I joined D Young & Co LLP in 2015 straight from my integrated master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Durham University. My main areas of expertise include aerospace and automotive engineering, mechanical systems and medical devices.

Why did you choose a job in this profession?

I had considered jobs in engineering firms after university but was conscious I didn’t want to work in a large engineering firm where I was required to focus on a very small area of technology. Having spoken to a friend from Durham who was training to be a Patent Attorney, I started looking into this as a potential career path. I was interested by the idea of working on a large range of technologies. During my research, I quickly realised that this would be the career path for me.

What was the application process like – any advice?

After sending a cover letter and CV to the HR department, I was invited to an interview. This interview included a number of sessions, one of which was a chat with two trainees. Although the chat with the trainees felt very informal, it is important to show to everyone throughout the day that you have a real interest in the profession. Communication is key in our job so it is important you show that you can present in a clear and concise way. I would advise spending significant time preparing for anything you are sent. It is likely to be very different to anything you have worked on before and turning up prepared will always look good.

What are your main duties/roles?

Before qualifying, my job focused on preparing responses to communications from the UK and European patent offices to discuss with my supervisors as well as being involved in occasional client meetings and drafting patent applications. As I became more senior, the variety of work increased. As well as the prosecution of patent applications, I work on freedom to operate analyses, oppositions, spend time managing trainees and have more of a role in client management.

Is it a 9-5 job?

The job is not strictly 9-5. There are times when I am busy or if I have oral proceedings where I work longer than this. However, in comparison with friends who have jobs in corporate law firms, the hours you work as a patent attorney are very reasonable.

What skills are useful in this profession?

Excellent attention to detail – you will need to read and digest a large number of documents so should be comfortable doing this. You also need to have good written and oral communication. You are likely to be communicating with people who don’t have English as a first language and so need to be able to explain inventions in a clear and concise way.

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to enter the profession?

I would advise trying to seek out people who are patent attorneys and asking questions about the profession.

When considering opportunities, make sure you know what sort of work you would like to do and don’t be afraid to ask about this at interview. In our team, we work on a large range of subject matter areas. Part of what I love about my job is the ability to work on such a broad range of technologies.

Finally, the qualifying exams are very difficult and involve a lot of hard work outside of your normal working hours. It is worth it when you qualify but if you are not interested in taking more exams after university, this probably isn’t the profession for you.