Applying
After applying through IP Careers, I was invited to London to interview for the position of Technical Assistant at Maucher Jenkins. The single interview was in two stages: a short technical exam, then a discussion with the hiring partner and an associate attorney. During the discussion, answers to the technical exam were discussed, focusing on the questions that I found most challenging. This was a good opportunity to demonstrate my analytical skills and problem-solving abilities.
Work
The partners, associates, other trainees and support staff at Maucher Jenkins have been down to earth and approachable. I have a manageable workload that has been steadily increasing as I gain more experience and confidence.
The subject matter of the cases I work on is varied and interesting: the bulk of my workload relates to communications technology, but I’ve helped prosecute applications relating to semiconductor devices, optical science, mechanical engineering and even commercial appliances.
As a Technical Assistant, I typically prepare draft letters to the EPO or UKIPO which are then checked by and discussed with a supervisor. I’m mostly left to work at my own pace and expected to use my own initiative to prepare drafts.
I also have regular opportunities to meet clients and get involved with business development.
Useful Skills
Since working as a Technical Assistant I have had to draw on almost every aspect of training and education I gained as an undergraduate and post-graduate student. This is very satisfying and I don’t believe there are many other careers where this would be the case.
I would identify some of the more important key abilities for a trainee as:
working unsupervised for long periods of time;
receiving feedback & constructive criticism (and adapting based on this);
communicating in a clear and concise manner;
attention to detail.
Support
In-house tutorials and training are provided in addition to day-to-day, one-on-one supervision. The partners at Maucher Jenkins show a genuine interest in training me, and this makes me feel valued as an employee.
Future
I look forward to taking the Intellectual Property PGCert at Queen Mary University in September this year and progressing through the UK and EU exams.
