Trade mark attorney

You'll usually need a first class or upper second class degree, or postgraduate qualification, to apply for a training place with a company.

Most subjects are acceptable, though you may have an advantage with:

• law
• science
• engineering
• languages

After university, you would start as a trainee with a private practice of trade mark attorneys, or a large company with an in-house intellectual property department. You would study for professional exams. You'll also need 2 years' work experience to qualify.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You may be able to work your way up from a trade mark administrator, researcher or paralegal role.

To do this, you'll need a good level of general education, such as GCSEs, including English and maths, and A levels or equivalent qualifications .

You'll also need around 5 years' experience before you can apply for professional training to begin the route to qualifying as a trade mark attorney.

You can apply for professional training with a firm to become a trade mark attorney, if you're a qualified solicitor or barrister .

Registrations

you will need to register with the Intellectual Property Regulation Board

Career Tips

You can work as a trade mark translator if you have a degree in languages and postgraduate qualification in translating.

Further Information

You can get advice about how to become a trade mark attorney from The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys .

You can also learn more about other careers in intellectual property from Careers In Ideas .

As a trade mark attorney, you could:

• research information to see if a proposed trade mark already exists
• advise on intellectual property issues like design and copyright
• draw up trade mark applications and agreements
• deal with UK and overseas registration authorities
• negotiate in disputes and take action if the client's trade mark rights are breached
• provide support to solicitors and barristers in cases that go to court
• handle renewals of existing trade marks, transfer of ownership and licensing

You could work in an office, at a client's business or in a court.