When I completed my law degree at university, I was unsure which career I wanted to pursue in the legal profession. I initially chose to work as a paralegal to get insight into the legal profession, as the role offered flexibility to work in different practice areas.

My first role was as the sole paralegal for a boutique firm, where I gained experience in different areas of law including commercial, corporate, intellectual property and employment. I had enjoyed studying intellectual property law at university and found it to be an even more fulfilling and engaging practice area to work in. I had always appreciated that you can see intellectual property everywhere in your daily life and working in this area I saw “behind the scenes” to understand the skill and innovation involved.

As an IP litigation paralegal I enjoy the variety of my role, as my work covers all areas of intellectual property across different UK courts. My day-to-day role changes significantly depending on the case stage: it can be assisting with drafting legal correspondence and documents, undertaking legal research, attending expert and witness meetings and/or attending court. As a paralegal, I have an in-depth understanding of the civil litigation process ensuring that we meet the required formalities when taking and progressing an action to court. I bring my own experience to contribute to the team and success of the case, which I find very rewarding.

There are opportunities to develop your knowledge and understanding; this is not only due to the variety of potential arguments that you can address in IP litigation, but also because the case law keeps evolving. I work closely with IP solicitors and attorneys who take the time to explain the arguments and areas of law, and I particularly enjoy team discussions where we analyse and review different legal arguments and strategies.

Going back to why I started as a paralegal, it was initially a springboard for me into the legal profession, but I have found it be a rewarding and engaging role with many opportunities and options for how my career progresses. After over a decade of working as a paralegal, the best part for me is that I still find the work to be challenging as there are always new innovations which the law and work constantly evolve to meet.

IP Litigation Paralegal / AA Thornton

Last Updated: November 5, 2024