The Role
At Dehns, we don’t just offer jobs; we offer careers that inspire. We are known for our top-tier client work and exceptional service. To maintain our high standards, we are interested in innovative, practical, adaptable problem-solvers. Our diverse team makes our workplace vibrant and ensures we can meet the needs of our clients, If you share this passion, we’d like to hear from you. Successful applicants will be invited to our Autumn Recruitment Round in November.
Location:
We are hiring for our London, Munich, Manchester and Bristol offices. The Firm is located on other sites within the UK and Europe; travel to, and working from, these offices will be required from time to time. The Firm operates a Hybrid Working policy, permitting full-time trainee patent attorneys to work from home one day a week initially, and then two days per week once they have at least 2 years’ experience and with the approval of their Supervising Partner.
Qualifications:
- A 2.1 degree result, or above in any Engineering, Electronics, Mathematics (applied), Physics or Computer Science field.
Hours of work:
35 hours per week to be worked in accordance with the provisions of the Firm’s flexitime scheme.
Purpose of role:
To work with a range of Partners, Senior Associates and Associates in supporting the Firm’s clients with their patent portfolios, while simultaneously working towards qualification as both a European Patent Attorney and a Chartered Patent Attorney.
Main Responsibilities:
Typical responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Direct client work in an appropriate technical area
- Liaising with inventors, technical and research directors, local patent attorneys, in-house attorneys, IP managers and CEOs
- Advising clients on applying for and exploiting patent protection to ensure successful protection of their innovations
- Working with clients to develop and implement global IP strategies
- Identifying new inventions
- Drafting, filing and prosecuting patent applications in both the UK and Europe, as well as directing prosecution of patent applications in various jurisdictions outside Europe and preparing and sending patent filing instructions to overseas attorneys
- Corresponding with intellectual property offices to respond to official objections to a client’s patent application(s)
- Conducting oppositions, appeals, entitlement hearings, invalidity and revocation proceedings before relevant offices and tribunals, and representing clients at oral hearings
- Identifying third party patent rights
- Monitoring and reviewing third party patent applications
- Providing Freedom To Operate (FTO) and validity opinions
- Conducting Intellectual Property audits and due diligence for clients
- Taking an active approach in business development opportunities with the support of the firms’ marketing and business development department
- Working towards qualification as a European Patent Attorney and a Chartered Patent Attorney
Person specification:
- Excellent academic competence – you must achieve, or have achieved, a 2.1 degree result or above in a relevant technical field
- The ability to analyse and interpret complex technical matters
- Ability to review large amounts of information and pick out the pertinent points
- Strong scientific communication skills, both oral and written
- Coachability
- Resilience
- An ability to work under pressure, prioritise to meet deadlines, and multi-task
- An ability to work independently to a high standard
- Strong organisational skills, excellent attention to detail and good interpersonal skills
- A fundamental sense of commerciality – as well as technical excellence, we are also looking for the potential to adeptly and perceptively help our clients achieve their goals.
The Company
Dehns is one of Europe’s leading IP law firms with more than 300 people across 8 offices in 3 European countries. We have been obtaining and protecting IP on behalf of our clients for more than 100 years, and for a wide range of organisations across a comprehensive range of technologies.
Benefits
- Flexible working
- Health & Spots Membership
- Private medical
- Mental health assistance
- Cycle & electric vehicle scheme