The patent attorney profession is a small, almost hidden world, but once you have found and tried it, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t discovered it sooner. It is the only profession I know that allows you to use your science background for real world applications, exposes you to all the newest technology and at the same time provides all the perks of a city professional.
When I started working at GJE I was given real cases to work on right from the start, as they know the best way to learn in this profession is by applying yourself to the job at hand. They put a lot of focus into training their trainees, with regular in-house lectures and a lot of exposure to all aspects of the job, making it an ideal place to start your career.
Because GJE attracts work from a number of large industry leaders, I often find myself working on important new technologies months before they are revealed. There have even been occasions where I have been reading news articles discussing rumours about an upcoming product, only to realise that the speculation was around a product that I had been working on.
The firm also specifically caters towards startups and individuals, which in some ways can be even more interesting. Working with smaller companies you have the opportunity to see some really innovative ideas and can be involved in the growth of a business from its inception.
With such a diverse range of clients and inventions, it’s very difficult to get bored here. If I need a break from the cryptography patent I am working on, I can just shift my attention to the patent for a robotic arm or even a simple wood screw. With each new technology you work on, you learn exactly how it works and know it well enough to argue your case to a patent examiner. As a result, at the end of each day you go home an expert in another field of technology.
Everyone at GJE, including new trainees like myself, gets their own office and the fact that it’s located in one of Central London’s newest, tallest skyscrapers makes it an amazing place to work. There is a fantastic mix of personalities, which is great from a training point of view, as you can pick and choose the styles and approaches that your colleagues use, to help develop your own. Everyone is always more than happy to lend a hand as they have all had to train from the ground up as well, so I never feel bad about asking questions, even the really simple ones.
So if you’re considering a career in patenting and are looking for a place to start, I would thoroughly recommend you come and join us as GJE.