If you are interested in intellectual property or copyright law, but don’t want to attend law school, becoming an intellectual property paralegal can be a great choice.
You’ll work with attorneys, with no law school required.
What Is an Intellectual Property Paralegal?
Paralegals, including intellectual property paralegals, work with lawyers to provide a variety of supportive legal services.
However, intellectual property paralegals specialize in intellectual property, which includes copyright, patent, and related issues.
An intellectual property paralegal will typically work with an attorney or a law firm.
They may conduct the initial meeting with a potential client, and then discuss the meeting with the attorney.
The duties of an intellectual property paralegal include:
- Working with clients to get patents, trademarks, or copyright
- Filing applications
- Research for attorneys
- Communicating with clients
- Client intake and assessment
- Responding to applications and appeals
- Creating legal documents and applications
- Create status reports for ongoing cases
- Update clients on the status of the case
Steps to Become an Intellectual Property Paralegal
To become an intellectual property paralegal, you’ll need to follow a few steps.
There are no concrete guidelines or licensing requirements nationwide, but most employers require education and certification.
Step 1. Education
Education isn’t required to become an intellectual property paralegal, but it is strongly recommended.
Many programs are ABA, or American Bar Association, approved.
Some programs will qualify you for certification.
You have a few options for education.
First, you can choose a program that focuses on being a general paralegal, or a program that focuses on intellectual property paralegal training.
You can also choose a certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree paralegal program.
Step 2. Certification
Once you’ve completed paralegal education, you may be eligible for certification.
Generally, you’ll need a general paralegal education to become a certified paralegal.
You can also qualify for certification if you have experience as a paralegal.
While certification isn’t required to become an intellectual property paralegal, it will help you in your career.
Step 3. Internship or Employment
Next, you can start an internship or your career as a paralegal.
If you don’t have any paralegal experience, you may want to begin with an internship.
You may also want to get a general paralegal education, and then intern as an intellectual property paralegal.
Licensing Requirements to Become an Intellectual Property Paralegal
Most states don’t have any requirements for paralegals.
This is because they work under an attorney, who is licensed and oversees their work.
However, two organizations offer certification for paralegals.
These are the National Association of Legal Assistants, or NALA, and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, or NFPA.
NALA Certification
NALA is typically considered the leading organization for paralegal certification.
If you’ve completed an approved training program, you are qualified for the certification exam.
If you have a degree in another field, you’ll need one year of experience as a paralegal and 15 hours of paralegal courses.
If you have a high school diploma, you will need to have 5 years of experience as a paralegal to become certified.
You’ll also be required to have 20 hours of continuing education credits.
Once you qualify, you’ll apply along with the required fee.
Then, you’ll schedule your exams.
You’ll need to pass the knowledge and skills exams to become a Certified Paralegal or CP.
NFPA
The NFPA is the oldest paralegal organization.
If you are new to the paralegal field, you’ll take the Paralegal CORE Competency Exam or PCCE.
If you’ve earned an associate or bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies you qualify for certification.
If you have a degree in an unrelated field, you’ll need a paralegal certificate to qualify.
You’ll apply for certification, and pay a fee of $300 or $350.
If you pass the exam, you’ll be a Certified Registered Paralegal or CRP.
Online Training Programs
You can choose between programs that focus on general paralegal studies or intellectual property paralegal training.
Center for Legal Studies
The Center for Legal Studies offers a variety of paralegal courses.
If you have no education or experience, you’ll begin by taking Paralegal 1 and Paralegal 2, which take 7 weeks each to complete.
Once you have a foundation of paralegal knowledge, you can take the Intellectual Property Training Course.
This course will teach you how to identify the types of intellectual property, understand the role of the paralegal in intellectual property law, and the purpose and function of trademarks.
You can expect to spend about 8 hours per week studying.
It’s important to note that these programs are offered on a strict schedule, so you must complete assignments on time.
Bryan University
Bryan University offers several paralegal programs.
You can choose a Paralegal and Legal Studies Certificate, an associate’s degree in Paralegal and Legal Studies, or a Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies.
