The Power of Community: Joining a Trade Mark Paralegal Association


The Power of Community: Joining a Trade Mark Paralegal Association

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The route to building your trade mark paralegal career can take many twists and turns, but one of the waypoints we definitely recommend is getting involved with a trade mark paralegal association.

Careers in trade mark law are as demanding as they are fulfilling, and it has long been recognised that lawyers benefit from forums where they can share experiences, access learning opportunities, and build connections. Now, as trade mark paralegals and administrators take on increasingly complex work and their role grows in profile within the legal industry, there are a growing number of professional associations designed to support them.

As WebTMS sponsors the second Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys paralegal conference, we’ve assembled the benefits and opportunities offered by CITMA and other trade mark paralegal associations around the world.

Career development, progression and connections

Trade mark paralegal associations offer a wealth of opportunities for paralegals or administrators at all stages of their careers. These include:

  • Industry-specific Training/CPD: whether you need an introduction to trade mark law, want to gain a professional qualification or bank some CPD credits, paralegal associations can either provide the course you need or point you in the right direction.
  • Mentoring: Associations aim to add value for their members, and this may come in the form of formal or informal mentoring opportunities.
  • Events and Networking: Most associations offer events where members can meet, whether simply on a social basis or as part of a conference.
  • Career-related training: Want to learn more about skills that will help you succeed in your career? Whether it’s communication strategies, tips for managing workload, or advice on the next steps, your paralegal association should be able to help.

Supporting the UK Trade Mark Paralegal Community: CITMA

CITMA’s paralegal membership is designed to support those in support and advisory roles including trade mark administrators, paralegals, and advisors who have passed the CITMA Paralegal Course. CITMA has a paralegal representative on its governing council – a post currently held by Abion’s Kane Ridley.

CITMA paralegal members must maintain their chartered paralegal status by completing the required CPD activities each year. CITMA provides a wealth of paralegal-focused webinars and articles in its dedicated CITMA Paralegal Hub to facilitate CPD.

The highlight of the calendar is CITMA’s paralegal conference, now in its second year, which delivers presentations on an incredible range of topics, from practical tips on providing evidence of use and handling online IP rights infringement, to managing your mental health in a high-pressure environment and getting the most out of technology to ease your daily workflows.

Building IP Administrator Communities in Europe

The UK is by no means the only country with a dedicated Association for IP administrators. Professionals in Scandinavia can join NAIPA, the Norwegian Association of IP Administrators. We caught up with Petter​​​​ Andrésen, Head of Patent Administration at Bryn Aarflot in Oslo, who explains:

“NAIPA, the Norwegian Association of IP Administrators, was founded in 2008 and has since been dedicated to advancing the skills and professional standards of IP administrators through education, collaboration, and advocacy. Our goal is to foster a community of highly competent professionals who are equipped to navigate the complexities of modern IP administration.

“Attending the annual NAIPA conferences in Oslo offers great opportunities for networking, knowledge-sharing, and professional growth, not only for Norwegian IP paralegals but also for those from neighboring countries. Participants gain insights into the latest IP practices and tools, which are crucial for enhancing efficiency and maintaining high standards in their work. We also strongly believe that the exchange of ideas and experiences across borders enriches the entire IP community.”

WebTMS was fortunate to attend the most recent NAIPA conference and we can confirm it was an immensely enjoyable and valuable event.

IP administrators in Denmark can join the Danish Association of Intellectual Property Administrators (DAIPA). DAIPA offers qualifications for Trademark and Patent Administrators in association with the Danish Institute for Intellectual Property Rights (DIFI). It also arranges regular events.

In the Netherlands, the Formalities Officers platform supports administrators working in patents, trademarks and also as domain and model administrators. It organises the official exam for Certified Formalities Officers, held every May. The platform is committed to knowledge exchange and networking at national and international level and holds regular events, including this Masterclass Brands session in collaboration with WIPO in October. 

The three organisations above have united with the UK Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys Paralegal Committee (CIPA) the Finnish Association of Intellectual Property administrators and The Belgian Association of IP Administrators (BELAIPA) to form the European Platform of IP Administrators.

IP Paralegal Communities in the US

In the US there are a variety of associations that support IP paralegals and administrators. The Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) supports paralegals across all specialisms with a broad range of resources and events. It offers Certification in Legal Management (CLM)®. From an IP-specific perspective, ALA presents an annual conference for legal management professionals immersed in intellectual property matters. This year’s conference takes place on 13-14 September in Washington D.C. and the agenda covers hot topics such as the USPTO’s AI guidance, cybersecurity basics, and leadership that inspires Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) offers affiliate membership to IP Professionals, Technical Advisors, and Paralegals, who can benefit from its regular conferences and online educational programmes.

Most State Bars have paralegal divisions that offer varied support which may include IP topics. WebTMS recently delivered a webinar for the State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division looking at managing your IP portfolio workflow, for example. 

Finally, there are general paralegal associations including the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, the National Association of Legal Assistants, the American Alliance of Paralegals, and the National Association of Legal Professionals, all of which offer certification for paralegals alongside events and other education opportunities.

Building international profile: INTA paralegal programmes

Some regions don’t yet have trade mark paralegal associations, but the International Trademark Association (INTA) has a Trademark Administrators (TMA) Committee dedicated to supporting paralegals and administrators and an annual meeting for Trademark Administrators and Practitioners (TMAP), which is taking place in Philadelphia this year.

INTA’s TMA Promotions Sub Committee, of which WebTMS’s Michael Ullman is a member, is focused on reaching out to organisations and individuals to provide insight into the wealth of knowledge, experience, relationships that can be gained being a part of INTA. You can volunteer to join the TMA Committee and build relationships on both the business and personal side, to learn more about the IP world. The committee also promotes the various online resources available to trade mark administrators.

Among these is the recently launched Trademark Administrators Beginners Certificate course, developed by the TMA Certificate programme sub committee, which WebTMS’ Samanatha Crellin sits on, with experts in their field volunteering their time for content review and to present the training. This is ideal for early-career Trademark Administrators – especially if your region doesn’t have its own certification. It covers areas including an introduction to IP, the TMA role and key skills needed, tools and strategies for monitoring IP rights, technological tools to be aware of, and more.

A World of Trade Mark Career Opportunities

As the profile of trade mark administrators continues to grow, these associations will become increasingly important as advocates for the profession and providers of valuable networking and support for those building diverse careers within it.

Sam Crellin, who is a Chartered Trade Mark Paralegal and business development manager at WebTMS, says: “As I’ve come into contact with different IP paralegal associations across Europe and the US over the last couple of years, I’ve been struck afresh by the essential role they play – not just in supporting those on conventional career paths, but also in raising awareness of new and different opportunities to succeed in IP.”