About us

Mohun Aldridge Sykes is a young and growing firm of IP professionals based in the Northern Powerhouse city of Leeds. The firm prides itself on its consistently high level of service and quality of work across a range of sectors, with the vast majority of its clients being based in the United Kingdom. Whilst covering all aspects of patent and trade mark practice, our emphasis is on understanding the wider business needs of our clients and providing sound commercial advice.

Leeds is the vibrant unofficial capital of Yorkshire and combines world class arts, sport and entertainment with close proximity to some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK.

Key Requirements

• Excellent communication skills
• Science or engineering degree (2:2 min)
• Analytical approach to solving problems
• Ability to work within a team
• Good with detail.

Opportunities at Mohun Aldridge Sykes

We are always seeking able, talented graduates from science and engineering disciplines to train as patent attorneys in our Leeds office.

Successful applicants will begin solving real client problems from the very start, under the close supervision of qualified attorneys. Trainees will be supported and encouraged on their journey to qualification and beyond. Client-facing skills and a positive attitude to development feature high on our list of requirements.

Who We Are

ipconsult was established in 2006 and was one of the first companies to offer an alternative approach to many IP practices. We have a core of employed staff, including qualified attorneys and patent and trade mark administrators, and a network of qualified consultants with expertise in various specialist fields, opening the door to flexible working.

What We Do

We are a small and nimble firm of patent and trade mark attorneys providing conventional IP related services as well as bespoke IP management and advice on a consultancy basis. We help clients protect, manage and importantly commercialise their IP. We regularly help our clients to secure business support, investment and grant funding to help propel their innovation towards the market in the UK and overseas and have been involved in the successful licensing and sale of IP assets. With commercial support from the outset we help a significant number of our clients extend their IP rights outside the UK and help them build and manage their overseas IP portfolios in line with their business strategy.

Where We Are

Our main office is based in the seaside town of Swanage, but our client base is throughout the UK. Our main office provides a central hub that supports our employees and consultants enabling them to provide a full service with the option of working remotely or at our office.

Our Clients

Our clients are mainly SME and start-up businesses, but we also represent a number of larger companies and we have a growing range of overseas originating work, mostly in software and engineering related subject matter.

Our Network

We work closely with a network of professional specialists and businesses to identify new clients and assist existing clients and have been acknowledged as one of the top 20 firms filing new UK patent applications.

We are focused on driving innovation and continuously work to further develop connections locally and at a national level to enable more clients to successfully commercialise their IP.

About ip21

ip21 is an industry leader in client centred, commercially focused Intellectual Property Services. We offer the usual comprehensive range of IP legal services, but we also specialise in ongoing commercial consultancy including licensing negotiation, valuation of IP assets, market/competitor analysis and product commercialisation advice.

Our team includes professional client account managers and expert commercial consultants as well as our top-class legal team of patent, trade mark and design attorneys and assistants. In the UK, we have offices in Norwich, London, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Hitchin and Bury St Edmunds to geographically cover all of East Anglia, although our clients come from all over the UK, and the world. The majority of our client work on the patent side involves mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer software, renewable energy and consumer product development.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for ambitious, pro-active graduate trainees keen to develop both IP legal analytical skills and the communication, sales and consultancy skills to add value to our clients’ businesses and our own. Great interpersonal skills and exemplary written and verbal communication are a must, as is a hard-working and adaptable approach to the trainee role and its development over time.

Trainees can expect a wide variety of client work from an early stage originating from a diverse and often demanding client base, and expect to head out to business networking events, conferences and client meetings on a regular basis. We consider candidate applications from any STEM subject graduate (typically to Masters level) and we are particularly looking for demonstrable experience/interest in general business and technology as opposed to purely academic excellence.

What We Can Offer

Beyond the attractive benefit package we offer all employees (including up to 30 days’ holiday), our trainees will have the opportunity to develop a broad commercial and legal skillset. Our offices throughout East Anglia allow our staff to work in a beautiful region with a stunning countryside and coastline, low crime rate, affordable housing and strong social community. Norwich was recently acknowledged as the ‘UK’s happiest city to live and work in’ by the Guardian Newspaper.

