Are you looking for a career that allows you to apply the technical knowledge gained from your engineering degree in a legal and commercial environment? Do you have an inquisitive mind, a flair for writing and a love of problem solving?

If so, a career in intellectual property law may be for you.

We are delighted to be hosting our annual Open Day on 20th September 2023.

You will hear from a variety of people at different stages of their career journeys from across our practice groups and will have lots of opportunity to ask questions throughout the day. In an informal setting, the event provides an invaluable opportunity to explore the profession and discover more about life at the firm.

In addition to presentations, panel sessions and an interactive activity, you will receive helpful hints and tips for joining the profession. Typically, we welcome 30 students to the event, which is hosted in our central London office. We are happy to offer financial support towards travel and accommodation expenses.

Why Carpmaels & Ransford?

We are a leading European intellectual property law firm. Through our passionate and award-winning team of life scientists, engineers and regulatory experts, we advise some of the world’s leading healthcare companies.

We were awarded Patent Prosecution Firm of the Year at the 2023 Managing IP EMEA Awards and were also awarded Patent Contentious Firm of the Year and Impact Case of the Year at the 2022 Awards. We are consistently ranked as a top-tier firm by industry directories.

As a firm, we’re passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Diversity of thought is vital to our business; it’s how we approach challenges differently and offer our clients creative and original solutions. Through our work with organisations such as IP Inclusive, Stonewall and Business in the Community via the Race at Work Charter, we are putting the right steps in place to make sure that all our people feel supported and empowered to be themselves. Further information on our commitment to diversity and inclusion is available on our website.

A healthy work/life balance is very important to us and we run regular wellbeing events in addition to the large number of clubs and social activities that are available to everyone at the firm.  We are also enthusiastic supporters of our local community through partnerships with the Social Mobility Foundation and Holborn Community Association.

What we offer

Each year, we recruit a number of exceptional STEM graduates, supporting them through to qualification as a UK and European patent attorney. New trainees join a practice group relevant to their subject of study. Opportunities exist within our Chemistry, Biotechnology and Engineering & Tech practice groups.

Trainees in our Engineering & Tech practice group have the opportunity to qualify as a UK and European patent attorney. The team brings together experts from a wide range of fields, representing some of the world’s leading companies. Their expertise spans a variety of engineering and tech sectors, ranging from surgical devices to lasers, from contact lenses to energy technologies, and from drones to drug delivery systems.

The team is regularly called upon to take on large due diligence projects for new technologies or acquisitions, when commercially relevant advice is sought on IP risks and opportunities. Many of the team have extensive experience of patenting computer software and related issues, and they are regularly asked to take over demanding cases that are critical to clients’ global patent strategies.

Becoming a patent attorney allows you to put your degree to good use in a rewarding and intellectually stimulating profession. With a renowned training programme, we offer exceptional support for obtaining professional qualifications and beyond.

Who should apply?

To train as a patent attorney, you must have a STEM degree in a relevant technical discipline. We would love to hear from exceptional students who are working towards or already possess a strong first degree (minimum 2:1 or equivalent) or PhD in the following areas:

• Electronics
• Electrical engineering
• General engineering (with a substantial electrical or electronics focus)
• Computer science
• Software engineering
• Artificial intelligence

We are very happy to receive applications from first year students and beyond.

Please note that we are not currently seeking applications from individuals with physics, mechanical or aeronautical engineering backgrounds.

Further information on degree requirements can be found on our careers website. Your degree will be complemented by strong A Levels (typically 3 at grade A or equivalent).

In addition to your technical skills, you will have an excellent command of both written and spoken English. You enjoy analysing and conceptualising complex matters and have a passion and aptitude for problem solving. With strong time management and organisation skills, you are a strong communicator, both verbally and in writing.

We are proud to be using Rare Recruitment’s Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) which allows us to consider your achievements in the context in which they were gained.

We understand that not all candidate’s achievements look the same on paper – and we want to recruit the best people, from every background.

As we receive a high level of interest in the event, we encourage those who have been unsuccessful to apply for future opportunities. This includes our summer insight programme and trainee patent attorney vacancies.

We are proud of our inclusive culture where individual differences are celebrated, and we are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees and job applicants. We do not tolerate discrimination either directly or indirectly on the basis of race, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, pregnancy and maternity, socio economic background or any characteristic protected by law. Our approach is embodied in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, as well as our diversity and inclusion programmes.