McCarthy Tétrault is a leading Canadian law firm offering a full suite of legal and business solutions to clients in Canada and around the world. With offices in Toronto, Montréal, Québec City, Calgary and Vancouver, we provide challenging and rewarding career opportunities across the country. Recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for eleven consecutive years and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for fourteenth consecutive years, our culture is guided by The McCarthy Way—our shared approach to working with clients and with each other.

The McCarthy Way is built on four core elements: Excellence, through attracting and developing top talent committed to delivering on our Client Commitment; Collaboration, through seamless, integrated teamwork; Inclusion, through eliminating barriers to belonging and success; and Innovation, through delivering maximum value by embracing leading-edge technologies and approaches. Together, these principles shape how we work, lead, and grow—every day.

We are recruiting for an IP Clerk to join our team in our Vancouver or Toronto office.  McCarthy Tétrault employees benefit from a hybrid work environment with 3 days in the office per week. This is a newly created position.

Salary: $62,000 - $70,000 annually

The offered salary may vary based on the candidate’s job-specific knowledge, skills, and experience.

As an IP Clerk, you will be:

Deadline Management & Reporting

• Running and distributing daily docket reports to lawyers, agents, and assistants.
• Generating and circulating lists of urgent deadlines due each day.
• Sending reminders to assistants regarding upcoming and same-day deadlines, with follow-ups as needed.
• Conducting end-of-day checks to confirm completion of urgent deadlines.
• Monitoring all deadlines to ensure no due dates are missed or overlooked.

Docketing & Database Management

• Accurately docketing deadlines and instructions into the PATTSY database based on incoming correspondence and internal instructions.
• Updating PATTSY records, including docket entries, bring-forward reminders, and status updates.
• Reviewing iManage and PATTSY systems to monitor file progress and confirm task completion.

Quality Control & Compliance

• Performing regular status checks to ensure consistency between PATTSY records and official Patent Office records (e.g., CIPO, USPTO, WIPO).
• Identifying and correct discrepancies or missing information within docketing systems.
• Escalating potential missed deadlines or risks to appropriate team members promptly.

Correspondence & File Review

• Reviewing incoming correspondence from Patent Offices, foreign associates, and clients to identify, extract, and accurately docketing all relevant deadlines and instructions.
• Updating PATTSY to reflect correspondence, actions taken, and upcoming deadlines.

Team Support & Collaboration

• Providing overflow docketing support for both patent and trademark matters.
• Assisting with reviewing trademark conflict reports as required.
• Providing backup support for patent and trademark clerks and assistants.
• Performing additional backup and administrative duties as needed.

As our ideal candidate, you will distinguish yourself by the following profile:

• Experience in patent and/or trademark docketing or IP administration preferred.
• Familiarity with docketing systems such as PATTSY and document management systems such as iManage is an asset.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data entry.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines.
• Strong communication and follow-up skills.
• Proactive approach to identifying risks and resolving issues.
• Accountability and reliability.

As a member of the McCarthy team, you will have access to:

• Outstanding benefits from day one, including insurance premiums paid by the Firm and wellness and technology reimbursements.
• Competitive compensation, paid overtime  and generous time off, including a day off to volunteer and a day off for your birthday.
• A commitment to professional development and growth opportunities for our people at all levels, supported by a culture that fully embraces and encourages two-way feedback.
• Strong community involvement and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• A collaborative, cohesive culture that connects lawyers and business teams through collective purpose.

How to Apply: 

We encourage external candidates to apply online and internal applicants must apply directly through our internal careers portal on Espresso. We look forward to receiving your application.

McCarthy Tétrault utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) technology as part of our application screening process to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our recruitment efforts by analyzing applications to identify candidates whose qualifications and experiences align with the requirements of the position. 

We thank all applicants for their interest in McCarthy Tétrault; however, only chosen applicants will be contacted. We regret that we are unable to respond to individual inquiries about application status. McCarthy Tétrault is an equal opportunity employer that fosters an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment. Please notify us if you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process.