Graham Watt & Co is a busy but friendly practice with a respected and long-established client base. The firm provides a full and comprehensive range of IP services to a wide range of clients from individual inventors, and small/medium start up enterprises to multi-national companies. Our range of professional services relate to all aspects of patents, trade marks, copyright and designs, which assist our clients in identifying, protecting and exploiting their IP assets in the U.K and worldwide.

Our team

We have a friendly and supportive culture, with a buddy system in place to guide new recruits and give them the best start possible. Our open door policy reflects our helpful and open environment, where you are able to discuss IP and business matters with any member of the team.

Our attorneys have a wealth of knowledge in disciplines such as immunology, biochemistry, biomedical science, engineering and chemistry, as well as all aspects of trade marks in a variety of sectors. Trainees get an all-round experience, gleaning information and an understanding from experienced and knowledgeable attorneys. Tasks will be allocated with a view to developing the trainees’ knowledge, with early exposure to opposition and other oral proceedings. Meaning our trainees are able to develop quickly into strong and knowledgeable patent attorneys.

The support team, which consists of IP secretaries, formalities manager, office manager and admin team, all strive to find new ways and systems to support the attorneys. Thereby ensuring the attorneys are doing what they do best and their work is done efficiently.

What we can offer at Graham Watt & Co

You can expect a diverse and challenging role with your responsibilities and duties increasing as we help you expand your knowledge and experience. Your working exposure will be wide-ranging, and you can expect to gain knowledge and interact with all aspects of the business.

At Graham Watt we ensure that you have the best possible chance in passing your exams by giving you supervised relevant work, guidance, external exam preparation courses, study leave and financial support for your professional exams. Once qualified, the support doesn’t stop and guidance and mentoring from the firm continues.

About CMS

CMS is a future-facing, global law firm with a long established patent attorney practice that’s band 1 ranked in Legal 500. We put the interests of our clients at the heart of everything we do across 70+ offices in 40+ countries in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America, with more than 1,200 partners and 5,000 lawyers. We have qualified patent attorneys working alongside IP, litigation, corporate and commercial lawyers. Our IP clients include blue-chip businesses, universities, research institutes, growth technology companies, law firms, governments and defence institutions.

At CMS, we place Diversity & Inclusion at the centre of our culture and at the heart of our organisation. We are ranked by The Times as a Top 50 Employer for Gender Equality and we are also ranked by the Social Mobility Foundation as a Top 75 Employer for Social Mobility. CMS is also proud to have been included in Legal Cheek’s 2023 list of Best Law Firms for Working From Home and for Work/life balance.

Opportunities available

We’re looking for individuals who are excited at the prospect of using their scientific background in a legal context. These are rare opportunities, offering broad ranging client exposure and excellent training within the infrastructure of a top tier law firm. We are looking for candidates with an excellent track record and a minimum 2.1 (or equivalent) degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or Physics.

Training

You will be provided with ongoing training and development whilst studying for your Certificate in Intellectual Property (IP), and subsequently your UK and/or European Patent exams. You’ll work alongside experienced colleagues and leaders in their field, who will guide you through the fundamental elements of international patent law and how to apply these to your client’s needs.

With 6,300 staff, the European Patent Office (EPO) is the second largest intergovernmental organisation in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO’s centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 44 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world’s leading authority in patent information and patent searching.

As the patent office for Europe, we are proud to deliver high-quality patents and efficient services that foster innovation, competitiveness and economic growth.

We believe that diversity is fundamental to our success. Our inclusive work environment respects, values and celebrates our individual differences. We want you to be yourself at work. Our patent examiners are drawn from over 30 different European countries. They work at the cutting edge of technology, analysing the latest inventions in all kinds of technical fields in order to protect and promote innovation in Europe.

Their daily work combines scientific expertise with analytical research and an eye for the legal aspects of intellectual property.

