A Day in the Life: What I Tell Law Students About Building a Career in Trademark Law
Practical advice for aspiring IP attorneys navigating the path from law school to practice
I enjoy connecting with law students interested in intellectual property law. Every conversation reminds me how grateful I am for the career I have. I recently enjoyed separate conversations with Chimara Good, a law student at Campbell Law School, and Thalya Baptiste, a law student at North Carolina Central University School of Law, who each reached out after the NCBA Intellectual Property Section’s September 24, 2026 kickoff reception and panel discussion, “Building Your Career in Intellectual Property & Networking 101.” Thank you both for your thoughtful questions, which inspired this article.
Students often ask what my day-to-day really looks like and what they can do to build a career in trademark law.
I can only speak from my own experience, and every attorney’s path and perspective is different. I hope students will seek out many voices and find what works best for them.
Here is what I usually share with them:
What trademark attorneys actually do
No two days are identical. On any given day, I might work on 20 different client matters. My practice includes trademark clearance, prosecution and portfolio management; cease-and-desist letters and coexistence agreements; Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings and subject matter assistance in federal infringement litigation; online brand enforcement; copyright and advertising counseling; and software, name, image, and likeness, and other intellectual property license agreements.
Our clients include individuals, small businesses and large corporations, from creators, artists, and athletes to local breweries, technology startups and established national brands. They span nearly every industry, including hospitality, food and beverage; retail and apparel; publishing; entertainment; software; banking; healthcare; hemp and CBD; and construction. I am constantly learning about new products and markets while helping clients protect something that they have invested real personal and financial effort in building: their brands. Intellectual property law lives at the crossroads of creativity and structure, and that is where I thrive.
Students also ask about the challenges. Long hours are not the main stressor for me. The bigger challenge is the mental load of managing many clients, deadlines and expectations at once. The upside is flexibility, since I often have the autonomy to set my own schedule. I encourage students to treat wellness as part of the job. Build habits that restore you, protect time for the people you love and lean on peers who understand the pressures of practice. Taking care of yourself is what allows you to take good care of your clients.
Bridging the knowledge gap
Students often worry about the gap between coursework and actual practice. Here is what I suggest:
Use free educational resources
The USPTO and Copyright Office offer free webinars and materials that provide practical insights beyond the classroom. Being familiar with the search platform on the USPTO website as a law student is a bonus.
Find mentors inside and outside your firm
I have wonderful mentors within my firm who have contributed greatly to my success. However, one of the most important mentors in my development was an attorney at another firm whom I met early in my career through a shared client. The candor of our conversations about identity, wellness and surviving a law firm made all the difference. She helped me grow comfortable being open about who I am and showed me that I did not have to choose between authenticity and success. Look for mentors in many places, including the people you meet through your work.
Find places where you can be yourself
Look for workplaces and communities where you can be yourself instead of molding yourself into something you are not in order to succeed. Your path does not have to be conventional, either. I came to law school from piano performance. I wanted a career built on hard work, where I would spend hours specializing in something only to share it with others. As a pianist, that meant a performance. Now, it means tackling sophisticated legal issues to help a client. The background you bring is a strength. Notice how an organization talks about inclusion, who holds leadership roles and whether people seem comfortable being authentic. Success built on authenticity is more sustainable.
Pursue hands-on experience
Law school IP clinics offer real-world experience while you are still in school, and the USPTO and Copyright Office offer summer programs. Opportunities also exist in unexpected places, but anything that provides exposure and strengthens your research and writing skills will be valuable in the long run.
Build your network early
Reach out to attorneys for coffee or informational conversations . . .or even better, find where attorneys will be anyways and show up there (for example, an NCBA IP Section CLE). Most of us are happy to help because we remember being in your position. Think of your network as a community rather than a list of contacts, and support others the way you hope to be supported.
Professional organizations worth joining
I recommend the International Trademark Association (INTA) to students serious about trademark law. It offers mentorship programs, moot court competitions, scholarships, and discounted student memberships. Don’t wait until after graduation to join. Being involved in INTA is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career, and in addition to building clients, I have made really good friends from around the globe.
Locally, the North Carolina Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Section hosts CLE programs, an annual meeting, casual meetups, low-pressure panels and even trail walks. The Section supports a diversity scholarship and welcomes law students and new professionals. Even if you feel you don’t know enough yet, show up and introduce yourself. There is a place for you at the NCBA.
Choosing your path: in-house vs. law firm
Students often ask about in-house versus law firm practice. My only in-house experience came from an internship, and I was thrilled to be in New York for a semester. However, at a full-service firm, I see a diverse client base that keeps the work challenging and unpredictable. I’m able to live in North Carolina, close to family, practicing intellectual property law at a high level. That said, in-house roles let you dive deep into one company’s IP strategy. In any case, don’t feel pressured to decide right away. Explore both through internships and informational interviews, and let your preferences evolve.
Building a client base: don’t worry about rainmaking yet
Students often ask whether they need to bring in clients from day one. Usually not. Early-career attorneys typically receive work from senior attorneys, which gives you time to develop your skills and build relationships gradually.
Over time, clients find you through referrals from colleagues in other practice areas, international attorney networks, bar association connections, articles and speaking and online searches. Trademark renewal deadlines also bring clients back regularly, so in the practice of trademark law, work comes from many different sources.
Most of all, building a strong reputation as someone who is knowledgeable, responsive, and easy to work with will bring you work, from colleagues and clients alike. Client development builds over time, and there is no one-size-fits-all.
Final thoughts
If you are a law student wondering whether you belong in this field, you do. You do not need a perfectly mapped plan. You do not need to have every answer, and you certainly do not need to become someone else to succeed. The qualities that make you who you are, including your curiosity, your history and your identity, will make you a better advocate for the people and businesses you serve.
Be patient with yourself. Take care of yourself and your community. Reach out to people, even when it feels awkward. Chimara and Thalya did exactly that, and I am so glad they did. And when you are ready, my inbox is open. While it may take me a few days, I promise I am much better at answering emails than I ever was at sight-reading Rachmaninoff.