Why did you choose a job as a patent attorney?

I initially discovered the role of a patent attorney whilst at university and I was immediately interested in the combination of law and science, as well as the opportunity to work with a broad range of technologies. During my final year, I decided to explore and research the role of a patent attorney further. This involved undertaking a number of work placements, which enabled me to develop an initial understanding of the general principles of intellectual property. Following these work placements, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I decided to pursue a career as a patent attorney.

What is it like working at Venner Shipley?

Working at Venner Shipley not only provides me with excellent support and legal training, but also enables me to gain experience in other areas such as business development. For example, I have had numerous opportunities to attend client meetings and networking events. Venner Shipley is a very friendly and sociable firm, which makes working here thoroughly enjoyable. In addition, there are a large number of trainees, which provides a support network of colleagues who are at the same stage of their career.

What are your main duties in your current position?

Since starting at Venner Shipley, I have been fortunate to undertake a wide variety of work. This has included the prosecution and drafting of patent applications, instructing foreign attorneys, and providing freedom-to-operate opinions. Not only does the type of work vary, but I am also lucky to work with a wide range of technologies and clients. To date, I have already had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of technologies including vaccines, genome editing, immunology, therapeutic antibodies and bioinformatics. As a result, every day is interesting, enabling me to further develop my understanding of both the law and latest scientific inventions.

What challenges have you come across and what support have you received?

From day one of the job, I have been working on real cases. At first this seemed both a daunting and challenging prospect, however, everyone at Venner Shipley is very approachable and happy to answer any questions. I am fortunate to receive lots of support and guidance from my supervisor who reviews my work and provides constructive feedback. As well as this, the firm runs regular bootcamp sessions for the trainees, which have been very helpful at getting everyone up to speed with the basic aspects of patent law.