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The role

We are looking for individuals who enjoy learning about cutting-edge research and who want to apply their scientific knowledge to work outside of academia. At Appleyard Lees, you will be able to put your degree to use from day one, because you’ll be working to protect the ground-breaking innovation of some of the world’s most well-known tech companies such as Samsung. The job is intellectually challenging, as you will work on brand new innovation before anyone else hears about it, but it is also rewarding. Many of our clients are developing exciting new Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies or new bioinformatics inventions, so we are looking for individuals with a background in Physics/Theoretical Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics or Electrical Engineering to train with us as a patent attorney.

You will need to be articulate and good at communicating, particularly in writing. Our work can sometimes be multi-disciplinary and collaborative and you will need to work with attorneys in other disciplines. For example, some of our clients use AI to identify and develop new drugs, use mathematics/statistics to diagnose and treat diseases, or use software to control medical robotic devices. So, you will need to have good people skills and be able to work in a team.

You will be trained by our Partners and Senior Associates, and from your first day you will be working on real work for our clients. You will be able to join meetings with inventors, watch our qualified attorneys when they participate in hearings/trials, and learn from our talented paralegals. As our clients file patent applications in the UK and Europe, you will gain real experience that is directly relevant to the professional exams you will undertake. In addition to this practical experience, our trainees are given all the support they need to qualify as UK and European patent attorneys. We combine in-house exam-specific tutorials with external courses, to help our trainees to obtain the knowledge and skills they need to qualify.

About you

  • Have a degree or PhD in Physics/Theoretical Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Electrical Engineering or similar.
  • Preferably, your degree included modules focussed on Artificial Intelligence/machine learning, but this is not essential.
  • Knowledge of and interest in any of the following areas would be advantageous: machine learning models, image recognition, object detection, speech recognition, natural language processing, and data mining.
  • Good communicator both in writing and verbally.

What we can offer

We pride ourselves on being small and friendly enough for you to get to know everyone – but big enough to offer you great career prospects. We also offer:

  • 34 hour working week
  • Agile working
  • Annual salary review
  • Life assurance
  • Healthcare cash plan
  • A supportive and friendly place to work and learn
  • Social outings
  • Birthday voucher
  • Charity events

Our clients include household brands, tech start-ups and multinational corporations as well as local businesses and SMEs. We have a well-earned reputation for long-standing relationships. We ensure that we understand our clients’ business objectives

Our clients choose us because we offer the combination of technical knowledge, clarity and commerciality whilst taking the time to get to know them.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) has always been part of the core values of Appleyard Lees.  This isn’t just about the partners, or how we do things at Appleyard Lees, this is about everyone. Appleyard Lees offer a career path within a structure that encourages development for everyone.

We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

  • Job Type: Graduate Job
  • Career Sector: Patents
  • Area of Specialism: Electronics, Technology, Electrical Engineering, Physics
  • Location: Cambridge
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