Why did you choose a job in this profession?
During my penultimate year at university, I had the opportunity to complete an internship as a mechanical engineer in the building services industry. While I enjoyed the experience, I felt that this was not the right career for me.
I first heard about the patent profession during a university lecture. My lecturer aptly described patent attorneys as “scientists and engineers who get paid to protect inventions”. After this, I began researching the role and had the opportunity to speak with many attorneys and trainees. I attended open days to gain an understanding of the profession.
What I found interesting from the beginning was the mix of technical, legal, and communication skills required for the role. I found the prospect of continuously learning new legal and technical concepts exciting. Also, the chance to work on a variety of inventions in a variety of fields appealed to me.
What was the application process like?
Forresters’ application process consisted of submitting a CV and cover letter before having the chance to attend an interview. The interview stage included an exercise in which I was given two patent documents to review followed by an extract with the examiner’s opinion. I was required to discuss with my interviewer whether I agreed or disagreed with the examiner’s opinion and why. This was a very interesting task as it gave me some insight into what I would be doing day-to-day as a trainee.
What are your main duties/roles?
A typical day for me usually includes reviewing and responding to examination reports from patent offices. These are usually from the UK or European patent offices, but I also sometimes instruct agents in other countries. To respond to an examination report, I’d first review the patent application along with the examiner’s report and any documents the examiner cited in their report. Then I’d argue and/or amend the application to address the examiner’s objections. I really enjoy this part of the job as it gives me an opportunity to understand a variety of inventions and think critically and creatively when constructing arguments.
My other duties include writing client communication, conducting freedom to operate searches, and claim drafting. I also attend training tutorials in which I learn about the legal aspects and the skills that I need to know to do my job and pass the UK and European exams. From time to time, I also attend networking events, where I’m able to meet other trainee attorneys as well as people from a range of fields to grow my professional network.
Do you have any advice for someone wanting to enter the profession?
My advice would be to learn as much about the profession as possible by talking to attorneys and trainees. Try and talk to people at a variety of firms to find out which firms would be a good fit for you and be sure to speak to people at different stages in their career. There are also so many online resources for you to explore which can give you a better understanding of the role. Personally, I’d recommend engaging with the Careers in Ideas, Summer of IP as well as the IP Careers website. I’d recommend getting to know the route to qualification and understanding that it takes years and requires a lot of studying. Not only is it good for you to know this, but interviewers will also want to know that you know this.
What would you like to achieve in future?
Currently, I’m fully focused on improving day to day and working towards becoming a qualified patent attorney. That being said, this career offers a clear route for progression with many attorneys going on to become Senior Associates and Partners, which is something I’d like to do. I’d also like to contribute to the community more in future, through IP inclusive and the CIPA Informals.