Do you have a Master’s degree in engineering or science? Are you eager to play a role in future developments in innovation? Then you too could be part of our team of patent examiners in Munich or The Hague. We offer a competitive net basic salary (EUR 6,450- 9,360 per month, depending on experience) as well as various benefits and allowances.

Wynne-Jones IP is a vibrant, dynamic, modern and fast-paced firm with an enthusiastic, talented and highly motivated team of positive and like-minded individuals.

We are a full service firm meaning we cover patents, trade marks, designs, IP strategy, IP licensing, enforcement, IP audits and IP renewals. We work across a broad range of industries and sectors but specialise particularly in automotive & aviation, engineering & sciences, IT & cyber, SME & entrepreneurs, toys & games and licensing.

With offices in Cheltenham, London, Cardiff and Telford we work with many exciting clients across the world that vary in size from FTSE 100 companies to the entrepreneurs and start-ups that stand at the forefront of innovation.

We are passionate about innovation and believe that our job is to enable our clients to take their ground-breaking ideas to the market and be confident that they are protected. We believe in forward thinking, quality advice and the same principles are applied within our Training Academy.

In addition to our UK offices, we are proud to part-own AIPEX BV; a pan-European IP law firm. This enables us to be able to provide opportunities for our trainees to work on AIPEX’s accounts and gain experience working on large IP portfolios. There are also opportunities for trainees to take part in exchange programmes and meet and share best practice with over 250 other trainees and qualified attorneys across Europe.

Training and beyond Wynne-Jones IP

The Wynne-Jones Training Academy is our pioneering training body that offers structured programmes providing training for patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys and business professionals (examples include marketing, HR and other qualifications).

Our approach ensures trainees are well supported and best prepared for examinations and real-life practice.Trainee attorneys are exposed to the commercial and business environment much earlier than is traditional meaning that IP practice management skills are developed and established faster than they are traditionally.

What we’re looking for

Candidates can be from a range of disciplines and on track to receive a 2:1 or above. You will be adept at problem solving, have an eye for detail, have excellent communication skills and a proven ability to meet deadlines.

About us

WP Thompson is a long-established full-service IP firm committed to assisting its clients build and protect revenue streams from their intellectual creativity relating to patents, trade marks, designs and copyright. The firm has modern UK offices in Cardiff, Liverpool and London. Amongst its partners are specialists in all matters of patent and trade mark protection and exploitation who, in association with its qualified and part-qualified professional staff, offer a wide range of tailored services to suit the widely varying needs of its national and international client base.

The firm provides a friendly and open culture where demanding work can be completed in an enjoyable and fun environment. There is flexible working, the level of which increases as you become established in your role.

Your development at WP Thompson

Our varied national and international client base creates a challenging environment within which to train and work and offers wide-ranging experience for our trainees through foundation-level examinations and onto full qualification. Trainees are exposed to all stages of the IP life cycle, advising on patent, trade mark and registered designs, as well as any IP-related disputes and legal and commercial requirements. In addition to the day-to-day prosecution of patent, trade mark and design applications, the team has considerable expertise in patent litigation as well as litigious matters, both in prosecuting and defending against centralised oppositions before the EPO and infringement and validity actions before the UK courts.

WP Thompson’s philosophy is one of focusing on our client’s needs and expectations to serve as a blueprint for the training and development of our professional staff. Our graduate recruits can find themselves forming part of our team at high-level client meetings from an early stage in their career.

What we are looking for

Candidates should have at least an upper second-class honours degree in a technical discipline. They should clearly exhibit an inquisitive mind, clarity of thought and expression and, equally importantly, a personality that will fit into, and complement, our friendly but productive office environments.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of 2030.

Our IP group plays an integral role in realising our goal by protecting our R&D investment and IP assets. The IP group provides proactive support to research sites in Europe and US, working collaboratively with scientists and senior managers in a fast-moving culture that is ambitious for patients.

