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Paralegal, Intellectual Property
Ice Miller LLP
As an intellectual property, or IP, paralegal, Erica Clark assists attorneys in the prosecution of trademark and patent property cases, assists in preparing and filing applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and works with foreign counsel in the filing of international patents and trademarks. “I arrived at this job through long-term connections with two attorneys I consider like family,” Clark said. “I worked with both of them at a previous firm, and a couple of years after they moved to Ice Miller, they reached out to see if I’d be interested in joining them. The rest is history.” Being a good paralegal requires being organized and dependable, having a good eye for detail and being able to communicate clearly, she said. “It also helps to be proactive and manage your time well, since we’re often handling multiple tasks at once.”
About the job: Clark said she wishes people outside the field understood how much of the behind-the-scenes work paralegals do. “Paralegals and legal staff are often the ones keeping track of deadlines, organizing files, and making sure everything gets filed the right way and on time,” Clark said.
Advice: “It’s a good career if you’re organized, reliable, and don’t mind handling details. You learn a lot on the job, and while it can be fast-paced, it’s a solid way to be part of the legal field without being a lawyer.”
Recent wins: When she isn’t drafting correspondence, performing due diligence and attending to the numerous other tasks necessary to keep casework moving, she’s fitting out her new house in the country. “I’ve been putting my own touch on our new home, inside and out, organizing, updating and decorating both the house and the yard,” she says. “My family and I are planning to add some small livestock and other animals to our family soon.”
Job swap: something working with animals
Favorite de-stressors: Spending time with her kids, friends and family. “I also enjoy going on vacations to get a change of pace,” Clark said. “At home I like reading, being outside, decorating and organizing.”•
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