TRACEY ROBERTS
Crawley,West Sussex
Summary
A professional Trade Mark Paralegal with strong problem-solving and communication skills, adept at remaining calm under pressure. Proficient in Windows 11, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Inprotech.
A loyal employee with solid understanding of training and mentoring employees. Dedicated team player, proactive and hands-on in task completion. Reliable, hardworking and proactive, strong organizational skills and able to plan and prioritise workload.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Trade Mark Paralegal (full time)
Fry Heath & Spence LLP
Crawley, West Sussex
05.2014 - Current
- CITMA qualified Trade Mark Paralegal supporting the Head Trade Mark Attorney at this small firm dealing with a variety of day to day tasks. Originally employed as a PA and after many years of being able to assist more as a Paralegal, decided to gain the CITMA Trade Mark Paralegal qualification and passed in 2025 with distinction.
- A typical day would include assisting with the daily diary deadlines, drafting trade mark watch reports to be sent out on a weekly basis, checking emails and drafting standard letters for approval where required, making sure deadlines are diarised accordingly, keeping files up to date.
- Other duties involve sending out monthly renewal reminders to clients/associates, drafting and filing trade mark applications at the UKIPO, EUIPO and WIPO and instructing international associates to file trade mark applications; drafting various UKIPO, EUIPO and WIPO forms; drafting responses of official office actions, drafting standard assignments and oppositions; drafting standard reporting letters as well as more complex reports/correspondence/instructions to clients and associates; keeping track of the Attorney's time recording and drafting invoice, drafting yearly trade mark portfolio reviews for clients, drafting cost estimates for filing national and international trade mark applications, assignments, and various recordals, opening and closing of files and archiving.
- Knowledge of the records system (Inprotech) and am able to look up information, open basic files when the Records Manager is absent, generate trade mark schedules, produce monthly renewal reminder letters and time record.
- Carrying out day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently and prioritise workload, making sure deadlines are met.
- Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
- Successfully delivered on tasks within tight deadlines.
- Demonstrate respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed and work efficiently on own as well as with other.
Practice Manager/Legal Secretary (part-time)
CLEMATIS LAW
Crawley, West Sussex
06.2009 - 05.2014
- I transferred from my previous employer when fee earner/solicitor I worked for set up their own practice dealing with Matrimonial and Children Act proceedings (Family Law). I played a major part in establishing the practice, including setting up of all filing systems, invoicing system on Excel and various directories within Word and Excel, as well as advertising new practice in various media outlets. During this time, I also gained knowledge of Solicitors Regulation Authority's Accounts Rules.
- Duties involved dealing with everyday running of the practice, which included daily post and banking; answering of phones and dealing with client queries; making appointments; greeting clients; weekly and monthly accounting (to include handling Clients account monies, transferring payments and issuing cheques); payment of salaries including PAYE contributions; inputting of time recording and invoicing clients; ordering of stationery; keeping office equipment in good order and keeping office running smoothly.
- Secretarial duties included typing from dictation of correspondence/court documents, and drafting of own correspondence; taking messages from clients and dealing with their queries; dealing with new enquiries; diary management; booking courses; liaising with Court Offices and Barristers' chambers and negotiating fees; supporting Barristers and clients at court; dealing with opening and closing of files and archiving.
- Used to working under pressure and to deadlines, and dealing with all matters on a confidential and professional basis.
Legal Secretary (part-time)
JAMES B. BENNETT & CO. SOLICITORS
Crawley, West Sussex
05.2004 - 05.2009
- I worked for two fee earners in the firm's Family Law Department.
- Duties involved secretarial duties involving audio typing and typing of own correspondence, taking telephone messages and dealing with client queries; supporting Barristers and clients at court; opening of new files and input of time recording and invoicing clients.
- Other duties involved helping out with audio dictation for the Conveyancing department. Dealing with general accounting, including banking, issuing of cheques and dealing with online CHAPS payments on a temporary basis, covering maternity leave.