Patent trainees at GSK work alongside senior attorneys and can expect to spend their time drafting and prosecuting patent applications, as well as working on contentious issues, such as oppositions and appeals before the EPO. Trainees are also involved in reviewing and advising R&D on IP clauses in contracts and agreements and educating the business on IP law, practises and strategies. A comprehensive training programme is provided, including in-house and external tutorials, seminars and courses. Trainees are supported throughout their journey to passing both the EQE to become a European Patent Attorney and the appropriate national qualifying examination.

We look for trainees with at least a 2:1 or 1st class degree and prefer new recruits to have had some research or industrial experience. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a desire and commitment to training and qualifying as a patent attorney and be passionate about science and medical innovation. We recruit team players with strong interpersonal, negotiating, analytical and problem-solving skills, who have exceptional written and spoken English and attention to detail.

Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it’s also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued, and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing.

Sagittarius IP is a highly respected firm of patent attorneys with offices in Marlow and Cambridge specialising in advising in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.

About Sagittarius IP

We are a team of highly qualified individuals with a passion for helping our clients achieve maximum value from their intellectual property. Our goal is to maintain exceptionally high standards and to continually exceed our clients’ expectations. Our client portfolio covers the spectrum of small businesses to industry leading FTSE 100 companies, including start-ups, academic research organisations, university spin-outs and venture capital funds.

Sagittarius IP has featured as a leading firm in the Financial Times review of Europe’s patent law firms for the last five years and this year the firm was awarded the top “Gold” ratings for chemistry and biotechnology fields. We have built this first-class reputation on the results we achieve for our clients and, as a result, much of our new business comes through recommendations.

Why work for Sagittarius IP?

From day one with the firm our trainees are exposed to a variety of work under the supervision of our attorneys, joining meetings with inventors and assisting our attorneys when they participate in hearings. Trainees are involved in drafting new patent applications, corresponding with clients and patent offices, preparing for and attending EPO oppositions, and providing freedom to operate advice. Our trainees are given real responsibility early on in their careers, and they make a significant contribution to client work within their first year.

Sagittarius IP is heavily involved in training within the profession. We provide in-house exam tutorials in parallel with placement on external courses to put our trainees in the best possible position to qualify and be successful in their careers going forward.

We offer a competitive salary, attractive bonus scheme and hybrid home/office working arrangements.

Who we are at IP Asset Partnership

IP Asset Partnership is committed to the highest levels of technical and legal excellence. Our growing teams take the time to get to know our clients and work with them hand-in-hand to extract maximum value from their ideas. At every stage of the IP process, our focus is on making the complex simple.

We appreciate the importance of taking a holistic approach to intellectual property strategy and, alongside our main areas of patents, designs and trademarks, we provide personalised coaching and advice on protecting valuable know-how and trade secrets. All team members are actively encouraged to engage with multiple aspects of practice, strategy and business development and manage client portfolios from an early stage.

Combining many years’ experience in managing IP worldwide with varied technical and commercial backgrounds, our Life Sciences, Chemistry, Engineering and Trademark teams adapt their expertise to each case to deliver pragmatic advice.

What about you?

We provide on-the-job mentoring and one-to-one support to help you through your professional qualifications. We keep a strong emphasis on team cohesion and enjoy regular social events, both organised and spontaneous!

We always welcome speculative applications for trainee positions or qualified positions at our Oxford, London or Dublin offices. So if you:

• hold a high-class bachelors, master’s, or PhD from a relevant technical discipline,
• work well in an engaged and sociable environment,
• have top communication skills, and
• are keen to stretch yourself as part of a cracking team,

then get in touch with your CV and cover letter.

The firm

Cleveland Scott York is a firm of patent and trade mark attorneys, with teams in London, Hertfordshire and the Thames Valley. CSY Europe adds an office in Munich. We provide comprehensive intellectual property services to a wide range of clients, including small and medium enterprises and multi-national corporations. We are a progressive firm with a knowledge-sharing culture and a reputation for excellence in training and professional development. We offer trainees a high level of support and encouragement throughout the qualification process, and we have a good record in helping candidates pass exams.

