Your legal career starts here, with a leading light in patent and trade mark law.

Based in: our Bath office.

We live in exciting times, when innovations in science, engineering and technology are changing the way we live and work. At Abel + Imray, it’s our job to protect many of these ideas so they can flourish. You could be a major part of that.

We’re seeking one of the brightest analytical minds to become a trainee patent attorney in our growing Chemistry team – joining a firm with a reputation for the highest professional standards and winning client relationships.

Those clients across our team come from industries as diverse as pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, medical devices and consumer products.

Inspired by pioneering inventions and ideas, you’ll be ready to offer up your technical expertise. In return, we’ll drive your career forwards (and upwards), making the best of your talents and supporting you to become a qualified patent attorney – all within a dynamic, inclusive working culture.

The opportunity

You won’t sit still here. This is a fast-paced, varied role where each day brings fresh challenges and exciting opportunities. It’s also the first step in a career with a forward-thinking firm that will constantly look at how you can help shape our future – and how we can further yours.

We will support you with thorough training. Mostly this will be in-house, but we’ll encourage you to explore further by attending lectures and taking external courses – for example, the 13-week Intellectual Property Law Certificate with Queen Mary, University of London. You’ll be working towards the examinations needed to qualify as a Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney.

The role will focus primarily on serving clients in the chemical field, but will involve a broader range of technologies, seeking to protect not only innovations concerning materials, cosmetics, polymers and polymer recycling, catalysts, chemical processes, petrochemicals, batteries, contact lenses and consumer healthcare, but also those involving an element of chemical and mechanical engineering, such as reactor design, carbon capture apparatus, food manufacturing systems and sporting equipment.

Who we’re looking for

You’ll like nothing more than a diverse workload that allows you to flex your intellectual talents. Being a patent attorney demands a blend of scientific and technical expertise, and specialist legal knowledge, so you’ll be a high-calibre graduate with a curious streak – and a drive to deliver the best results for our clients.

• You will hold or be aiming for a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree (or the equivalent) in chemical sciences (e.g. chemistry, materials science or natural sciences), and have a broad interest in science and technology and enjoy learning about new areas such battery technology and mechanics.
• You will be a clear and precise writer with an aptitude for language having a grade 7 (A) or above English Language GCSE, Scottish Standard Grade/National 5 or corresponding qualification.
• Being a confident communicator is important, because in time you’ll be talking to everyone from the Chairperson of an international corporation to a laboratory assistant from a niche scientific field.
• You could either be at the start of your career or looking for a new challenge following experience of working in industry in a relevant sector. Post-graduate qualifications or experience of working in industry are not essential but would be valued.

Along with academic success and technical expertise, we value strong organisational and administrative abilities.

More about us

Put simply, we safeguard ideas. Specialising in patents, trade marks and registered designs, we counsel clients in intellectual property protection – from brand new start-ups to well-known conglomerates. That sees us dealing with IP offices in the UK, Europe and beyond.

In our Bath, Cardiff, London and Delft offices, we’ve been growing steadily. That’s set to continue, with a varied list of innovative, international clients.

Ours is a firm with a prestigious history, but one eye always on the future. From longstanding attorneys to brand new trainees, everyone who works here has a part to play in defining that future – and that will include you.

We’re proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. We treat everyone we work with – and for – fairly, and we value diversity. That means nurturing each employee’s particular talents and supporting all to reach their personal goals, regardless of background. We also work hard to promote equality, diversity and inclusivity within the wider legal community we’re part of, as members of IP Inclusive. We are also members of WISE and Working Forward.

How to apply

Please click below to apply.

The closing date for applications is 6 December 2023, and we plan to hold initial interviews soon after. The successful candidate would then begin work in summer or autumn 2024, with some flexibility if needed.