Job profile
IP/IT lawyer (M/F/D)
Top job offers for IP/IT lawyers
IP/IT lawyers: experts in data protection and intellectual property
Digital transformation goes hand in hand with an increasing demand for lawyers specialising in IP/IT law, i.e. in legal issues relating to intellectual property, IT and data rights. IP/IT lawyers can work in law firms, consulting firms or larger companies, where they support the different departments and provide advice on software and website projects as well as data protection and copyright matters.
Which opportunities do IP/IT lawyers have on the labour market?
IP/IT lawyers have good career prospects at law firms specialising in this field, especially in major cities such as Hamburg, Berlin and Munich. IP/IT experts with business fluent foreign language skills might also have the opportunity to pursue a career in an internationally operating consulting firm.
What are the tasks and responsibilities of IP/IT lawyers?
IP/IT lawyers have to meet a great variety of requirements. They are the contact persons for all matters related to IT law, in particular for the risk management department. They are experts when it comes to hosting and technology partnership issues, and are responsible for drafting and reviewing all relevant contracts, including service agreements and purchasing agreements for infrastructure. Providing advice on the design, development and implementation of IT projects also belongs to their tasks.
Since international cooperation is not uncommon in the context of the development and implementation of software and cloud solutions or hardware purchases, IP/IT lawyers are also responsible for the alignment of different legal bases.
- Contact person for all matters regarding IT law
- Design, review and negotiation of all IT contracts, data protection and non-disclosure agreements, licence agreements and sales contracts
- Provision of legal advice on IT projects
- Provision of information and in-house training on IT and copyright matters
Which hard skills and soft skills should IT/IP lawyers have?
In order to work as an IT/IP lawyer, it is necessary to have completed training as a fully qualified lawyer with particular specialisation in the IT area. Ideally, candidates already have several years of professional experience, gained either at a law firm or a company. Besides, they must have an analytical way of thinking, an independent way of working and good communication skills enabling them to communicate complex matters in an understandable manner. Strong negotiation skills, assertiveness, reliability and, ideally, good English language skills are important as well.
- Completed training as a fully-qualified lawyer with specialisation and professional experience in the areas of IT and copyright law
- A reliable and solution-oriented way of working
- An analytical way of thinking
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
- Sound English language skills; further foreign language skills are an advantage
What is the average salary of IP/IT lawyers?
Lawyers specialising in IP/IT law can generally expect a good income. While starting salaries in this profession amount to about EUR 3,000 gross per month, experienced IP/IT lawyers may easily earn three times this amount. The salaries of partners in law firms specialising in IT law are usually even higher. The remuneration is equally good at consulting companies.