.
• Maintaining accurate records and ensuring all statutory and procedural deadlines are identified, monitored and actioned appropriately.
• Developing strong relationships with clients, acting as a key point of contact for procedural queries and providing clear, accessible updates on the progress of their matters.
• Liaising regularly with clients, attorneys and overseas associates, including participating in client meetings and discussions.
• Reviewing correspondence from patent offices and foreign associates, identifying relevant actions and ensuring deadlines are accurately recorded and communicated.
• Coordinating workloads across the attorney and paralegal teams, ensuring tasks are appropriately allocated and competing priorities are managed effectively.
• Taking commercial responsibility for your portfolio, including monitoring time recording, managing billing processes, agreeing tailored fee arrangements, producing cost estimates and reviewing incoming invoices.
• Providing guidance, coaching and ongoing support to junior team members, whilst contributing ideas to improve working practices and the overall client experience.
• Identifying potential service issues and escalating concerns, whilst actively looking for opportunities to improve efficiency and team performance.

What we are looking for

• A strong background in patent paralegal work, ideally gained within a private practice environment.
• CIPA, IPPC or IPAC qualification (minimum requirement).
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to manage client expectations and develop trusted working relationships.
• Strong organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail, with the ability to manage a demanding and varied workload.
• A proactive approach, demonstrating sound judgement and the confidence to take ownership, make decisions and delegate where appropriate.
• An approachable and supportive manner, with the ability to share knowledge and help develop less experienced colleagues.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.