Once you’ve completed the program, you are eligible to take the NALA certification exam.
One exam attempt is included in the tuition.
You’ll attend classes live online, which allows you to interact with instructors and classmates.
You’ll also have access to online homework assignments, and the ELSSA™ simulation lab (E-Discovery Lab for Software, Simulation & Applications).
Berkley Extension
Berkley Extension offers a certificate program in Paralegal Studies.
Courses in the program include Essential Paralegal Studies Part I: Foundational Skills, Essential Paralegal Studies Part II: Authority, Research and Writing, and Paralegal E-Discovery Process and Practice.
Then, you can choose electives, including Paralegal Intellectual Property Law.
You’ll get a great general paralegal education, with some concentration on intellectual property.
IP Legal Ed
IP Legal Ed offers a comprehensive Intellectual Property Paralegal program.
You’ll learn the skills needed to be an intellectual property paralegal.
It’s important to note that this program focuses solely on intellectual property paralegals.
You won’t receive any general paralegal training.
The program is self-paced, so you can study at your convenience.
The program is designed to give you an understanding of intellectual property law, and how to perform the duties of an intellectual property paralegal.
It’s important to note that the program is not ABA-approved because ABA-approved programs focus on general paralegal training.
You may not qualify for certification unless you complete a general paralegal training program in addition to the IP Legal Ed program.
The course costs $2,495.
Lessons include Frequently Used Documents and Concepts, Patents, Patent Prosecution, Patent Examination, PCT, and The National Phase.
The University of Texas at Austin Center for Professional Education
The University of Texas at Austin Center for Professional Education offers an Intellectual Property Law Specialist Certificate Program.
This program is designed for paralegals who already have general education or experience, and want to learn to be an intellectual property paralegal.
The program requires you to take Intellectual Property Law and Administrative Law.
You’ll also choose one elective course.
Elective course options include Legal Ethics, Laws of Evidence, and Advanced Legal Research.
The course provides 12 hours of continuing education credits.
The course is completely online, but you will need textbooks.
It’s self-paced, so you can study when it’s convenient for you.
Salary
Intellectual property paralegals earn an average of $65,023, with salaries typically ranging from $57,682 to $73,564.
How much you earn will depend on where you live and work, your experience, education, and certifications.
Salary Information by State
| State | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4,000 | $53,450 | $25.70 | $74,820 | $35,210 |
| Alaska | 760 | $63,180 | $30.38 | $92,640 | $45,850 |
| Arizona | 7,550 | $65,400 | $31.44 | $93,640 | $38,030 |
| Arkansas | 1,460 | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - |
| California | 39,220 | $79,210 | $38.08 | $117,120 | $48,320 |
| Colorado | 5,400 | $72,220 | $34.72 | $101,830 | $47,180 |
| Connecticut | 4,850 | $71,140 | $34.20 | $96,530 | $48,030 |
| Delaware | 1,590 | $71,360 | $34.31 | $102,510 | $47,760 |
| District of Columbia | 5,340 | $94,290 | $45.33 | $126,940 | $58,080 |
| Florida | 35,020 | $61,830 | $29.72 | $86,030 | $38,600 |
| Georgia | 12,440 | $61,210 | $29.43 | $90,810 | $35,880 |
| Hawaii | 1,170 | $64,250 | $30.89 | $86,240 | $43,760 |
