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Introduction

• Introduction to patent law - by Alasdair Poore
  Businesses publicise their intellectual property; politicians love intellectual property; modern commerce depends on intellectual property, even the public at large encounter intellectual property every day. Patent attorneys are central to the protection of intellectual property. They see ideas

The Profession

• What is a Patent Attorney? - by Richard Gallafent
  What does a patent attorney do? A patent attorney assists his or her clients or employers to secure effective protection for their innovations and developments which are based on ‘inventions’ and advises on the impact of patent rights owned by others on the client’s or employer’s
• Video: What is a Patent Attorney?
  Matt Dixon, a Partner with the Intellectual Property firm, Harrison Goddard Foote (HGF) answers some of the common questions one might ask if considering a career as a Patent Attorney. If you are thinking about a career as a Patent Attorney then hopefully this video will be a good introduction.
• The future of the profession - by Mick Ralph
  Whole new fields of invention have opened up and there have been considerable changes in the ways in which professionals operate. What are the challenges and opportunities, which will shape the profession in the future? International dimensions With the increasing globalisation of the most
• What you need to become a patent attorney - by Mick Ralph
  We take a look at some of the basic facts about becoming a patent attorney, including degree studied and level of education. As well as a few facts about where the opportunities are available. Universities attended Trainees are recruited from the top universities in the country. The highest
• Salaries within the patents profession - by Christine Adamson
  How the industry has developed Within European countries, the continuing economic crisis has affected the profession differently. In the UK, there are fewer traineeships on offer and companies are postponing recruitment as a consequence of redundancies being made across the board. But salaries
• The Intellectual Property Office - by Ben Micklewright
  Part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) its role is to help manage an Intellectual Property (IP) system that encourages innovation and creativity, balances the
• Working in Europe as a patent attorney - by Frances Wilding
  It sometimes feels as if any kind of European integration is seen as a necessary evil here in the UK, especially by the press. But at least one undeniable European success story stares us in the face: the European patent system. As an enthusiastic Europhile, I am cheered by this shining example
• Understanding the patent application process
  Step One You prepare a ‘patent specification’ which includes: A written ‘description’ of your invention which allows others to see how it works and how it could be made). ‘Drawings’ to illustrate your description. ‘Claims’ - Precise legal statements in the form of single sentences that define
• Frequently Asked Questions
  Is a patent attorney a type of lawyer? Yes, however, you do not need a law degree to become a patent attorney. Patent attorneys are a specialist type of lawyer monitored by their own regulator, IPReg. The role of a patent attorney involves advising clients on those areas of law applicable to
• Video: Patent Attorney Terminology
  Matt Dixon, Patent Attorney and Partner with HGF discusses some key terminology used by Patent Attorneys. If you are going for an interview as a Trainee Patent Attorney, make sure you watch this video first. Video produced by Assistant - Potter Clarkson - by Jenna Ahern
  I started as a trainee patent attorney at [Potter Clarkson in November 2010. I decided after completing a PhD in organic chemistry that lab research was not
• Technical Assistant - Wilson Gunn - by Giles Pinnington
  The ability to work at the forefront of science without having to wear a white coat and safety goggles is one of the reasons why I decided to pursue a career as a patent attorney. The profession allows you to work at the cutting edge of modern technology without having to focus on one narrow
• Trainee Patent Attorney - Beck Greener - by Charlotte Jemmett
  I was introduced to the subject of patents at a science and engineering careers fair and was instantly attracted to the opportunity to work within a broad range of scientific areas. I also liked the idea of being involved in the latest scientific developments, without having to do the bench work
• Patent Attorney: Engineering patents - J A Kemp & Co - by James Main
  Decision time During the penultimate term of my Natural Sciences degree at Cambridge, and with a scholarship to study in Japan planned for the following year, I visited the university careers office. The monopoly of recruitment propaganda by the financial services industry had left me thinking
• Trainee Patent Attorney - Haseltine Lake - by James Hutchison
  Starting out The first time the possibility of becoming a patent attorney entered my sphere of consciousness was during my penultimate year at university, when many of my friends on three-year degree courses were looking for jobs themselves. Out of desperation, I must have eventually picked up
• Trainee Patent Attorney – J A Kemp & Co - by Dan Cooney
  I started to look for a job as I came to the end of my PhD. I knew that I wanted to do a job that made use of the technical knowledge and skills I had learnt, and as a chemical engineer, I had developed an interest across a broad range of scientific areas. I’m not sure what brought the idea of
• Trainee Patent and Trade Mark Attorney – Reddie & Grose - by Tom Sharman
  The application and training process The selection process included a speculative application letter and CV, followed by a detailed technical description of a simple mechanical object and two interviews with a selection of the firm’s Partners. Apart from a brief introduction to patents during
• Trainee Patent Attorney – Mewburn Ellis - by Frances Salisbury
  I did a BSc in Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol. I really enjoyed learning about and understanding complex scientific concepts, so it seemed a natural progression to go on to do a PhD. However, I soon found that day to day life in research was not for me. I found bench work to be a
• Technical Assistant - Abel & Imray - by Michelle Clayton
  I have always been very interested in science, but it was clear to me even before leaving school that a career in research didn’t appeal. Instead, when I graduated from Bristol University with a BSc in Physics and Philosophy, I decided to go into science journalism. I did a one year Masters in

