Paralegal Specialist

Dow Chemical•Midland, TX

10d•Onsite

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. It provides technology, systems, and operations support to Core Legal Practices and Commercial & Innovation Law, including patent, trademark, copyright, and related intellectual property processes. The work supports accurate legal operations data, efficient case administration, formal documentation, trademark docketing and filing, and collaboration with internal teams, external vendors, counsel, agents, and records contacts. The role requires attention to detail, sound judgment, initiative, systems proficiency, and a focus on consistent processes, team continuity, and operational effectiveness. The specialist completes assignments with initiative and discretion under moderate supervision, works within established procedures and oversight, and recognizes when guidance or escalation is appropriate. The position contributes to knowledge transfer and cross-training, balances work with team members, maintains working knowledge of Company policies and controls, and uses legal, Company, and vendor systems in accordance with current practices. It also identifies opportunities to improve processes and team productivity. Specific work includes supporting U.S. and international trademark docketing and filing; reviewing incoming mail and communications to identify and enter relevant deadlines; maintaining IP management system records and legal updates; and conducting data-integrity reviews, including patent annuities and trademark renewals. The specialist manages patent and trademark maintenance and abandonment processes, coordinates with vendors and other stakeholders, supports trademark renewal decisions, processes renewal and abandonment files, researches external sources, and provides jurisdiction-specific data to third-party vendors.

Requirements

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience.
Ability to work legally in the United States; visa sponsorship or support, including for a U.S. permanent residency process, 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.
Initiative, accountability, collaboration, adaptability, professionalism, and sound judgment.
Ability to work under moderate supervision and recognize when guidance, coordination, or escalation is needed.
Proficiency with legal, Company, and vendor systems used for assigned responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of copyright and trademark processes, terminology, documentation, and deadline requirements, including accurate application of procedures and filing requirements.
Proficiency with 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 technology, systems, and operations for Core Legal Practices and Commercial & Innovation Law, including intellectual property processes.
Support U.S. and international trademark docketing and filing, including copyright and trademark docketing, trademark watches, new filing requests, and trademark abandon decisions.
Review incoming client mail and communications concerning trademark matters, identify due dates or reminders, enter them in the IPMS, and annotate docketing entries as appropriate.
Maintain accurate operations data, system records, reference resources, and authority documentation; perform data-integrity reviews, including patent annuities and trademark renewals.
Manage centralized patent and trademark maintenance and abandonment processes, ensuring 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 in the system, and identify related work-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.
Conduct research using external sources as necessary.
Complete assignments with initiative, attention to detail, and sound discretion under moderate supervision, escalating when appropriate.
Participate in knowledge transfer, cross-training, and shared learning; collaborate with team members to balance workload and provide backup support.
Maintain working knowledge of Company policies, guidelines, internal controls, and relevant Legal, Company, and vendor systems.
Identify and suggest process improvements that enhance team effectiveness and productivity.

Benefits

Equitable and 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, subject to location availability.
Student Debt Retirement Savings Match Program (U.S. only).
Medical and life insurance packages with coverage options.
Travel insurance in certain countries or 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 to support volunteering and Employee Resource Group participation.
Wellbeing Portal for Dow employees.
On-site fitness facilities, subject to location availability.
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.