Towards the end of my penultimate year at university, I began to consider what my next steps should be after graduation. I found myself in the common position of having very little idea of what to do. I knew that I did not want to pursue a career in academia, but I still wanted a job that would allow me to use the scientific and technical skills I had learned during my degree. Luckily, I happened upon the Inside Careers website which introduced me to the world of patent attorneys.
I was immediately drawn to the role, as it requires a unique and interesting mix of skills, combining the fields of science, language and law. After some further research into the profession I was sure that this was the job for me. Then, following numerous job applications and a handful of interviews, I was lucky enough to be offered a trainee position at Reddie & Grose. From the research I had done ahead of my interviews, I knew that Reddie & Grose is a top tier firm with an excellent reputation and a number of high profile clients. On top of this, the firm came across as very friendly and sociable, one that organises many sporting and recreational events each year. In the end, the decision to accept their offer was an easy one.
Upon starting at Reddie & Grose, it very quickly became apparent that this was a firm that also invests heavily in training. I spent my first two weeks on an intensive induction course with my fellow new starters, held at the London office. This covered the basics of what the job requires and, although quite daunting, it was an invaluable introduction to the role and the firm in general. Since then, I have been given a real caseload to manage and a wide range of different issues to handle, always under the guidance and support of my supervising partner.
The work I am involved with is varied and challenging; one day I may be drafting a patent application, and the next I may be meeting with clients to discuss their invention. It is this variety of work, along with the intellectual stimulation of having to quickly understand new and interesting technologies, that is my favourite part of the job.
Further, the on-the-job training is supplemented by weekly sessions and workshops run by the firm. These have exposed me to matters that one may not come across regularly and have helped me to develop skills that can be immediately applied to my day to day work.
My first year at Reddie & Grose has been both rewarding and stimulating. The firm is friendly and sociable (I am currently the firm’s softball captain) and the comprehensive support and training supplied has allowed me to start developing all the skills necessary to be successful in the profession. I look forward to building upon these further as I progress towards qualification.