Senior Profiles

• Director - Mohun IP - by Stephen Mohun
  This is a career that can grow and change as you do… I graduated from the University of Sheffield with a degree in Physics, an open mind and a modest overdraft. In this profession the hardest part is usually finding your first job, and in the spring of 1988 I was fortunate to be offered two
• Partner - Forresters - by Jon Gowshall
  At the time I left school, virtually no one outside the profession knew of patent attorneys. Unlike many of my contemporaries, however, I did not fall into the profession. I had the good fortune that my mother was a careers officer. When I was 16, she sat me down and asked me what I wanted to do
• Partner - Mewburn Ellis - by Rebecca Tollervey
  I first became aware of the job by reading an earlier edition of this guide. I was considering jobs relating to science communication and it seemed that being a patent agent might fit the bill. However, the clincher for me was the interview. I turned up expecting the usual tedious requests to
• Partner - J A Kemp & Co - by Ravi Srinivasan
  When I was exploring career options in my final year at university, J A Kemp & Co was the only patent attorney firm that I went to for an interview. I was
• Chief Counsel: Group Intellectual Property - BAE Systems - by Bobby Mukherjee
  My studies Prior to joining the profession in 1995, I spent four years at Cambridge University, including one year of experimental research work at the Interdisciplinary Centre of Superconductivity at the Cavendish Laboratory, gaining BA and MA Degrees in the process. I spent four years
• Founder - EIP - by Jerome Spaargaren
  Most private practitioners are in firms which have been around for over a hundred years, in some form or another. There are the ‘one man bands’ and consultants who, for various reasons, have chosen to be independent in some way, but they tend to be happy staying that way. And then there are those

Finding the Right Job

• Patent Attorney: A career for you? - by Stephen J Mohun
  Before you attempt to answer the above question, you may want to ask yourself a few others. Chief among these would be ‘What do I want from my career?’ Hopefully you have already given that some serious thought. What DO you want? Is it good earnings, respect from fellow professionals, varied
• How to apply - by Rebecca Tollervey
  Securing a training place as a patent attorney is not always easy. The profession remains one of the smallest in the UK, yet awareness of it as a career is growing and this inevitably leads to competition for places. Of course, your chances will be greatly increased if you have the unusual blend
• Private or Corporate practice? - by Robert Pidgeon
  To start right at the beginning, ‘corporate practice’ involves working as an employee within an organisation that generates a substantial amount of patent or trade mark work – enough to justify employing an in house patent attorney. In private practice, work can be for direct clients, for example
• An alternative career in Patents - by Jacqueline Jones
  Patent administrators are an essential part of the team when dealing in IP law, and patent attorneys place an enormous amount of confidence in them. Patent administrators are specialists in dealing with the legal formality aspects of patent applications and ensuring that deadlines are met. What

The Institute and Qualifications

• About the Institute - CIPA - by Anna Denholm
  The Institute was founded in 1882 and the Register of Patent Agents set up in 1889. The Institute was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1891 and became the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents (CIPA). In 2006 the name of the Institute became the
• Qualifications and training
  So, what qualifications do you need? To start with, you will need a scientific or technical background this usually means a science or engineering degree from a university or similar institution. This technical background is just the beginning. The would-be patent attorney must have the ability
• The Informals: Student body of CIPA - by Simone Ferrara
  The Informals are the student body of the [Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA). All trainees automatically become members of the Informals on joining the profession and are encouraged

Recruitment Consultants

• Adamson & Partners
  Intellectual Property – UK and International Adamson & Partners has built a reputation for its specialist expertise within the intellectual property sector over the last 20 years – covering trade mark and patent appointments, in both industry and private practice. As an increasing number of

