Are you looking for a career with a difference?

We are looking for an enthusiastic life sciences graduate to join our Life Sciences group based in one of our UK offices (London, Manchester, York or Glasgow). You will work alongside our team of Attorneys and fellow Trainees to support our clients in the protection of their intellectual property assets. The role encompasses a diverse range of responsibilities and requires a high level of attention to detail and accuracy and the ability to work to deadlines along with being able to receive and act upon feedback on your work.

The patent profession requires dedication to work and train over a period of about 4 – 5 years to become a dual-qualified Chartered UK Patent Attorney and a European Patent Attorney. You’ll need an academic background in a life sciences related area and a high level of self-discipline and attention to detail. The ability to quickly distill what is important, combined with an ability to focus on detail when required is a skill that will serve well to succeeding in the role. You’ll also need to be happy and interested to apply your intellect to many different inventions across the biological sciences, and enjoy a fast-paced work environment dealing with multiple matters on a daily basis. Client handling and care are also key, requiring confidence and good interpersonal skills.

Main Responsibilities

• Drafting of patent documents
• Construct technical arguments with a view to prosecuting or opposing patents
• Supporting Attorneys in ensuring that legal deadlines are met
• Liaising with clients and answering queries
• Progressing through UK and European Patent Attorney Qualification exams alongside work.

About You

• Have achieved either a 2:1 Bachelors, Masters, PhD or beyond in a Life Sciences related subject
• Have excellent written and oral communication skills
• Be able to operate in an intellectually demanding and time-pressured environment
• Experience in a professional working environment would be beneficial
• Work with a high level of attention to detail
• A team player who is comfortable working on independent tasks
• Ability to digest and act upon constructive feedback
• Attitude and aptitude to want to develop your skill set
• Personable individual with a client focused mentality.

About HGF

HGF Limited is one of Europe’s largest intellectual property specialist firms and one of only a few to offer a fully integrated IP solution, bringing over 190 Patent Attorneys, Trade Mark Attorneys and IP Solicitors together to provide a full-service IP solution, with one of the largest specialist life sciences teams in the IP profession. We are an award-winning firm, among only a few firms ranked Gold for Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals in the Financial Times ‘Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms’ 2023.

With 25 offices across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, France, Switzerland & Austria, HGF’s Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys provide specialist technical and legal advice to blue chip organisations and small to medium businesses across the world. Many of our clients are household names and the work HGF does allows them to protect and exploit their inventions, new products and branding.

Why move to HGF?

• HGF takes a transparent and merit-based approach to your career development and you will have the opportunity to shape your long-term progression
• We’re a firm with a focus on DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), with a staff led DEI Focus Group and an DEI Board sponsor
• As a business we have a dedicated Learning and Development team and a digital learning platform for all staff to use
• A competitive salary and benefits package along with a flexible working policy.

To Apply

HGF is committed to promoting an equal, diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all candidates with relevant skills for the role. As part of this recruitment process we are utilising a “blind” CV process at the initial stage of application filtering.

If the above sounds like the opportunity for you, please email your CV with a covering letter (as a single document) explaining why you want to become a Patent Attorney.

HGF Values

• People – People matter. We treat people fairly, with respect and compassion. We foster a friendly, inclusive and enjoyable culture for everyone to prosper in. We invest in our people and offer appropriate coaching and training to assist with development and learning. We promote a healthy work-life balance. Progression is based on merit.
• Excellence – We strive to be the best. We pursue excellence in all our individual roles resulting in outstanding legal and technical advice for our clients. Our people are pragmatic, responsive and commercially minded. We do not presume but listen to understand so we can engage proactively and appropriately.
• Teamwork – We stand together. We work with our clients to protect their interests, and with each other as a mutually supporting firm. We value, appreciate and listen to others, regardless of role, recognising each individual’s particular blend of talent, skill and experience. We are individually and jointly accountable and take responsibility for our actions and decisions.
• Progressive – We innovate. We continually improve our services and processes through understanding, creativity, and investment. We evolve by taking opportunities and adopting new business procedures, unencumbered by historical structures or out-of-date attitudes. As a firm, we have an entrepreneurial spirit, and encourage new thinking in our people.