The role

You can expect a challenging and varied role, where your duties and responsibilities will expand in line with your knowledge and as your skills improve. You will gain experience in all aspects of patents, or trade marks, and related disciplines, working closely with a partner or an associate. We encourage trainees to contribute from an early stage. As a patent trainee you will be involved in drafting and prosecuting UK and European patent applications, opposition and opinion work. Trade mark trainees will be involved in all aspects of UK, EUTM, and international applications, oppositions and searches.

Candidates at Cleveland Scott York

An excellent academic record, including a good honours degree in science or engineering is a prerequisite for patent attorneys. We are looking for team players with a flexible, proactive and confident approach. Excellent written and verbal communications skills are essential, as are high levels of accuracy and an eye for detail. We expect to recruit one or two new patent trainees every year; we tend to select trainee trade mark attorneys from amongst our law graduate paralegals, but may use IP Careers to advertise.

About us

Secerna LLP is a progressive and expanding firm of Chartered and European patent attorneys based in York, Newcastle and Dublin. We represent clients worldwide assisting some of the world’s most innovative businesses to protect and enforce their intellectual assets. We build long-term business relationships with our clients, based on exceptional trust, teamwork and value for money.

Opportunities

Due to the firm’s size and expansion, there are great opportunities in personal and professional development. Individuals can expect to be exposed to a range of business situations, clients and technology, from providing strategic advice on validity and freedom to operate to corporate clients, dealing with day to day matters with in-house teams and discussing new technology with inventors. We are a growing firm, which is committed to our recruitment plans and developing bespoke training programmes for each recruit.

What we offer

We have a great depth of technical expertise across a broad range of technologies and in particular in the fields of telecommunications, computer-implemented inventions, oil and gas delivery technologies and assisted and consumer service solutions. In addition, the Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical groups have considerable experience working in the fields of NCEs, bio-therapeutics, nucleic acid-based diagnostics and regenerative medicine. As a trainee patent attorney at Secerna you will be given full training and support as you work towards qualifying as a Chartered and European Patent Attorney. You will work closely with senior attorneys with a track record of successful training. We appreciate you’ll be an individual too and will bring your own personal skills, areas of interest and unique abilities to our team. At Secerna you will have an exceptional opportunity to further your career within a supportive and friendly environment.

What we are looking for

We are looking for graduates with strong technological knowledge in their field and good interpersonal skills, who are motivated and keen to learn new skills. We are looking for candidates that are keen to qualify as a patent attorney and progress within a growing and successful business.

Brunel Law School is a diverse and vibrant community where you will be supported in your studies and encouraged to develop your skills for your future career in intellectual property. Our IP courses are taught by a team of prolific academics and industry experts with a strong reputation for specialising in the area of intellectual property.

Withers & Rogers is one of Europe’s largest dedicated intellectual property law firms, with offices in London, Bristol, Warwick, Sheffield, Munich and Paris. Established more than 130 years ago, we remain as passionate as ever about making intellectual property work to our clients’ best advantage. Today, our clients include many renowned, innovative organisations from across Europe, North America and Asia.

We believe that our patent and trade mark attorneys, support, and operations staff have a breadth of expertise and a depth of specialist sector knowledge that is second to none. Our purpose is building trusting relationships and our vision is to be an independent, responsible, sustainably profitable, and globally focused firm, known for building trusting relationships.

We operate in four principal practice groups: Electronics, Computing & Physics; Advanced Engineering; Life Sciences & Chemistry, and Trade Marks. We also have a number of specialist practice groups including Higher Education, Clean Technology, Medical Devices and Aerospace & Defence.

Your development

When you start your training at Withers & Rogers, from the get-go you’ll be given the support and guidance you need to succeed and pass your exams to qualify as a chartered UK and European patent attorney or a chartered trade mark attorney.

Throughout your training, you’ll attend courses, lectures and tutorials to give you the very best chance of success. Our own extensive in-house tutorial programme provides regular and structured feedback to trainees as they work towards qualifying.