Company profiles

 
• Abel & Imray
  Range of client services Services extend over the whole range of intellectual property matters, and a wide variety of subject matter is covered. There is an international range of clients, including some who
• Ablett & Stebbing
  Background Ablett & Stebbing is a young, modern firm founded in 1993 by Graham Ablett and Peter Stebbing. The firm has progressively expanded to the present day multi-disciplinary practice of intellectual
• Adamson Jones
  The firm AdamsonJones was established as a single-practitioner firm in 2000, but now has two partners (the second of whom joined the firm as a graduate trainee in 2001), three other qualified patent attorneys
• Appleyard Lees
  Appleyard Lees is a leading UK firm with offices in Halifax, Leeds, Manchester and overseas. We assist businesses and research institutions in capturing and protecting their intellectual property rights
• Avidity IP
  Firm history and structure Avidity IP was established in 1989 and currently employs 80 people in the UK. The company has a worldwide client base ranging from large multinational organisations to SMEs and
• Barker Brettell LLP
  Firm history and structure Although established around 1850, Barker Brettell is a modern firm and has expanded significantly in recent years, becoming an LLP in April 2008. A full range of academic
• Beck Greener
  The firm Beck Greener, a well known, medium-sized firm of patent and trade mark attorneys are in modern premises in Fulwood Place with views over the gardens in Grays Inn. As our building was fitted out to
• Boult Wade Tennant
  Boult Wade Tennant is internationally recognised as a leading UK firm of Chartered Patent Attorneys and European Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, with offices in London, Reading, Cambridge and Oxford. The
• Carpmaels & Ransford
  Being a leader in our field is not an accident. It’s the product of expertise and experience, underpinned by a lot of hard work. Maintaining that position requires constant learning and improvement, the
• Dehns
  Dehns is one of the largest firms of patent and trade mark Attorneys in Europe with offices in London, Brighton, Oxford and Munich. The firm was founded in 1920 by Frank B. Dehn and has an internationally
• D Young & Co LLP
  About D Young & Co LLP D Young & Co ranks as one of the top firms in the UK in size and in Europe. We are proud to have been recommended by Legal 500 and Chambers as a top tier UK patent and trade mark firm,
• EIP
  EIP is a young, forward-thinking, fast-growing partnership that enjoys an excellent reputation for providing IP services primarily in niche specialisms. EIP has a leading electronics and software practice and
• Elkington and Fife LLP
  Elkington and Fife LLP are proud to provide a high quality service to our clients in all aspects of intellectual property protection. We have a particular expertise in high-level opposition and contentious
• Forrester Research Inc
  Firm history and structure The firm, now known as Forresters, was established in 1884 under the name of Forrester Ketley & Co., and has a thriving domestic and international practice. Range of services We
• Gill Jennings & Every LLP
  Gill Jennings & Every LLP is a top ranked European patent and trade mark attorney firm that helps companies around the world protect and unlock the value of brands and innovation. With a vital mix of
• Harrison Goddard Foote
  Together, Harrison Goddard Foote (HGF) Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys and HGF Law form one of the fastest-growing, full-service intellectual property firms in the UK. From launch with a single attorney in
• Haseltine Lake
  Firm background and work style We are a major independent European IP firm with a refreshingly modern and commercial approach to client services. We have offices in Bristol, London, Munich, The Hague and a
• J A Kemp and Co
  At J A Kemp & Co, a leading firm of European and UK patent and trade mark attorneys, the work undertaken covers all aspects of drafting, filing and prosecution of patent and trade mark applications. Based in
• Keltie
  Background Keltie is a leading firm of patent and trade mark attorneys based in the City of London. We represent UK and overseas clients over a wide range of industry sectors who wish to protect, exploit and
• Kilburn & Strode LLP
  With a diverse client base, from individual inventors through to start-up companies to global brands with products that are household names, Kilburn & Strode LLP is firmly established as a leading patent and
• Marks & Clerk
  As the leading UK and European partnership of patent and trade mark attorneys, the firm has a long history of providing intellectual property (IP) advice from its extensive UK and overseas offices. Our size
• Mathys & Squire LLP
  One hundred years old in 2010, Mathys & Squire are an expanding firm of Patent and Trade Mark attorneys advising on all aspects of Intellectual Property. We seek to combine technical expertise, specialist
• Mewburn Ellis LLP
  Firm history and structure Mewburn Ellis is a limited liability partnership (LLP) and is one of the larger firms of patent attorneys in the country with offices in Bristol, Cambridge, London and Manchester.
• Page White & Farrer
  Page White & Farrer is a well established firm of UK and European patent and trade mark attorneys. The firm, founded over 125 years ago, has a dynamic partnership and energetic environment. Work We have a
• Potter Clarkson LLP
  About the firm Excellence in the provision of specialised intellectual property services has been associated with Potter Clarkson since 1889. In February 2011 Potter Clarkson LLP was ranked in the highest
• Reddie & Grose
  Firm history and structure With a client base representing companies from the FT Global 500 and FTSE 100, Reddie & Grose is recognised as a leading patent and trade mark firm. Fifteen partners, seven
• R G C Jenkins & Co
  About the firm We are a firm of patent and trade mark attorneys and certified patent, trade mark and design litigators. We were founded in 1937 in London and have built one of the largest and most successful
• Scott & York
  Our Firm Scott & York was founded in 1977. The firm traded originally as Sommerville & Rushton and between 1990 and 2006, operated as the St Albans office of Marks & Clerk. In 2006 the practice was bought
• Venner Shipley LLP
  Venner Shipley is one of the leading firms of European patent and trade mark attorneys, representing a broad range of clients including major domestic and international corporations, SMEs, universities and
• Wilson Gunn
  Background Founded in 1864, we are one of the oldest patent and trade mark attorney firms in the country. We have offices in Manchester, Birmingham, Chesterfield and London. Currently we are seeking graduates
• Withers & Rogers Group LLP
  Firm history and structure Founded in 1884, the firm has grown steadily in recent years. It is now a group of limited liability partnerships, of which Withers & Rogers LLP, the professional practice, is the

