The course has been designed to help you to develop practical skills alongside work in the office. The Certificate focuses on the development of knowledge, understanding and skills in professional and work-based practice. For example, you will see that there are assessments in Advocacy before the Registry, Searching and Clearance Reports, and Interviewing and Advising. These are the practical skills used by Trade Mark Attorneys daily. The course seeks to develop case analysis and problem problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to evaluate evidence, arguments and assumptions in order to reach sound judgements. The ability to communicate with clients effectively, both orally and in writing, is central to the teaching and assessment strategy.

This is an important question for you, and for your employer.

The IPReg Competency Framework is a useful central criteria and we recommend that you discuss the framework with your employer.

Review both the general skills set and the technical competency requirements.

Look at the type of work you are actually doing in the office. Don’t guess.
As a guide, set aside a period of five days and look, in a critical way, at your timesheet or diary. Consider how much time you spend on administrative or procedural work or substantive legal advice, drafting, research and reporting;

How many of the IPReg technical competencies can you claim as part of your training to date?
For instance, have you completed a first draft of a specification? Have you helped to prepare a Clearance Report with a colleague? Have you drafted any witness statements for use in Registry Proceedings or coexistence agreements? Whilst your draft may not have formed much of the final version you should be able to point to an attempt, or to a review of a draft completed by a more experienced colleague.

Do I need to do more work in the office before starting the RTMA Intensive Qualification Course?
If you find that you cannot claim most of the technical competencies at the IPREG Basic Level, and at least some of the competencies at the intermediate level, you may need to do some additional work before you are ready to undertake the PCTMP.

What should I do if I decide that I am not ready to take the course this year?
This is a personal choice. Review the competencies and reflect, critically, on where you are right now. It is important for you to get the most out of the course and to be able to contribute to discussions and debate. If you have diagnosed a gap in your knowledge or skill base, think about the best way to address it;

• Do you need to do some additional drafting work?
• Would it help to be seconded in house (if in private practice) or to a trade mark firm?
• Could you ask for support from a mentor to help you to work through some of the IPREG Competencies?
• Do you need to do more oppositions and contentious work if you work only on filings?
• Would you find it helpful to speak with a PCTMP alumnus on an informal basis to discuss the workload and how best to prepare for the course?

Successful completion of the RTMA Intensive Qualification Course is not the end of the road to qualification. You must satisfy IPReg, by way of Statutory Declaration, of your “substantial experience” in trade mark work and your character and suitability to be a be a Trade Mark and Designs Attorney.