The main focus of your training, however, will be exposure to a wide variety of work on actual live cases. This is where you will quickly develop your ‘real world’ skills and understanding of the role, as well as the culture and working practices that have led to our firm’s reputation and success. This includes involvement in client meetings, the marketing process, and we encourage membership of networking organisations.

Who can apply?

We hire graduates with a strong academic record in a relevant subject, but above all, we’re looking for people who can demonstrate a passion for technology. Trainee patent attorneys will need an engineering or science related degree. All trainees need to be able to demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as strong commercial awareness.

About Appleyard Lees

Appleyard Lees is a leading Intellectual Property Law firm, with approximately seventy Patent and Trademark Attorneys and Litigators.

Our commercially intelligent approach to client service incorporates flexibility and adaptability. We strive to be agile, responding to specific client requirements in a way that suits them.

We help a broad range of IP owners and creators, including in-house teams, R&D specialists, owner-managers and branding professionals, to protect and monetise their intellectual property.

In addition to our catalogue of multinational and multimillion-pound clients, Appleyard Lees is equally proud of the role we have played in the growth of start-up businesses.

Opportunities available

We are keen to hear from talented individuals who have a passion for work, a love for learning and a desire to be part of a friendly, supportive team. We want people who enjoy challenging work and who share our commitment to providing exemplary client service.

We have a regular intake of trainees throughout the year and 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 are an equal opportunities employer and are a member of IP Inclusive, a network of intellectual property professionals working to make the IP community more equal, diverse and inclusive.

Training

We offer excellent training and genuine career opportunities, including partnership prospects. A key aspect of this role is the willingness and ability to take on responsibility at an early stage. You will have the opportunity to train with some of the UK’s leading attorneys and you will be given opportunities to represent the firm at industry events.

Schlich is an IAM 1000 recommended firm of European and UK patent and trade mark attorneys, with an experienced support team including paralegals, secretaries and accounts staff. Technically, we are a mix of chemists, biochemists and geneticists.

We are particularly experienced in handling biotech, chemical, pharmaceutical and mechanical technologies; however, we see a wide variety of inventions, which gives us the chance to explore new fields to those within which our attorneys have studied in their academic careers.

Our attorneys have experience in obtaining and enforcing IP rights not only in the UK; we protect and enforce IP rights globally.

Our clients range from close-to-home UK individuals and SMEs to multinational pharmaceutical / biotech companies and international law firms. Our range of local, national and international clients can result in exciting travel opportunities for those who are interested.

Our workload is not limited to patents; we regularly advise on the registrability of trade marks and designs and help clients identify the existence of unregistered rights.

Contentious matters represent a speciality of ours; we have particular expertise before the Opposition Divisions and Appeal Boards of the European Patent Office. Namely, we have enjoyed considerable success in a series of high-profile oppositions relating to CRISPR patents.

We provide full training, ranging from in-house tutorials to external training via recognised professional bodies. Training extends across the whole firm and applies to all, and every voice is regarded as important; the attorneys participate in monthly meetings to discuss case law, and support meetings are held to discuss new rules and best practice.

Our weekly team meetings and day-to-day teamwork make us a cohesive unit, and sharing of knowledge and experience means we support our clients as a team.

We are an equal opportunities employer and a signatory of IP Inclusive’s EDI Charter. We welcome recruits from all backgrounds without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.

The firm

Slingsby Partners is committed to providing the highest standards of patent advice. The firm’s clients are predominantly UK and European technology companies in the fields of engineering, electronics, the physical sciences and chemistry. Client service is the first priority for the business, and we are proud that the great majority of our instructions come through recommendations from existing clients. We are recommended by The Legal 500, IAM Patent 1000 and the Financial Times and members of the firm are listed as IP Stars.

Slingsby Partners has a strong and growing client base of technology companies from across Europe. Our clients range from start-ups to large multinationals. The core of the firm’s practice is patent drafting and prosecution. We also have a depth of experience across every area of patent procurement and exploitation, from licensing to patent due diligence and acquisition. We have a growing practice in UK and multijurisdictional litigation.

