Why did you choose a job in this profession?

After my undergraduate degree in Biology, I undertook a Research Masters investigating the use of parasitoids as biocontrol agents in agriculture. Whilst I enjoyed being part of a lab group and putting research skills into practice, I missed the variety of subject matter I was able to learn about as an undergraduate. Patent law allows me to continue to learn about a huge variety of biological disciplines and use my technical background to translate the work of scientists into valuable IP assets.

What are your main duties?

As a trainee my main roles are responding to office actions issued by the European Patent Office and UK Intellectual Property Office, as well as contributing to invention capture and drafting of applications. I get to work for many different people at Potter Clarkson, whilst also having two managers that I work for most often. This creates a good combination of seeing how different people choose to approach problems but also continuity in frequent feedback from the same people. At Potter Clarkson I have also been given the opportunity to attend and present ideas in client meetings and attend events in various Biotech sectors at an early stage of my career.

What skills are useful in this profession?

As a translator between patent examiners who are experts in patent law, and inventors who are experts in their area of science, patent attorneys must have excellent communication skills. This includes capturing an invention clearly in the form of a patent application and creating persuasive arguments during prosecution through to explaining legal concepts to scientists who may not have come across patent law before.

The ability to problem solve is another important skill. The role requires you to apply legal knowledge to new and complicated science, and the solution reached must provide a commercially favourable outcome for your client. Additionally the profession often involves multiple competing deadlines and therefore great organisation is another valuable skill.

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

When I first considered becoming a patent attorney, I used the IP careers guide to gain an initial understanding of the profession. I then found that attending open days at various firms was very useful for learning more about the role, understanding differences between firms and understanding what firms were looking for in applicants.

There is very limited opportunity for work experience in the profession. I had no prior experience in law or IP law before starting at Potter Clarkson. Instead during the application process I gave examples of where I had shown the skills required for patent law throughout my degree and various forms of part time work. I also worked as an analyst at a biotech consulting firm after university which, although not direct experience in patent law, allowed me to understand the challenges faced by the types of companies who are the clients of IP law firms and understand how science can translate into a profitable business.