Why did you choose a job in this profession?

Unlike many patent attorneys I know, I had decided to pursue a career as a patent attorney whilst still at school. Initially being interested in pursuing a career in law, I went on a law taster-course at Cambridge University. It became apparent fairly quickly that I didn’t find all areas of law that interesting. However, the area which stood out to me was “Intellectual Property”, which I had previously never heard of.

When choosing a degree course, I was very much science-minded and particularly enjoyed chemistry, so wanted to keep going with this. At the time, The University of Manchester ran a 4-year Masters degree course “Chemistry with Patent Law” aimed at those who enjoyed chemistry but perhaps already had an idea that they would like to enter the patent profession after university. This was a fantastic course as the optional modules covered all areas of IP and the course included a final year project which involved guidance from a practising in-house patent attorney. The more exposure I had to the profession during my degree, the more certain I became that it was the profession for me. In particular, I liked the idea that I would be able to use my chemistry knowledge on a day-to-day basis, but that the job would also require skills such as strong communication, persuasive writing, a keen eye to detail and commercial acumen.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I was fortunate enough to join Brand Murray Fuller LLP (formerly TL Brand & Co.) shortly after its inception after a few years of training at another firm. This gave me fantastic exposure to the business-side of things as well as having the opportunity to help develop the company ethos, grow the business and foster new client relationships. The firm has grown significantly since its humble beginnings and I really enjoy working in a supportive team environment. There is always a “buzz” in the open-plan office with team members freely asking questions and discussing cases with partners, trainees and paralegals alike. It is certainly not a hierarchical atmosphere in the office, which I think really helps with training and getting the best out of each person in the team.

I really enjoy the direct contact with clients that I have had throughout my training and in my current role. My firm aims to function effectively as an in-house IP team for its major clients, which means you always get to closely engage with R&D directors, general counsel and inventors. Not only am I required to advise on standard patent issues, but also, I have to provide commercial advice, for example on how a client’s IP portfolio can be monetised.

The job is varied, both in terms of the type of work and the subject matter involved. I work with clients of varying sizes and in a diverse range of technical fields, who can have very different IP issues. I do everything from attending the initial inventor meetings and drafting patent applications, working with foreign attorneys to prosecute patent applications around the world, through to preparing freedom to operate opinions and helping draft commercial licensing agreements. Working in IP is mentally stimulating; no two days are the same and there is always something new to learn!

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to get into the profession?

It can be a little daunting once you have decided to enter the profession but are unsure where and how to begin applying. As a first step, try to find out as much as you can about the profession, for example by attending open days, securing work experience placements or just getting in touch with trainees or qualified attorneys to have a chat about the job and what it involves. At the moment, there is fierce competition for trainee places at IP firms and anything that shows initiative and a genuine interest in the profession will make your covering letter stand out.

Next, have a look through as many company profiles as you can and make a shortlist of those that appeal to you. Make a note of what it is about the company that particularly appeals to you and tailor your covering letter to include this. It is always appreciated when potential candidates have clearly done their research on the firm rather than just submitting generic covering letters. For most patent firms, there is no particular period during which they recruit trainees but instead firms tend to recruit as and when they need someone new to join their team. This means that you should send out a covering letter and CV to all of the firms that appeal to you as soon as possible, so that they have your details on file for when they start their recruitment process. When preparing your covering letter and CV, make sure there are no typos – a keen eye to detail is a crucial requirement for the job and this is the first test of that skill!

When you are called to interview, be prepared for the standard interview questions, but also be aware that some firms may want to test your grammar and literacy skills. I remember having to write a paragraph on how a pair of scissors worked, summarising a scientific journal article and having to correct grammatical errors in sentences.

Don’t be discouraged if it takes a while to get your “foot in the door”, it will be well worth it once you have your training position!