Job Description

We are currently seeking a Paralegal to join the Trademark and Copyright team in the Office of General Counsel. This position will provide essential support to attorneys and internal stakeholders in managing the company’s extensive trademark portfolio and related functions. The ideal candidate will bring advanced knowledge of trademark processes and contribute to team-wide initiatives and process improvements.

Responsibilities include:

• Manage global trademark dockets and deadlines

• Conduct, review and analyze worldwide trademark clearance screens

• Prepare and file trademark applications; support prosecution, maintenance, and portfolio management

• Coordinate with foreign counsel on international filings and prosecution

• Review trademark watch notices

• Support broader IP matters, including corporate transactions, copyright, customs/recordations, domain strategy, and enforcement/oppositions.

• Prepare status reports and schedules as needed

• Communicate with attorneys and stakeholders regarding IP matters

• Review invoices in electronic billing system, ensuring compliance with billing guidelines

• Assist with quality assurance reviews of trademark records and filings

• Identify workflow improvements and contribute to process optimization, templates, and best practices across the team

• Coordinate with attorneys on special requests or complex projects

• Attend to other duties as assigned, with support of attorney as appropriate

Qualifications

Education:

• High School degree required

• Associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or Paralegal certificate preferred

Required Work Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of trademark paralegal experience.

Skills:

• Substantive trademark expertise: solid knowledge of U.S. and international trademark law, and prosecution, clearance, enforcement, and portfolio management processes

• Independent, reliable execution: works autonomously, follows through on commitments, and takes ownership of outcomes

• Organization and prioritization: excels at structuring workload, meeting deadlines, and managing multiple matters simultaneously in a fast-paced environment

• Problem solving: identifies root causes, anticipates obstacles, and proposes practical, risk-aware solutions; explores alternatives and escalates thoughtfully when needed

• Technical proficiency: MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel); trademark search/watch platforms (e.g., Corsearch, CompuMark); docketing systems (e.g., TIPMS, ANAQUA, WebTMS); USPTO website

• Detail orientated: maintains accurate records, proofs filings meticulously, and safeguards data integrity and confidentiality

• Learning mindset and innovation: stays current with trademark/industry trends; experiments responsibly with new tools and technologies (including AI) to improve efficiency and quality; documents and shares best practices

MSJR

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Adaptability, Best Practices Research, Brand Asset Management, Cite Checking, Commerical Transactions, Communication, Confidentiality, Contract Administration, Data Management, Electronic Billing, Filing Documents, Invoice Processing, Legal Acumen, Legal Documents Preparation, Legal Research, Legal Technology, Litigation Preparation, Microsoft Office, Notary Services, Patent Databases, Patent Prosecution, Portfolio Management, Process Improvements {+ 5 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is

$87,300.00 - $137,400.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

01/27/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.