For a young practitioner, it can be a challenge to build a reputation, get your name out, and become known in your field. Establishing credibility is difficult, since new lawyers generally cannot rely on a long track-record of practical experience or recognized credentials that are available to seasoned veterans. Yet gaining that experience and reputation is a key part of a rewarding and successful career in law. Fortunately, there are clear, easy, and high-value steps a young practitioner can take to get started.

In recent years, environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) considerations have become increasingly important for Canadian companies and innovators. From consumer demand for increased sustainability, transparency, and social accountability, to investors’ focus on ESG in investment decision-making processes; ESG criteria are now a significant marker for company success. As such, robust ESG practices are imperative for companies in order to manage operational, regulatory, fiduciary, reputational, and innovative risks.

Many facets of our industry have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, both from a business perspective as well as the more important personal perspective. We thought it would be interesting to take a deeper look into the current situation facing younger IP practitioners, particularly in light of the pandemic. To that end, we e-interviewed Richard Mar, Chair of the Young Practitioners Committee, to learn more about the work of the committee and the reality for our young practitioners.

Until recently for young intellectual property professionals, learning their craft was much like walking down a well-worn path. Common strategies for dealing with obstacles encountered included asking mentors and peers, referring to industry guidelines or commentary, and following precedents and past practices that have proven successful.

By now you have probably encountered a plethora of articles that discuss how to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Experimenting with different aspects of your routine is one way to determine what does and doesn’t work for you.

For young lawyers, it can be difficult to build a career that is – or will become – meaningful to you. Developing relationships with mentors can be a valuable way to stay on a career path that is enjoyable and provides continued growth opportunities. IPIC's Young Practitioners Committee has compiled some tips on how to make the most of your mentorship relationships.

Attending events and conferences on your own as a junior practitioner can feel daunting. Here are a few pointers that can help you prepare before you attend.

Richard Mar is an associate at DLA Piper and Chair of the IPIC Young Practitioner’s Committee. On the cusp of his 10th year of practice and his final term in the Committee, Richard discusses his practice and reflects on what he’s learned in this first stage of his career in IP law.

As a legal business development and marketing professional in a past life, I picked up a few tips that most junior practitioners may not know or may not have the confidence to implement early in their careers. I am using these tips in my own practice and hope that they will help other young practitioners to build their networks and their businesses.

The world around us is becoming more reliant on technology, and the practice of IP law is no exception. There are already numerous resources offered by national IP offices and agencies around the world. For instance, Google Patents, a search engine for prior art, indexes more than 87 million patents and patent applications with full text from 17 patent offices. Similarly the World Intellectual Property Organization offers numerous resources and databases to conduct international trademark, patent, and industrial design searches. Here at home, CIPO's website has a large collection of resources on Canadian IP law and how to register, enforce, and find IP.

Becoming a successful IP practitioner requires becoming a trusted advisor – a person who others can rely upon to be competent, honest, loyal and kind. Even the most brilliant IP lawyer, patent and/or trademark agent will not be able to attract and maintain clients if they are not trusted by their clients. To earn and maintain clients’ trust, an IP practitioner must be trustworthy and credible when interacting with clients, bosses, partners, associates, support staff, examiners, judges, court staff, opposing counsel and everyone else with whom the practitioner interacts.