Slingsby Partners needs to recruit and train the best people to continue building the business. We offer challenging and motivating work and are committed to developing skills at all levels.

Graduate recruitment

We are looking for highly motivated individuals with exceptional communication skills to join our close-knit team. You will need a strong academic background and a collaborative and enthusiastic approach to work. All our partners and associates are involved in training and from day one you will be working on a wide range of IP matters directly with our clients. We take an active interest in our trainees’ progress towards qualification as European and UK Chartered Patent Attorneys. The breadth of the firm’s work means your day-to-day training will be directly relevant to the professional exams you will need to undertake. We also provide an in-house lecture series tailored at different levels of attorney training and exam-specific tutorials. Our trainees are encouraged to attend external lectures and courses.

The IPO is the United Kingdom’s principal government authority on intellectual property (IP) with responsibility for patents, trademarks, designs and copyright. We are an Executive Agency of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). As part of DSIT we are responsible for the role of IP rights in supporting and promoting innovation, helping to protect, define and reward creativity.

Patent Examiner role

Patent Examiners help companies to innovate and grow by granting high quality, valid patents. They scrutinise both the technical and legal aspects of a patent application, comparing the new invention against those found in patent databases, before considering whether or not to grant a patent.

Patent examining offers an unusual opportunity to combine your scientific and technical knowledge with legal skills. We are seeking people with highly developed analytical and critical skills, as well as the communication skills necessary to express complex technical and legal arguments along with strong oral communication skills to communicate effectively with colleagues and customers. The office deals with a wide range of subject matter from pharmaceuticals and biotech through to telecommunications and artificial intelligence.

Recruitment requirements at the Intellectual Property Office

Patent examiners require or are expected to achieve at least a 2:2 degree or equivalent in a relevant science, engineering, computer science or mathematics subject, or relevant industrial experience at that level. GCSE grade C or above in Mathematics and English is also required. Additional requirements may be necessary in specific technology areas.

Professional developments

No exams are required, instead examiners undergo a two month in-house training period on joining the office. Trainees are then assigned to a Senior Examiner who supervises further development and on-going training. A technical training programme also provides continual opportunities for development within different areas of technology.

JDD Consultants is an established name in IP training: we have organised ip training courses since 1983. Each year we hold residential and online revision courses to prepare candidates for: The Foundation Certificate & Final Diploma PEB examinations for trainee patent attorneys; & The European Qualifying Examinations (EQE) for Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office.

The Firm

AA Thornton is an award winning IP firm with our base in London. Our diverse team includes patent, trade mark and design attorneys, as well as IP solicitors, working with clients across a huge range of technologies and commercial fields. We provide the full range of IP services to clients around the world, from prosecution to litigation, in patent, trade mark, design and copyright law.

Having an excellent understanding of our clients’ requirements and the challenges they face is key to us delivering commercial, insightful legal advice. We field highly qualified industry teams made up of attorneys and solicitors who work closely together to share knowledge and experience. We firmly believe it’s our people and teamwork that make the difference and that this sets us apart from other firms.

Our requirements

For patent work, we require a science or engineering degree with a proven academic track record. Typically we require a law or language-based degree for our trade mark trainees. All candidates are required to demonstrate good analytical and communication skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. It is important that candidates enjoy working as part of a team, and are proactive in contributing ideas.

Professional development

Trainees are assigned a partner or senior associate, who supervises all aspects of training and takes a personal approach to support and mentoring. Trainees receive a broad range of work, which encompasses a variety of technical areas. The firm actively encourages trainees through both in-house training and external courses and lectures. Trade mark trainees are supported to pass their qualifying examinations to become a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney, and patent trainees to qualify as both a Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney. Qualified attorneys attend regular in-house CPD seminars and ongoing learning is encouraged in the context of the firm’s career development framework. As one of the first signatories of IP Inclusive Charter, we work hard to ensure our internal communication and our wellbeing and inclusion strategies are a business priority, and underpin our belief that everyone should be able to bring their whole self to work.