| Idaho | 1,720 | $52,980 | $25.47 | $77,540 | $30,240 |
| Illinois | 15,780 | $63,340 | $30.45 | $96,030 | $45,540 |
| Indiana | 5,550 | $56,480 | $27.15 | $81,850 | $37,440 |
| Iowa | 2,520 | $59,610 | $28.66 | $83,700 | $38,180 |
| Kansas | 3,050 | $53,310 | $25.63 | $81,380 | $36,210 |
| Kentucky | 2,590 | $53,910 | $25.92 | $74,490 | $37,690 |
| Louisiana | 4,860 | $53,980 | $25.95 | $79,930 | $35,580 |
| Maine | 1,260 | $59,800 | $28.75 | $77,280 | $45,010 |
| Maryland | 6,190 | $68,070 | $32.73 | $94,100 | $43,480 |
| Massachusetts | 7,520 | $74,710 | $35.92 | $102,520 | $47,690 |
| Michigan | 7,580 | $63,460 | $30.51 | $85,750 | $40,450 |
| Minnesota | 5,650 | $68,410 | $32.89 | $97,230 | $39,790 |
| Mississippi | 1,980 | $46,620 | $22.41 | $67,020 | $35,290 |
| Missouri | 5,640 | $61,100 | $29.38 | $80,660 | $37,950 |
| Montana | 1,130 | $58,310 | $28.03 | $79,800 | $45,720 |
| Nebraska | 1,420 | $60,580 | $29.12 | $84,050 | $42,020 |
| Nevada | 3,360 | $61,200 | $29.43 | $81,500 | $33,810 |
| New Hampshire | 1,460 | $59,810 | $28.76 | $81,700 | $38,240 |
| New Jersey | 11,440 | $70,380 | $33.84 | $99,210 | $42,920 |
| New Mexico | 1,850 | $56,840 | $27.33 | $74,480 | $42,010 |
| New York | 30,930 | $78,850 | $37.91 | $128,400 | $50,010 |
| North Carolina | 12,160 | $57,860 | $27.82 | $83,880 | $37,650 |
| North Dakota | 690 | $55,940 | $26.89 | $73,680 | $40,260 |
| Ohio | 8,910 | $57,360 | $27.58 | $81,220 | $36,030 |
| Oklahoma | 2,790 | $56,430 | $27.13 | $79,000 | $37,340 |
| Oregon | 5,010 | $69,100 | $33.22 | $95,190 | $47,650 |
| Pennsylvania | 12,530 | $65,940 | $31.70 | $95,260 | $42,570 |
| Rhode Island | 1,450 | $70,220 | $33.76 | $94,450 | $49,980 |
| South Carolina | 7,050 | $50,820 | $24.43 | $68,540 | $35,560 |
| South Dakota | 470 | $59,560 | $28.64 | $75,840 | $44,550 |
| Tennessee | 5,360 | $56,440 | $27.14 | $83,430 | $35,360 |
| Texas | 28,140 | $63,720 | $30.64 | $97,280 | $37,690 |
| Utah | 3,190 | $57,440 | $27.61 | $80,620 | $39,750 |
| Vermont | 620 | $61,990 | $29.80 | $77,190 | $48,420 |
| Virginia | 9,460 | $63,820 | $30.68 | $93,670 | $38,170 |
| Washington | 7,960 | $75,560 | $36.33 | $107,500 | $47,840 |
| West Virginia | 1,780 | $56,870 | $27.34 | $83,200 | $32,610 |
| Wisconsin | 4,640 | $57,750 | $27.77 | $79,370 | $40,670 |
| Wyoming | 400 | $56,870 | $27.34 | $82,400 | $39,000 |
| Guam | 60 | $43,360 | $20.85 | $72,950 | $24,560 |
| Puerto Rico | ** | $39,350 | $18.92 | $58,720 | $23,420 |
| Virgin Islands | 80 | $53,080 | $25.52 | $64,670 | $40,000 |
Annual Average Salary: Top 10 States
The top earning state in the field is District of Columbia, where the average salary is $94,290.
These are the top 10 earning states in the field:
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Intellectual property is such an exciting area of law! I’m curious—what key skills an IP paralegal needs to succeed, especially when dealing with patents or trademarks?
Thanks for sharing this guide on becoming an intellectual property paralegal! It’s fascinating how this role combines legal expertise with creativity. Are there specific certifications or courses in IP law that would help someone excel in this field?
It’s great to see a step-by-step guide for specializing as an IP paralegal. Are there any notable online programs or resources for beginners looking to learn the basics of intellectual property law?
This is such helpful information for anyone interested in intellectual property law. For those already working in this field, do you find it more focused on corporate clients or individuals, and how does that affect your work?