Paralegal - Commercial, IP and Technology Team

Paralegal – Commercial, IP and Technology Team (Bournemouth/Southampton)

Closing date for applications: 25 January 2026

Trethowans LLP

Trethowans LLP is a leading UK law firm with a strong reputation for delivering practical, high-quality legal advice to businesses and individuals. Our Commercial, IP and Technology Team works with a diverse range of clients, from SMEs to large corporations, providing pragmatic and commercially focused advice. 

We are currently seeking a Paralegal to join our Commercial, IP and Technology team, supporting a broad range of commercial matters and working closely with experienced solicitors and partners.

The Role

As a Paralegal in our Commercial, IP and Technology team, you will support fee earners across a wide range of commercial transactions, intellectual property and technology projects and data protection matters. The role offers an excellent opportunity to develop a long-term career in commercial, IP, IT and data protection law within a supportive and collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Assisting with drafting, reviewing and amending commercial contracts and agreements
• Conducting legal research and preparing notes and summaries
• Managing and maintaining files in accordance with firm procedures
• Liaising with clients and third parties in a professional manner
• Supporting fee earners with transaction management and administrative tasks
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory and internal requirements

Additional Responsibilities: Intellectual Property

• Assisting with trade mark and design registrations including preparing and submitting applications and managing correspondence with the UKIPO and EUIPO
• Conducting clearance searches for trade marks, designs and domain names and preparing reports for fee earners
• Supporting with IP portfolio management including renewals, assignments and recordals
• Preparing first drafts of cease and desist letters and tracking responses
• Conducting research on copyright, trade mark, design and patent issues and preparing briefing notes
• Assisting with IP due diligence exercises, including document review and preparation of schedules of rights

•  Assisting with drafting and reviewing IP related agreements including assignments, licences, coexistence agreements and confidentiality agreements
• Supporting fee earners with IP due diligence on commercial transactions including reviewing registers, assessing chains of title and preparing schedules of rights

Additional Responsibilities: Technology and IT Law

• Assisting with drafting and reviewing IT contracts including software licences, SaaS agreements, reseller agreements and support and maintenance terms
• Supporting fee earners with IT procurement and outsourcing matters, including reviewing commercial terms and managing document suites
• Conducting research on technology law issues such as data protection, cybersecurity, AI regulation and platform liability
• Helping prepare client guides and briefing notes on developments in IT law and digital regulation
• Assisting with due diligence on technology assets including software inventories, licensing positions and key technology dependencies
• Reviewing technical documents for consistency with legal terms and escalating issues appropriately

Additional Responsibilities: Data Protection

• Assisting with drafting and reviewing data processing agreements and privacy notices
• Conducting research on UK GDPR, PECR and international data transfer requirements
• Supporting with data protection compliance projects including audits, policy reviews and mapping data flows
• Assisting with responses to data subject requests and preparation of breach assessments

About you

• Strong interest in commercial, IP, technology and data protection law

• Strong academic background in law (LLB or equivalent)

• Previous experience in commercial, IP, technology and/or data protection law
• Excellent attention to detail and strong organisational skills
• Willingness to take ownership of tasks and work proactively and effectively, including as part of a team

• Willingness to participate in business development activities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills