What inspired you to pursue a career as a patent attorney, and what were the key motivations behind that decision?

After spending the best part of a decade obtaining a PhD in Chemistry and working as a postdoctoral researcher, medicinal chemist, and process chemist, my friends and family were understandably a bit surprised to learn that I was going to be starting a new career in patent law. Admittedly, becoming a patent attorney was not something I had ever considered as I have always identified as a scientist first. But as much as I loved being in the lab, I realised I wanted a career that would expose me to a much wider variety of work and where I could apply my technical knowledge and problem-solving skills with a more commercial outlook. Patent law, sitting at the intersection of science, law, and business, stood out to me. The career satisfies my constant desire to learn and exposes me to exciting new technology every day, whilst allowing me to take a step back and focus on the bigger commercial picture.

What does a typical day at HLK look like for you?

One of the best things about the job is that days are rarely repetitive. As a member of the Chemistry and Life Sciences team at HLK, my workload covers a range of subject matter – one day I might be looking at agritech or food science, and the next I’m working on pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or functionalised materials. A key part of my job is to draft patent applications – this typically involves meeting with clients to distil the key features of their invention and understand what they wish to protect, before drafting an application which provides the broadest scope of protection possible. Another key task is to respond to objections raised by patent examiners in order to get a patent granted. This can be a challenging, but extremely rewarding process, as I need to rapidly get to grips with emerging technologies, read relevant background literature, and develop arguments and strategies which align with the client’s commercial goals.

What training and experience is required to become a patent attorney?

A patent attorney not only needs a detailed understanding of patent law, but also the ability to grasp complex scientific concepts quickly. It is for this reason that European patent attorneys require a STEM degree. On top of this, trainees are typically required to pass 14 exams to become a dual-qualified UK and European attorney – a process that often takes 4-5 years. That being said, this is a well-trodden path, with many firms like HLK offering fantastic training programmes to support you along the way. Having legal knowledge before entering the profession is also by no means a requirement – I myself had not completed any specialist IP courses. What is important however is to have a genuine interest in the profession and a willingness (or perhaps more aptly, a desire) to learn. Finally, because a patent attorney interacts with a variety of people such as inventors in start-ups, foreign attorneys, and senior management of multi-national companies, the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and tailor your approach to different audiences is vital.

What are the key takeaways from your career path so far?

My biggest takeaway is to lean into the opportunities that push you outside of your perceived comfort zone. For me, pivoting from an academic and lab-based path into law was incredibly daunting, but taking that leap is the best way to figure out what you genuinely enjoy (and what you don’t!).

A concern I had before entering the profession was I did not see myself as a creative writer. It turns out that this is not a requirement at all. Instead, the job is all about being able to communicate complex concepts clearly, effectively, and with attention to detail – scientists actually tend to excel at this! I also initially worried that joining the profession would mean leaving my life as a scientist behind. After starting my training at HLK, I very quickly realised that this was not the case. Admittedly, I do sometimes miss lab work, but I never regret my decision.