Building an IP Career Across Firms and In‑House: Dania’s Journey from Sussex to Entain

Hi Dania! Could you please start by giving us a background on your legal journey so far in terms of your legal studies and work experience?

Yes, of course. I completed my LLB at the University of Sussex and developed a passion for Intellectual Property law during my third year. This led me to pursue an LLM in Information Technology and IP Law. After my master’s, I took on a paralegal role at Fletcher Day, a firm focusing on immigration, litigation and employment law. I worked there for nine months before moving to Bird and Bird, where I worked as a Junior Trade Mark Administrator for almost two years. The role involved both administrative and paralegal work.

After gaining experience for over a year, I applied again and secured a Trade Mark Paralegal position at DLA Piper. This was a hybrid role between DLA and HSBC, allowing me to split my time between the firm and the bank. At HSBC, I essentially took on a leadership role within their IP team, handling all IP queries, negotiating contracts and engaging in hands‑on work. In contrast, my responsibilities at DLA were more administrative.

Although the hybrid role was a great introduction to IP law, it was challenging to balance both sides. There was also no guarantee of a Training Contract, so I decided to pursue a position that could offer this. I secured my current IP paralegal role at Entain, an entertainment company, where I negotiated sponsorship for my Solicitors Qualifying Examination fees. They were happy to support me because my experience was highly relevant. I have started studying and hope to take my SQE exams in July. At Entain, I manage portfolios and creative content for more than twenty-five brands and advise on all tech and IP legal matters.

While you were studying your LLM, you worked as an Assistant Immigration Caseworker at Voices in Exile. What made you decide to undertake work experience in human rights law as opposed to Technology and IP or another field more closely related to your LLM studies?

Immigration law is a personal passion of mine. I also had the relevant skills because they needed someone who could speak Arabic and communicate with Arabic‑speaking clients. I worked with Voices in Exile for nine months, assisting many Syrian refugees, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

What transferable skills do you think you developed through this work experience?

Too many to count. The work required interviewing and reporting skills, but it also taught me how to handle vulnerable clients and how to use my research skills in a different context. Many clients were unaware of legal benefits they were entitled to, such as housing support, so I often researched their rights and explained them clearly.

I drafted many immigration documents, which required a high level of attention to detail because one mistake could have a serious impact on a client’s immigration status. These skills translated directly to trademark work. For example, Bird and Bird were extremely meticulous with all IP matters. The immigration work also helped me develop confidence in speaking with clients and learning to listen to them, which is a crucial but often overlooked skill in the legal industry.

My work with Voices in Exile also led to my involvement in setting up a migration law advice clinic at the University of Sussex. I interviewed refugees in a focus group, asking about the legal aid they received and what additional support they needed. Immigration law remains a passion of mine, but I also enjoy IP and Technology law because it allows me to work with the creative side of the legal industry.

You have had a lot of experience working as a paralegal both at law firms and as part of in‑house counsel. How do these two different working environments compare, and what do you think are the main differences?

Working at a firm allowed me to engage in more niche legal work. At Bird and Bird and DLA Piper, my caseload did not vary much day to day, which helped me perfect certain processes and develop practical expertise through repetition. I am grateful to have had these experiences early in my career because they helped me build confidence.

In contrast, working in‑house felt like being thrown in the deep end. I was quickly allocated work for high‑level projects. Although I had a supervisor, there was far less handholding and far more responsibility.

Currently, many graduates are looking to secure a paralegal role as opposed to a direct training contract. Could you give some examples of the main responsibilities and tasks you have been given throughout your different paralegal positions?

At FLETCHER DAY, I undertook a diverse range of tasks because it was a smaller firm. I worked with eight lawyers across three practice areas. My tasks included drafting settlement agreements, reviewing disclosure and litigation material and assisting with witness statements. I also attended an employment case in court, which was incredibly insightful. I applied my immigration experience when drafting immigration applications for clients.

My responsibilities at DLA Piper and HSBC were also varied. At DLA, I communicated directly with clients, carried out administrative tasks, researched trademark legislation and provided weekly updates to partners. At HSBC, the work was more practical, such as sitting in on contract negotiation meetings and undertaking risk assessments.

Lastly, what do you think are the main differences and similarities between working as a paralegal as opposed to being a trademark administrator?

Working as a paralegal felt like the step before becoming a solicitor because I had more involvement in cases from beginning to end. As a Trade Mark Administrator, my main role was maintaining databanks. Although I drafted emails to clients, I did not always send them myself, and my client contact was limited. Administrators focus more on the back‑office side of client work.

While trademark administration strengthened my IP knowledge and confidence, it left me unsure whether I could transition into a solicitor role. In my paralegal roles, I had far more client‑facing work and direct contact with solicitors. However, my administration experience was essential in developing a meticulous and detail‑oriented approach, which is vital in IP law.