Paralegal Specialist

Paralegal Specialist

At Dow, we believe in putting people first and we’re passionate about delivering integrity, respect and safety to our customers, our employees and the planet.

Our people are at the heart of our solutions. They reflect the communities we live in and the world where we do business. Their diversity is our strength. We’re a community of relentless problem solvers that offers the daily opportunity to contribute with your perspective, transform industries and shape the future. Our purpose is simple - to deliver a sustainable future for the world through science and collaboration. If you’re looking for a challenge and meaningful role, you’re in the right place.

About this role

Dow has an exciting opportunity for a Paralegal Specialist in Midland, MI. In this role, you will provide operational support to paralegals, attorneys, and other legal professionals in Dow Legal, with primary support for Innovation Law activities, as a member of the Core Legal Practices – Technology & Operations team.

You will provide critical technology, systems, and operations support to Core Legal Practices and Commercial & Innovation Law, including but not limited to, patent, trademark, copyright, and related intellectual property processes. You will support accurate legal operations data, efficient case administration, formal documentation, trademark docketing and filing activities, and collaboration with internal teams, external vendors, counsel, agents, and records contacts. Success in this role requires strong attention to detail, sound judgment, initiative, systems proficiency, and the ability to support process consistency, team continuity, and operational effectiveness across Legal and the broader Company.

General responsibilities

• Maintain a clear understanding of role responsibilities, including scope, boundaries, and appropriate escalation points.
• Complete assignments with initiative, attention to detail, and sound discretion under moderate supervision.
• Exercise logical judgment by recognizing when guidance, coordination, or escalation is needed.
• Contribute as an engaged member of the team by delivering legal support services within established parameters, procedures, and oversight.
• Participate in knowledge transfer, cross-training, and shared learning activities by sharing knowledge, experience, and best practices to strengthen team capability, effectiveness, continuity, and business resilience.
• Partner effectively with team members to balance workload, provide backup support, and share accountability for any joint/shared responsibilities.
• Maintain working knowledge of applicable Company policies, guidelines, and internal controls, including authorization, delegation of authority, agreement approval/signature guidelines, and third-party due diligence requirements, among others.
• Maintain proficiency in Legal, Company, and vendor systems used to support assigned responsibilities; engage subject matter experts, as needed, to ensure alignment with current best practices and recommended use.
• Apply creativity to solve problems or to develop/suggest new or improved processes and proactively identify and suggest changes which enhance the team's effectiveness and productivity.

Specific Responsibilities

• Support U.S. and international trademark docketing and filing operations by providing docketing services for copyrights, trademarks, and trademark watches, maintaining IPMS trademark law updates and related docketing impacts, processing new filing requests, and coordinating abandon decision processing for trademarks.
• Read and analyze all incoming client mail (including U.S. Mail, e-mail, courier packages, faxes) for the IP Case Team that relates to trademark matters to determine due dates or reminder dates that need to be entered into the IPMS and annotates docketing entries as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate operations data, system records, reference resources, and authority documentation by performing data integrity reviews including patent annuities and trademark renewals.
• Manage centralized processes related to patent and trademark maintenance and abandonments, ensuring patent applications are not abandoned, and trademark applications are not lapsed, and working with vendors to ensure requirements, clarifications and renewal reminders are addressed.
• Work with trademark brand team to make decisions on trademark renewals not meeting renewal criteria.
• Process and update patent and trademark laws in the IP Management System, review law changes to ensure they are working properly in the system and identify any changes to work processes.
• Export renewal and abandonment batch files, processes renewal and abandonment CEF files from renewal vendor, and 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 perform research using external sources, as necessary.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree; OR A minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience.
• A minimum requirement for this U.S. based position is the ability to work legally in the United States. No visa sponsorship/support is available for this position, including for any type of U.S. permanent residency (green card) process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of copyright and trademark processes, terminology, documentation, and deadline requirements, with the ability to apply applicable 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.

Skills

• Attention to Detail: Ensures accuracy and completeness in legal documents, records, filing, and administrative work.

• Organization: Maintains files, correspondence, documentation, and work requests in a structured and efficient manner.

• Time Management: Balances multiple priorities and consistently meets legal deadlines and other commitments.

• Communication: Exchanges information effectively through written, verbal, and digital channels.

• Initiative: Takes ownership, proactively identifies work needs, and seeks guidance when appropriate.

• Accountability: Follows through reliably and completes assignments to a high standard.

• Collaboration: Partners effectively with colleagues and contributes positively to team objectives.

• Adaptability and Professionalism: Demonstrates flexibility, sound judgment, and a constructive approach in a dynamic work environment.

• Additional Notes

• Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

• Benefits – What Dow offers you

• We invest in you.

• Dow invests in total rewards programs to help you manage all aspects of you: your pay, your health, your life, your future, and your career. You bring your background, talent, and perspective to work every day. Dow rewards that commitment by investing in your total wellbeing.

Here are just a few highlights of what you would be offered as a Dow employee:

• Equitable and market-competitive base pay and bonus opportunity across our global markets, along with locally relevant incentives.

• Benefits and programs to support your physical, mental, financial, and social well-being, to help you get the care you need...when you need it.

• Competitive retirement program that may include company-provided benefits, savings opportunities, financial planning, and educational resources to help you achieve your long term financial-goals.

• Employee stock purchase programs (availability varies depending on location).

• Student Debt Retirement Savings Match Program (U.S. only).

• Dow will take the value of monthly student debt payments and apply them as if they are contributions to the Employees’ Savings Plan (401(k)), helping employees reach the Company match.

• Robust medical and life insurance packages that offer a variety of coverage options to meet your individual needs. Travel insurance is also available in certain countries/locations.

• Opportunities to learn and grow through training and mentoring, work experiences, community involvement and team building.

• Workplace culture empowering role-based flexibility to maximize personal productivity and balance personal needs.

• Competitive yearly vacation allowance.

• Paid time off for new parents (birthing and non-birthing, including adoptive and foster parents).

• Paid time off to care for family members who are sick or injured.

• Paid time off to support volunteering and Employee Resource Group’s (ERG) participation.

• Wellbeing Portal for all Dow employees, our one-stop shop to promote wellbeing, empowering employees to take ownership of their entire wellbeing journey.

• On-site fitness facilities to help stay healthy and active (availability varies depending on location).

• Employee discounts for online shopping, cinema tickets, gym memberships and more.

• Additionally, some of our locations might offer:

• Transportation allowance (availability varies depending on location)

• Meal subsidiaries/vouchers (availability varies depending on location)

• Carbon-neutral transportation incentives e.g. bike to work (availability varies depending on location)

• Join our team, we can make a difference together.

• About Dow

• Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 30 countries and employ approximately 36,000 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $43 billion in 2024. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.

• As part of our dedication to inclusion, Dow is committed to equal opportunities in employment. We encourage every employee to bring their whole self to work each day to not only deliver more value, but also have a more fulfilling career. Further information regarding Dow's equal opportunities is available on www.dow.com.

• Dow is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is committed to providing opportunities without regard for race, color, religion, sex, including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity, national origin, age, disability and genetic information, including family medical history. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may call us at 1-833-My Dow HR (833-693-6947) and select option 8.