Meet Your Instructor

This course is taught by Tamika Adams, an experienced intellectual property paralegal and the founder of Paralegal Virtual Solutions (PVS). Through her work supporting multiple law firms with trademark prosecution, patent filings, and IP docketing, Tamika has managed thousands of trademark filings and USPTO communications. She created IPUnlocked to help paralegals develop the practical skills needed to support intellectual property practices with confidence. This course shares the real-world workflows used in practice, including how trademark applications are filed, managed during examination, and maintained after registration.

Build real-world IP skills. Learn how to manage trademarks confidently - from application to registration.

This course is designed to help paralegals understand how trademark matters move through the USPTO process in practice. Through clear explanations and real filing walkthroughs, you’ll learn how applications are prepared, submitted, and managed from the initial filing through registration and maintenance.

🗝️ Who This Course Is For

Whether you’re just stepping into intellectual property or looking to sharpen your existing skills, this course was designed for: ✅ New Paralegals — who want to build a solid foundation in trademark law and understand how to handle filings from start to finish. ✅ Legal Assistants or Admins — ready to transition into intellectual property and support attorneys with confidence. ✅ Experienced Paralegals — seeking to strengthen their trademark knowledge, learn modern workflows, and add value to their firms. ✅ Law Firm Support Staff — who manage client communications, deadlines, and filings but want a clearer understanding of the why behind each task. ✅ Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners — who want an insider’s look at how the trademark process really works, without the legal jargon.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course, you will understand how to manage trademark filings throughout the USPTO process, including: • Preparing and filing trademark applications in Trademark Center • Selecting and explaining the appropriate filing basis • Uploading specimens and completing required application elements • Responding to USPTO Office Actions • Managing intent-to-use filings, including extension requests and Statements of Use • Filing post-registration maintenance documents such as Sections 8, 9, and 15 You will also gain practical insight into how trademark matters move through the USPTO examination process, allowing you to better support attorneys and manage trademark portfolios.

What Makes This Course Different

Many trademark courses focus primarily on legal theory. This course focuses on how trademark work is actually performed in practice. Throughout the course, you will see step-by-step walkthroughs of real USPTO filings, including: • Filing trademark applications • Responding to Office Actions • Filing Statements of Use • Requesting extensions of time • Completing post-registration maintenance filings These demonstrations are designed to help bridge the gap between learning trademark concepts and performing the actual filings used in practice.

Skills You Will Develop

After completing this course, you will be able to: • Understand the lifecycle of a trademark application • Assist with preparing trademark filings • Navigate the USPTO’s Trademark Center and TEAS systems • Identify common issues raised during examination • Support trademark prosecution workflows in a law firm environment

About the Course

This course provides paralegals with the foundational knowledge of trademark law essential for supporting intellectual property practices. Participants will explore key concepts such as trademark registration, infringement analysis, and the significance of trademarks in commerce. Through practical examples and case studies, learners will develop skills to assist attorneys in trademark research and litigation, as well as understanding the broader implications of trademark laws in the U.S. This course is designed to empower paralegals with the tools necessary to navigate the complexities of trademark law competently.

Curriculum

12 Chapters · 49 Lessons

  1. 1

    Module 1: Course Orientation

    1. 1.1: Welcome & Course Navigation Free preview
  2. 2

    Module 2: Introduction to Trademarks

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      2.1 Fundamentals of Trademarks

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      2.2 Importance of Trademarks in Commerce

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      2.3 The Lanham Act

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      2.4 Classifications of Trademarks

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      2.5 Trademark Types

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      2.6 Trademark Strength & Distinctiveness

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      2.7 When and How to Use TM, SM, and ®

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 2: Quiz

  3. 3

    Module 2 Toolbox

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Intro

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Terminology

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Trademark Filing Basis Decision Process

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      USPTO Resources - Timelines

  4. 4

    Module 3: Filing a Trademark Application: Step by Step

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      3.2 Preparing for Filing

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      3.3 Why Correct Applicant Information Matters

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      3.4 Preparing Your Trademark Application (Part 5) - Foreign Basis (Reference)

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 3: Quiz

  5. 5

    Module 4: USPTO Examination & Publication Process

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      4.0 Before You Dive In

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      4.2 Publication

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Publication Reference Guide (Bookmark This)

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Trademark Publication Timeline (Reference)

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      4.3 Notice of Allowance

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      NOA Flowchart (Reference)

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Examination Quiz

  6. 6

    Module 4 Toolbox

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      NOA Flowchart

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Quick Reference Checklist - NOA

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Trademark Publication Timeline

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Trademark Examination Timeline

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Publication Reference Guide

  7. 7

    Module 5: Office Actions

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      5.0 Before You Dive In – How to Use This Module

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      5.1 Understanding Office Actions

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      5.2 Office Action Refusal Types (Reference)

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      5.3 Non-Final and Final Office Action Flowchart (Reference)

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      5.4 Likelihood of Confusion Refusal (Reference)

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      5.5 Merely Descriptive or Generic Refusal (Reference)

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      5.6 Immoral, Scandalous, or Deceptive Matter Rejections (Reference)

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      5.7 Primarily Geographically Descriptive/Misdescriptive Rejection (Reference)

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      5.8 Responding to Office Actions

  8. 8

    Module 5 Toolbox

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Refusal Types

  9. 9

    Module 6: Registration

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      6.1 Issuance of Certificate of Registration

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      6.2 Example - Certificate of Registration

  10. 10

    Module 7: Post Registration Maintenance

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      7.1 Maintenance

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      7.2 Maintenance Requirements and Deadlines

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      7.3 Maintenance Tips

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      7.4 Risks of Neglecting Trademark Maintenance

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      7.5 Conclusion

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 7 Quiz

  11. 11

    Module 7 Toolbox

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Post-Registration Maintenance Calendar

  12. 12

    Summary

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      8.1 Course Summary

Ready to Unlock Your Trademark Knowledge?

Enroll now to gain the confidence and hands-on skills to thrive in intellectual property practices.

$297.00

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