CITMA introductory courses set the path to success
We are pleased to share that our suite of online introductory courses has now been accessed by over 500 members.
Our three introductory courses are available online and on demand, allowing them to be completed at a time most convenient to you. We caught up with two members who recently completed the courses to hear more about their experiences.
A trio of interactive courses
Tailored to paralegal, administrator and formalities staff, we launched our first course in 2021, with the aim of providing a grounding in the key aspects of formalities.
Since then, we’ve rolled out a further two courses, helping formalities staff get to grips with the fundamentals of renewals and recordals, and build awareness around Registered Design administration.
The interactive courses take participants through a series of activities and scenarios that bring the world of trade marks to life, each concluding with a short ten-question quiz. If you pass the quiz, you can download a personalised certificate to demonstrate that you have completed the training.
The perfect introduction to trade marks
Elizabeth Murray, CITMA Paralegal at Shoosmiths, was just starting out in the industry when the courses were recommended to her by colleagues.
Reflecting on her experience of the training, she said, “They [the courses] are the perfect introduction to the subject area! They’re super simple, but very informative. The formalities course lays the groundwork for any development.”
Taking a similar path, Sam Downing currently works as a Trainee Trade Mark Attorney at CMS and decided to complete the Introduction to Trade Mark Administration & Formalities course shortly after joining the firm.
He described the training as a “no brainer,” adding, “it showed my firm that I was willing to take proactive steps to learn about trade mark practice.”
Sam agreed that the course provided just the right amount of information for someone starting out in their career, “I think it was all helpful as a broad course, not spending too much time on one particular topic.
“Anything that was too much of a deep dive into a particular topic would have been difficult for a junior to comprehend.”
A stepping stone in your career
For many staff, the short courses are seen as a stepping stone into a successful career in trade marks. They are designed to provide the fundamentals, while also helping you get to a stage where you are ready to progress onto taking our Paralegal Course.
Our Paralegal Course covers the legal aspects relevant to a paralegal's role, as well as their often-crucial tasks in handling formalities and the administration of trade mark portfolios. It’s strongly recommended that course attendees have a minimum of 18 months' experience in trade mark administration and formalities before they take this course.
Elizabeth undertook all three introductory courses and then moved on to complete our Paralegal Course in 2023-24.
She explained how undertaking the short courses were very beneficial in preparing her for this next step, saying, “I believe it has set a strong pathway to becoming a trade mark attorney in the UK, and all the more, has made me confident in the work I am producing.”
Having also progressed onto the Paralegal Course in 2023-24, Sam spoke about how the short courses enabled him to grasp a broad understanding of trade mark practice in a short space of time.
He was particularly keen to highlight the importance of training when starting out in the trade mark sector, “I think trade mark law and practice is so niche compared to other areas of law, so introductory courses like this are really important.”
He added, “A course like this is a brilliant launching pad to additional courses/qualifications, but also a good foundation for those that want to continue in a trade mark administration role.”
You can find out more about our short introductory courses here. There will be further news on our next Paralegal Course in the coming months.