Life at Withers & Rogers

Withers & Rogers wasted no time getting me acquainted with my new career – on my very first day I was given the opportunity to attend a meeting with a prospective client; discussing the technicalities and patentability of his latest invention. Following this, I quickly became integrated into the team, working on important cases with real responsibility.

I am predominantly trained by two supervisors, but I regularly receive work from other attorneys. This gives me exposure to a wide variety of clients, technology and even writing styles. I am mainly involved in the prosecution of pending patent applications, but have also drafted patent applications, worked on an opposition case, and been involved in marketing.

Until you are qualified, everything you do is checked before it is sent, so you are free to give it your best shot without fear of making a big mistake, and to receive valuable feedback for future tasks.

But it’s not all work here – Withers & Rogers actively encourages a good work/life balance, with regular social events being organised and a strong trainee community.

My experiences during the application process

After returning the application form early in the academic year, I was invited to complete online psychometric tests followed by an assessment day with five other candidates.

One thing that really stood out throughout the day was how friendly and welcoming the attorneys were. Compared to other interviews I had attended, I felt as though we were able to have genuine conversations and even share a joke or two. These were the people that, if successful, I would be working alongside, so this was a big deciding factor for me.

The application process is definitely one of the most rigorous I’ve seen. The assessment day is more than just a standard interview, and includes written and group exercises as well as a face-to-face interview. However, this just made receiving an offer even more rewarding.

Why I’m glad I chose Withers & Rogers

Withers & Rogers is a large, established firm with a modern outlook and plenty of resources and expertise to draw from. The business encourages individual personalities to flourish, resulting in a firm full of friendly, approachable people.

Upon starting, I was given a two-week induction, which involved spending time in each of our UK offices and receiving informal training sessions from a range of attorneys. It was also a great opportunity to meet other trainees. Everyone was extremely welcoming and this experience really made me realise how much Withers & Rogers values its new trainees.

In terms of training, the firm offers a series of in-house tutorials throughout the year, and distinguishes itself by giving trainees a choice regarding their route to part-qualification.

Needless to say, I’m delighted with the choices I’ve made, and I strongly urge you to consider this profession when thinking about career options.