Resume

Intellectual Property Lawyer Resume Example & Writing Guide

Use this Intellectual Property Lawyer resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.

Intellectual property lawyers work in an area of law that deals with the creation and protection of unique ideas. They help clients secure the rights to their creations, like new inventions or unique pieces of art. They also help clients defend against intellectual property claims, such as copyright infringement or trademark violation.

Because this area of law is so broad—covering everything from corporate logos to computer code—there’s a lot of room for intellectual property lawyers to specialize. Some might focus on trademarks while others might concentrate on copyright law. And still others might aim to become experts in the field of patent law.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career as an intellectual property lawyer or just want a taste of what it’s like to work in this field, here are some tips for writing a great intellectual property lawyer resume plus an example for reference.

James Smith
Los Angeles, CA | (123) 456-7891 | [email protected]
Summary

Experienced intellectual property lawyer with a record of success in patent prosecution, trademark and copyright law, and licensing. Proven ability to provide strategic legal advice and represent clients in complex negotiations. Passionate about technology and the innovation it enables.

Education
University of California, Hastings College of the Law Jun '10
J.D.
University of California, Berkeley Jun '06
B.A. in Political Science
Experience
Company A, Intellectual Property Lawyer Jan '17 – Current
  • Drafted and reviewed patent applications, non-disclosure agreements, licensing agreements, and other IP documents; conducted trademark searches and clearance searches for new products or services; prepared copyright registrations for software code, graphics, music, etc.; assisted in the prosecution of patents before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (PTO); drafted opinions regarding intellectual property rights; provided training to associates on IP issues as needed; participated in due diligence reviews of potential acquisitions and assisted with related transactions such as license agreements or asset purchases.
  • Assisted attorneys with drafting contracts involving technology licenses, outsourcing arrangements, joint ventures/partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, financing arrangements including debt instruments such as loans or bonds and equity investments by venture capital firms or strategic partners.
  • Conducted legal research into relevant statutes and case law pertaining to assigned matters; analyzed complex business situations and advised clients on a wide range of commercial issues that arise during the course of doing business today.
  • Communicated effectively both orally and in writing with internal colleagues across multiple practice areas within the firm as well as external parties outside the firm (clients).
  • Participated in professional development activities designed to enhance skills required for effective job performance; performed other duties as assigned by supervisor(s)
Company B, Intellectual Property Lawyer Jan '12 – Dec '16
  • Assisted in the drafting of patent applications and non-disclosure agreements for clients seeking to protect their intellectual property
  • Conducted trademark clearance searches, resulting in the rejection of over 100 potentially conflicting marks
  • Drafted contracts related to licensing arrangements, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions
  • Prepared copyright assignments and recorded documents with the U.S. Copyright Office
  • Managed all aspects of client relationships including billing and collections
Company C, Legal Assistant Jan '09 – Dec '11
  • Drafted motions, complaints, and other legal documents in accordance with attorney instructions, company policies, and applicable laws and regulations.
  • Compiled information from a variety of sources to draft or review contracts and agreements that may include negotiation of terms as well as responding to third-party discovery requests.
  • Coordinated preparation of documents for meetings and hearings; obtained signatures on filed reports when appropriate; assisted attorneys in the management of their calendars.
Certifications
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Registered Patent Attorney
  • Licensed to Practice in California
  • Registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Skills

Industry Knowledge: Patent Law, Trademark Law, Copyright Law, Trade Secrets
Technical Skills: Microsoft Office Suite, LexisNexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg Terminal

How to Write an Intellectual Property Lawyer Resume

Here’s how to write an intellectual property lawyer resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

Bullet points are your chance to show off your experience and qualifications. But they can be tricky to write because you have to be both descriptive and concise.

The best way to do this is to focus on the results of your work. So rather than saying you “assisted in drafting patent applications,” you could say you “assisted in drafting patent applications for software that resulted in 9 patents granted in first year.”

The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific details about the project and the outcome. And it also includes a quantifiable result—9 patents granted! That’s a great statistic to include in your resume because it shows potential employers that you’re capable of achieving results.

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you apply for an intellectual property lawyer role, your resume is likely to be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. These programs look for specific terms related to the job, like “patent” or “trademark” in order to determine whether your skills are a match for the position. If your resume doesn’t include enough relevant keywords, the ATS might discard your application.

To increase your chances of getting an interview, make sure to include keywords throughout all sections of your resume, especially in the skills and experience sections. Here are some common intellectual property lawyer keywords to get you started:

  • Trademarks
  • Patent Law
  • Patent Prosecution
  • Intellectual Property
  • Licensing
  • Patent Litigation
  • Copyright Law
  • Legal Writing
  • Legal Research
  • Patent Preparation
  • Trade Secrets
  • Prosecution
  • Litigation
  • Patentability
  • Corporate Law
  • Trademark Infringement
  • Licensing Agreements
  • Trade Marks
  • Civil Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Civil Procedure
  • Arbitration
  • Litigation Management
  • Contract Law
  • Legal Advice
  • Drafting Agreements
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
  • Competition Law
  • Intellectual Property Rights
  • Privacy Law

Showcase Your Technical Skills

Intellectual property lawyers need to be proficient in a variety of software programs and databases in order to effectively do their jobs. For instance, they should be familiar with legal research databases like LexisNexis and Westlaw, as well as case management software like Clio. Additionally, intellectual property lawyers should be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, as they will often need to create and edit legal documents.

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