Why you decided to pursue a career in this profession

I have family in the IP profession so had a good idea of what the role of a patent attorney involved. However, it wasn’t until university that I considered it as a career for myself. My design engineering degree differed from more traditional engineering degrees by integrating theoretical engineering knowledge with creative design, practical experience, and industry practice. The course had a strong entrepreneurial focus and as part of one of the modules I learned about IP and the value of patents to businesses. This sparked my interest in this area and led me to research the role of a patent attorney in more detail. As I knew people in the profession, I was lucky enough to gain further insight through speaking to them. I was excited by the prospect of a career where I’d learn about inventions all the time, engage with the latest technology and have the opportunity to apply the technical knowledge, analytical skills and commercial experience I’d gained from university and work experience. This led me to choose a career in this profession and I am very happy with my decision!

Why AA Thornton IP LLP?

AA Thornton is a London based full-service IP firm with Patent, Trademark and Litigation teams. I work in the Electronic Engineering, Telecoms and IT team of the Patents department and have been with the firm for over 2 years now. The firm’s friendly and inclusive working environment makes it a great place to work. During my time here, I have worked with a diverse range of technologies, gained experience with prosecution across various jurisdictions, and have had the opportunity to work with different sized businesses. The varied nature of the work is one of the aspects I most enjoy! I would recommend AA Thornton should you wish to join the profession.

Any advice for someone wanting to train as a patent attorney?

If you have a STEM degree and are interested in pursuing a career in the legal profession (and are confident that you can handle a few more exams!) I highly recommend that you consider pursuing a career as a patent attorney. It’s likely that you’ll be suited to this role if you have strong analytical abilities, lateral thinking skills, attention to detail and are well organised. I remember finding the information on the IP Careers website really helpful when I was first considering joining the profession. I suggest taking a look at this to see if this career is for you, and, if possible, I would recommend speaking to someone in the profession to find out more.