Committed to doing business the right way, with integrity, expertise and intelligence, GJE is recognised by Best Companies as one of the UK’s top 20 law firms to work for. It is also in the No.1 slot on the Financial Times’ leader board of top firms in the “Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms 2023” annual awards.

Our success is down to the people we employ, who, above all, are engaged in our business and committed to our success. With roughly 130 of us, we’re small and friendly enough for you to get to know everyone – and big enough to offer you a broad range of interesting work and great career prospects.

Why work for us?

Because you will have an interesting and exciting career, right from the start. Our culture is friendly, inclusive, supportive and collaborative: within this environment you will receive excellent training and support and take on real responsibility. Our structured training programme will provide you with a year of on-the-job training before enrolling you for the Postgraduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law. Ultimately you will aim to qualify as both a European Patent Attorney and a Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney. We assist you in these studies through in-house training, mentoring and coaching from senior attorneys, while exposing you to a diverse range of cases and clients to help you become a well rounded patent attorney. We challenge our attorneys from an early stage and encourage them to carve out a career that will play to their individual strengths. Alongside a range of great benefits and perks, we have an active diversity and inclusion group, an established wellbeing programme and mental health first aiders. We also offer a competitive salary which is reviewed annually, as well as upon exam success.

What we are looking for

Top academic results, including a first-class or 2:1 degree in a relevant subject, are a must, but we are not just looking for academic success. The ability to think creatively, ask questions, and develop and articulate solutions are just as important. We want graduates who demonstrate a passion for science and can contribute to the continued development of our business. 

Why do we want you?

Williams Powell are a growing firm with sufficient work to become larger still in partnership with the right people. We are committed to promotion from within, and seek trainees with the potential to become the qualified attorneys and partners of the future. Technical background is less important than flair; if you have the ability to grasp complex scientific concepts and to express them succinctly on paper and orally then we want you to help us build our firm.

Why should you come to Williams Powell?

We suspect that you will be more interested in the future of our firm than its history. We offer an environment where you will be supported, taken seriously, and seen as an investment rather than an impediment. We are a young partnership which believes that it is possible to be both socially relaxed and professionally serious. Williams Powell are flexible in our approach, rigorous in our application, and more interested in outcome than peripherals.

What next?

We are looking to recruit and train an enthusiastic graduate trainee with a 2:1 or above in a science or engineering subject. It would be advantageous to be able to demonstrate some knowledge or experience of the commercial realities of the business world: patents are commercial tools and should not be divorced from commercial context.

Swindell & Pearson provides a high-quality, client-focused service to companies, academic institutions, government agencies and individuals. Formed 140 years ago, we are one of the UK’s leading specialists in patents and trade marks. Some of the world’s foremost multi-national companies trust our attorneys with their patent and trade mark portfolios.

Client relationships are very, very important to us and we really care about delivering outcomes our clients want. We are patient, approachable, friendly, responsive and dependable.

We at Swindell & Pearson know that our reputation is only as good as the individuals we employ. We therefore recruit people with potential and help them fulfil that potential. We pay our trainees well and invest very heavily in their training.

You will work under the direct supervision of experienced attorneys and receive one-on-one constructive feedback on your work. Training includes internal courses, regular seminars and external courses. You will work on cutting edge technology and, unusually, be given early responsibility and your own caseload. A large proportion of your work will be for direct clients where you work directly for the owner of the patent. You will benefit from contact with clients and will be encouraged to become more independent as you develop. You will initially share office space with other trainees, in a friendly and supportive environment and will quickly become a respected and valued member of the team.

Trainees are based in our head office in Derby’s professional quarter. Derby has the UK’s highest export value per capita and is one of England’s fastest-growing cities. It is also an affordable place to live, not far from the Peak District, and just a two-hour train ride from London.

We  work on a meritocracy basis where hard work and success are rewarded. The majority of our IP directors trained with the firm, providing proof that we firmly believe that our trainees are our future.

We would welcome speculative applications at any time.