Graduate full time and work experience vacancies

 
• Abel & Imray - Trainee Patent Attorney – Electronics
  We are seeking to recruit a Trainee Patent Attorney specialising in electronics for our Cardiff office, which is looking to expand and is soon moving to new premises in the Cardiff Bay area. The
• Adamson Jones - Patent Assistant
  We typically recruit 1-2 Patent Assistants each year, at irregular intervals. To see our present recruitment needs, please visit our website. Even when we have no current vacancies, we are pleased to
• Barker Brettell LLP - Trainee Patent Attorney
  Barker Brettell is a modern, highly successful patent and trade mark attorney firm that is looking for a new trainee patent attorney to join the existing expanding team within the Southampton office.
• Boult Wade Tennant - Trainee Patent Attorney
  We currently have an opportunity for an electronics or electrical engineering graduate to train as a patent attorney with our High Tech Group based in our Cambridge or London office. The ideal
• Carpmaels & Ransford - Trainee Patent Attorney - Electrical / Electronics
  Training to qualify as a UK & European Patent Attorney within our prestigious Engineering and IT team, which supports some of the world's leading companies protecting innovation in exciting and
• Carpmaels & Ransford - Trainee Patent Attorney - Life Sciences
  Training to qualify as a UK & European Patent Attorney within our prestigious life sciences practice group, which supports some of the world's leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies and
• Dehns - Trainee or Part-Qualified Patent Attorney
  We are currently looking to recruit trainee or part-qualified patent attorneys to work in our Oxford and Brighton offices. Candidates will either be a recent graduate (we will also consider
• D Young & Co LLP - Trainee Patent Attorney (Electronics, Eng & IT)
  D Young & Co LLP is committed to finding and developing talented graduates who have a passion to fulfil a desire for a successful career as a Patent Attorney. You will be joining one of the largest
• EIP - Trainee Patent Attorney
  EIP is a highly successful and forward looking practice that enjoys a reputation for providing leading advice primarily in a niche area: high-tech electronics-related innovation. Our clients range
• EIP - Trainee Patent Attorney - Electronics/Telecomms
  We are looking for trainee patent attorneys in our highly successful EIP Digital practice group: a leading high-tech electronics practice. With vibrant modern offices in Chancery Lane and Bath, we
• Gill Jennings & Every LLP - Trainee Patent Attorney
  Trainees study and develop their skills under the guidance of a partner and are involved in a variety of different types of work. After a year or so, trainees take the Certificate in Intellectual
• J A Kemp and Co - Trainee Patent Attorney
  Training to qualify as both European and Chartered Patent Attorney. Full support to achieve Queen Mary Certificate In Intellectual Property Law at foundation level and then proceed to final
• Keltie - Trainee Patent Attorneys
  We ensure that our assistants work with a number of different partners and qualified staff to broaden their experience and develop into other technical and IP disciplines. As there is no substitute
• Kilburn & Strode LLP - Trainee Patent Attorney
  Kilburn & Strode LLP has a reputation that is second to none. As a top-tier patent firm, we act for some of the most respected and innovative, internationally renowned companies, as well as for many
• Kilburn & Strode LLP - Trainee Patent Attorney (Mechanical)
  We have a position for a new technical assistant in our Mechanical Engineering Team. The Team work for a diverse range of clients from individuals and universities to large multinational
• Marks & Clerk - Trainee Patent Attorney
  We are currently looking for Trainee Patent Attorneys Our success is down to our people which is why we only employ talented individuals. In return we offer a progressive, dynamic, team-oriented,
• Mathys & Squire LLP - Trainee Patent Attorney
  Mathys & Squire is a long established Patent and Trade Mark firm with a reputation for the highest quality of professional advice coupled with commercial acumen. These strengths are contributing to
• Mewburn Ellis LLP - Trainee Patent Attorney
  We have an excellent record in training graduates to qualify as patent attorneys through learning at work and on our internal training scheme. We also send trainees to the Certificate course at Queen
• Page White & Farrer - Trainee Patent Attorney
  We are looking for candidates with good academic backgrounds to train as patent attorneys, to start now or later. We are seeking graduates with electronics or IT backgrounds, in particular
• Potter Clarkson LLP - Graduate Vacancies
  The continuing growth of our firm demands that we recruit high calibre individuals across the range of disciplines to train for qualification. We are committed to training at a high standard, which
• Reddie & Grose - Trainee Patent Attorney
  Trainees are encouraged to take advantage of courses and lectures provided by the Chartered Institute, Queen Mary, University of London and other organisations. These supplement the thorough
• R G C Jenkins & Co - Technical Assistant
  We are seeking graduate entrants with a background in Communications Engineering, Electronic Engineering, or Physics. New graduates will initially be based in our London office, but may have the
• Scott & York - Trainee Patent Attorney
  The work of a patent attorney is both exacting and stimulating requiring dedication to detail together with a good command of the English language. The job makes great use of your technical expertise
• Venner Shipley LLP - Trainee Patent Attorney
  Venner Shipley is a leading firm of Patent & Trademark Attorneys with offices in London & Cambridge, providing a full range of services relating to patents, trademarks, designs & other aspects of
• Withers & Rogers LLP - Trainee Patent Attorney
  We are currently seeking two graduates to join our Electronics, Computing and Physics team as a Trainee Patent Attorney in our London & Sheffield Offices. The main focus of training is to get a great
• Withers & Rogers LLP - Trainee Patent Attorney
  We are currently seeking two Graduates to join our Life Sciences & Chemistry group as Trainee Patent Attorneys, in both London and Bristol. For our London vacancy we would be looking at an academic

