What attracted you to a job in this profession?
Throughout my chemistry PhD I was always drawn to more application-based technical fields, which led me to look towards a career where I could be involved in technological developments outside of academia. I wanted to do something very different from research where I could use my scientific knowledge and experience in a new, more commercial context. This profession gives a wide exposure to a great variety of different technologies, and brings the science into a new and interesting context by combining with business and with law, resulting in a really unique way of approaching problem solving within the job. Looking at different technologies with this unique lens and problem-solving from a more commercially-considered standpoint struck a chord with me, and led me to pursue a career as a patent attorney.
What does your role at Venner Shipley involve?
Working at Venner Shipley has allowed me to be involved in all aspects of the timeline of a patent. My day-to-day work includes both drafting; making sure that a patent offers as much protection as possible without intruding upon existing inventions, and prosecution; pushing to get a patent granted through arguing or changing without overly limiting the patent’s protection. Gaining experience in each of these types of work has improved my approach to the other, in particular drafting to make prosecution easier down the line. My work has been in a wide range of different technical fields, some quite different from anything I’ve previously worked on, which makes the case work varied and engaging every day. Even though our formal training is to become UK and European qualified patent attorneys, most of the work I do is for outside Europe, and it’s been really interesting learning the differences and nuances of what can and cannot be protected or argued in different countries around the world.
What skills are useful in this profession?
As a trainee you get exposure to a range of different technologies, many of which won’t be in your area of expertise, so being able to understand new scientific concepts is really important. Being able to get to the heart of an invention, understanding what sets it apart, and conveying that uniqueness in a commercial context is a daily requirement, so thinking creatively and writing persuasively about technical concepts are key skills, particularly when devising counter-arguments in prosecution. Since much of the case work can involve quite nuanced differences, attention to detail is crucial as is being able to give clear, well-worded explanations or arguments where needed. There’s a lot to take on board, particularly as a trainee, with on-the-job learning being essential every single day. This is supplemented by some internal training sessions before formal training and exams begin. To ease the steep learning curve though, there is excellent support and advice from supervisors as well as the other attorneys and trainees who may have worked on something similar and can offer their help. This network of advice is really noticeable at Venner Shipley and is something that I will contribute to more as I gain more experience in different kinds of work. If you like to be challenged with new technical problem-solving every day, this could be the right career path for you.
