We are looking for graduates with a Biochemistry or similar academic background to join the firm and train towards professional status as both UK and European Patent Attorneys.
We are confident that we offer one of the best trainee opportunities in the profession.
Because we are a larger, full-service firm, successful candidates can expect to gain experience in all aspects of the job, working under the close supervision and guidance of a Partner or Associate at all times. From the outset you will be doing ‘real work’, meeting clients and learning ‘on the job’. The emphasis is on quality – we have heavily reduced billing targets for our trainees to enable them to spend as much time as is needed to learn how to produce the first-rate final product which our clients expect. There will be direct contact with a wide range of clients, from small- and medium-sized enterprises to large corporations, both in the UK and globally.
After 6-12 months you will attend the Queen Mary Certificate in IP Law programme, which is the first stage of qualification. As your training progresses, you will benefit from our in-house tutorial programme – this runs every year from Spring to Autumn and involves practical tutorials and support with all aspects of the UK exams, given by our own attorneys who will also mark past papers to help you learn the correct exam technique. Our high pass rate is testament to the success of our approach. Finally, in order to support you through the European exams, we offer a range of external study options, all at the firm’s expense.
In addition to the formal qualification process, there are many other opportunities to enhance your skills via internal moots, case law review meetings, webinars and external tutorials which continue to be available beyond qualification.
We look for candidates with a good degree from a leading university, great attention to detail, excellent written and spoken English, and a demonstrable curiosity about scientific developments. Please note that a first class degree or high 2.1 is required – we will require a breakdown of your undergraduate degree modules and grades with your application. While we are happy to hear from postgraduates and those who have had experience in the industry, we also recruit from amongst final year undergraduates.