What skills are useful in this sector/profession?

Critical thinking and analytical skills are very important. As a trainee patent attorney, you will often need to gain a thorough understanding of multiple documents and their subject matter. Being able to analyse documents quickly and accurately, in particular to determine differences between what they disclose, is a key skill.

Time management is also important. There are times when you have to juggle several cases at once, each having their own deadlines, and this may be compounded by the need to prepare for exams. Being able to manage your own time and complete work in advance of deadlines helps to ease the pressure.

What attracted you to your role?

I have always enjoyed figuring out how things work – taking things apart and putting them together to see how they function, and what each component does. In the final years of my degree, I felt that pursuing a PhD would be too ‘narrow’. While I would become extremely knowledgeable in a certain subset of Maths or Physics, I would rather have a broader range of knowledge.

Wilson Gunn provided the opportunity to gain an understanding of a broad range of new and emerging technologies and to work closely with businesses and inventors to protect their inventions, which was exactly what I was looking for.

How did it tie in with your overall career plans?

The role itself fit extremely well with my career plans. I was keen to have a career where progression was possible, even if it came at the cost of sitting exams once or twice a year. The role has plenty of progression opportunities available once you qualify. The role being based in Manchester was also a positive, as I was keen to stay in the area after graduating.

Wilson Gunn has a diverse client base and I have enjoyed working in an enormous variety of fields and technologies since beginning my role, some of which I had not even heard of before. No two cases are the same, and there is a week-to-week variety which keeps me engaged. Whilst exposure to many different cases and technologies is interesting, as time has progressed being able to work on a specific case from the very beginning right through to acceptance has brought a great deal of satisfaction, and a sense of professional accomplishment.