Paralegal Specialist

Dow•Midland, MI

12d

About The Position

Dow is hiring a Paralegal Specialist in Midland, Michigan, to provide operational support to paralegals, attorneys, and other legal professionals in Dow Legal. The role primarily supports Innovation Law as part of the Core Legal Practices – Technology & Operations team. The position provides technology, systems, and operations support to Core Legal Practices and Commercial & Innovation Law, including patent, trademark, copyright, and related intellectual property processes. Work includes maintaining accurate legal operations data, administering cases, preparing formal documentation, supporting trademark docketing and filing, and coordinating with internal teams, external vendors, counsel, agents, and records contacts. The role calls for attention to detail, sound judgment, initiative, systems proficiency, and support for process consistency, team continuity, and operational effectiveness. The Paralegal Specialist works with initiative and discretion under moderate supervision, follows established procedures and oversight, and recognizes when guidance or escalation is needed. The role also involves cross-training and knowledge sharing, workload balancing and backup support, applying Company policies and internal controls, maintaining proficiency in relevant systems, and identifying process improvements. A bachelor’s degree or at least four years of relevant work experience is required. The position requires the ability to work legally in the United States; visa sponsorship or support is unavailable. Relocation assistance is not available.

Requirements

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or a minimum of four years of relevant work experience.
Ability to work legally in the United States; visa sponsorship or support is not available.
Attention to detail and accuracy in legal documents, records, filing, and administrative work.
Organization and ability to maintain files, correspondence, documentation, and work requests efficiently.
Time management and ability to balance priorities and meet legal deadlines.
Effective written, verbal, and digital communication skills.
Initiative, accountability, collaboration, adaptability, professionalism, and sound judgment.
Ability to work under moderate supervision, follow established procedures, and recognize when to seek guidance or escalate.
Proficiency with relevant Legal, Company, and vendor systems.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of copyright and trademark processes, terminology, documentation, and deadline requirements, including the ability to apply procedures and filing requirements accurately.
Proficiency with legal, company, and vendor systems used for patent and trademark maintenance, trademark docketing, document preparation, filing, and recordkeeping.

Responsibilities

Provide operational support to paralegals, attorneys, and other legal professionals, primarily for Innovation Law.
Support U.S. and international trademark docketing and filing, including copyright and trademark docketing, trademark watches, IPMS law updates, new filing requests, and trademark abandonment decisions.
Review incoming client mail and other communications concerning trademark matters, identify due dates and reminder dates, and enter or annotate them in the IPMS.
Maintain accurate operations data, system records, reference resources, and authority documentation, including through patent annuity and trademark renewal data-integrity reviews.
Manage centralized patent and trademark maintenance and abandonment processes, helping ensure patent applications are not abandoned and trademark applications do not lapse.
Coordinate with vendors to address requirements, clarifications, and renewal reminders.
Work with the trademark brand team on renewal decisions for trademarks that do not meet renewal criteria.
Process and update patent and trademark laws in the IP Management System, review law changes for proper system operation, and identify resulting process changes.
Export renewal and abandonment batch files and process renewal and abandonment CEF files from the renewal vendor.
Coordinate with other vendors, outside counsel, and experts as needed.
Work with Intellectual Capital Managers to determine working statements for specific jurisdictions and provide data to third-party vendors.
Investigate and conduct research using external sources as necessary.
Complete assignments with initiative, attention to detail, and discretion under moderate supervision, and seek guidance or escalate when appropriate.
Participate in knowledge transfer, cross-training, and shared learning; share knowledge and best practices and provide backup support to teammates.
Follow applicable Company policies, guidelines, and internal controls, including authorization, delegation of authority, agreement approval and signature guidelines, and third-party due diligence requirements.
Maintain proficiency in Legal, Company, and vendor systems and suggest process improvements that support team effectiveness and productivity.

Benefits

Equitable, market-competitive base pay and bonus opportunity, with locally relevant incentives.
Programs supporting physical, mental, financial, and social well-being.
Competitive retirement program that may include company-provided benefits, savings opportunities, financial planning, and educational resources.
Employee stock purchase programs, where available.
Student Debt Retirement Savings Match Program in the U.S.
Medical and life insurance packages, with multiple coverage options; travel insurance is available in certain locations.
Training, mentoring, work experiences, community involvement, and team-building opportunities.
Role-based workplace flexibility to support productivity and personal needs.
Competitive yearly vacation allowance.
Paid time off for new parents, including adoptive and foster parents.
Paid time off to care for sick or injured family members.
Paid time off for volunteering and Employee Resource Group participation.
Wellbeing Portal for Dow employees.
On-site fitness facilities, where available.
Employee discounts for online shopping, cinema tickets, gym memberships, and more.
Some locations may offer transportation allowances, meal subsidies or vouchers, and carbon-neutral transportation incentives.