Why did you choose a job in this profession?
Towards the end of my physics degree, I knew that I wanted a job outside of academia, so I started exploring the various career paths available to me after I graduated. I knew that I wanted to use the technical knowledge from my degree while continuing to learn about science. When I discovered the patent attorney profession, it immediately seemed like it would be a good fit for me as it would give me the opportunity to learn about a wide range of topics unlike the limited focus often found in academia. The more I learnt about the profession, the more it seemed to align with what I was looking for.
What are your main duties/roles?
As a trainee, my role involves a lot of learning on the job. Initially, I thought that transitioning from a scientific field of study to the legal profession was a daunting prospect. However, my supervisor and colleagues have provided plenty of support and guidance throughout my training. Their assistance extends beyond the formal training of tutorials and structured programs to more informal chats about their own experiences of being in the same position.
Since starting work in September 2021, I have been involved in live cases from the very beginning. At GJE, you are given the freedom to tackle problems independently before receiving valuable guidance and feedback for continued improvement. This approach has significantly improved my analytical thinking, problem-solving skills and ability to identify areas of focus when faced with a case.
Additionally, I have been given the opportunity to work with many different supervisors on a wide range of technologies from medical devices to telecommunications. This experience has proven invaluable as it has not only exposed me to various approaches to tasks but has also broadened my understanding of different technologies. Another aspect of the role I enjoy is getting to work with clients of various sizes from start ups to corporations, which all have different needs and guidance from us as their attorneys.
In addition to working on prosecution work and patent drafting, GJE has helped me to enhance my overall skillset as an attorney by allowing me to get involved in business operations, partake in client meetings, and attend events and conferences. The dynamic nature of these responsibilities means that no two days are the same, with each day presenting new challenges and opportunities.
What skills are useful in this profession?
The job is very deadline orientated, and you are likely to be juggling a number of cases for different clients at the same time. Therefore, prioritising work and managing your workload is a very important skill to develop. Time management is also an important skill, especially when studying for professional qualifications while working.