- Used to working under pressure and to deadlines, and making sure all matters were dealt with on a confidential and professional basis.
- May 2009 transferred to Clematis Law under TUPE law.
Legal Secretary
BURRELLS SOLICITORS
London
04.1998 - 05.2004
- I worked for a Legal Executive on a full-time basis before I went on maternity leave and returned to work part-time working for the Partner of the firm. The firm's clients were Road Traffic Accident insurers and dealt mainly with Defendant work.
- Duties involved a very heavy workload of audio typing of letters and court documents; liaising with clients, Barristers and the Courts by telephone and using initiative when typing of own correspondence and dealing with enquiries.
- (Previously known as L. Dawson & Co of Tooks Court, Cursitor Street, London)
Legal Secretary (full-time)
RUSSELL & CO. SOLICITORS
Crawley, West Sussex
01.1995 - 04.1998
- I worked in the firm's Personal Injury and Medical Negligence Department as a secretary to the Partner.
- Duties involved a heavy workload of typing of letters and court documents using audio equipment; liaising with Clients, Barristers and the Courts, as well as preparing Bills of Costs.
- I also helped out in other departments, including Matrimonial, Criminal, General Litigation and Conveyancing.
Typist/Computer Operator (full-time)
JAMES LONGLEY & CO. LTD
Crawley, West Sussex
07.1993 - 01.1995
- I worked within the firm's Estimating Department, providing secretarial and administrative support.
- Duties included producing Bill of Works and preparing long and complicated quotes for new work; answering incoming calls and producing general correspondence.
Cashier (part-time)
ABBEY NATIONAL PLC (SANTANDER)
Crawley, West Sussex
08.1992 - 07.1993
- The position comprised of daily contact with customers and assisting them with their enquiries on a whole range of products offered by the company.
- I was also responsible for handling large amounts of cash, which called for a great deal of accuracy.
Education
GCSEs -
Hazelwick Secondary School
Three Bridges, Crawley, West Sussex 09.1986 - 06.1991
Business Administration (Secretarial) NVQ Level II -
Crawley College of Technology (now Central Sussex College)
Crawley, West Sussex 09.1991 - 06.1992
CITMA Trade Mark Paralegal -
Charted Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA)
London, United Kingdom 2024 - 2025
Skills
- CITMA Qualified Trade Mark Paralegal
- Calm under pressure
- Problem-solving
- Communication skills
- Knowledge of Windows 11, Microsoft Word, Excel and Inprotech,
References
- Graham Lock, Fry Heath & Spence LLP, Unit A, Faraday Court, Faraday Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9PU, (Tel: 01293 776880) (Email: Graham.Lock@fhs.co.uk)
- Michelle Minter (former owner of Clematis Law), Hidden Oaks, (behind Oakleigh), Church Road, Worth, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 7RP (Tel: 07753 659672)
Timeline
Trade Mark Paralegal (full time)
Fry Heath & Spence LLP
05.2014 - Current
Practice Manager/Legal Secretary (part-time)
CLEMATIS LAW
06.2009 - 05.2014
Legal Secretary (part-time)
JAMES B. BENNETT & CO. SOLICITORS
05.2004 - 05.2009
Legal Secretary
BURRELLS SOLICITORS
04.1998 - 05.2004
Legal Secretary (full-time)
RUSSELL & CO. SOLICITORS
01.1995 - 04.1998
Typist/Computer Operator (full-time)
JAMES LONGLEY & CO. LTD
07.1993 - 01.1995
Cashier (part-time)
ABBEY NATIONAL PLC (SANTANDER)
08.1992 - 07.1993
Business Administration (Secretarial) NVQ Level II -
Crawley College of Technology (now Central Sussex College)
09.1991 - 06.1992
GCSEs -
Hazelwick Secondary School
09.1986 - 06.1991
CITMA Trade Mark Paralegal -
Charted Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA)
2024 - 2025