In the year following implementation of the Trademark Law Revision Act of 1988 (the TLRA), Pub. L. No. 100-667, 102 Stat. 3935 (1988), the Trademark Examining Operation (TMEO) witnessed a dramatic increase in the filing of trademark applications. A large portion of the increase can be attributed to the provision in the TLRA authorizing the filing of “intent to use” (ITU) applications. Though the pace of examination by the TMEO's corps of Examining Attorneys has not slowed, the increased number of applications awaiting examination has caused the average time it takes both to begin and to conclude examination of an application to increase. Accordingly, for the Trademark practitioner desiring expedited examination of an application, it is more important than ever to prepare that application thoroughly and to prosecute it vigorously, while taking care to note the effect the TLRA has had on application requirements, examination procedures and substantive issues.