Trainee profiles

 
• Trainee Patent Attorney
  Having graduated with a Masters in chemistry, I was unsure what to do after university. I really enjoyed my area of science and I wanted to use the knowledge and skills I had acquired, but I knew I was not
• Patent Attorney
  As a student I found science subjects the most rewarding, whilst appreciating the art of expression. I had no desire to become a research scientist, preferring to be employed in a commercial setting.
• Trainee Patent Attorney
  Whilst considering my future career at university I realised that my interest in engineering lay in finding out how things work. However, I did not want to commit myself to one engineering expertise and was
• Trainee Patent Attorney
  At the end of my four years at Cambridge I found myself in a similar position to many of my peers: I was passionate about science and continuing to do a PhD seemed like the sensible option. However, the idea
• Technical Assistant
  I started at Dehns in 2008 after completing a PhD and a short stint as a Research Fellow in academia. After my experience in academia I knew that I wanted a job with a scientific focus, but I also knew that
• Associate (Patent Attorney)
  I first became interested in joining the patent attorney profession when considering future career options available to me towards the end of my PhD. Although I had enjoyed my time in academia I was becoming
• Technical Assistant
  I graduated in 2008 after having completed a year in industry at GlaxoSmithKline. It was during this time that I decided that, although I enjoyed chemistry, research was not for me. Whilst on placement I was
• Trainee Attorney
  The patent attorney profession is a small, almost hidden world, but once you have found and tried it, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t discovered it sooner. It is the only profession I know that allows you to use
• Patent Assistant
  I first learnt of the patent profession when I came across the Inside Careers Guide in my university careers library. At the time I was in the final year of my PhD project, and although I had thoroughly
• Trainee Pattent Attorney
  Rather unusually, I first heard about the patent attorney career whilst still at school. The combination of science, law and business appealed and towards the end of my PhD I was fortunate enough to take part
• Patent Assistant
  I always knew that I wanted a career that would allow me to use my science background and be involved with novel technology, without having to deal with the everyday routine of working in a research
• Associate
  Like many scientists that become patent attorneys, the original appeal came from being able to continue to learn about my degree subject without having to go near a laboratory. I have now been in the
• Trainee Patent Attorney
  Why I chose the profession I began my career working in engineering in the defence aerospace industry, and then in the oil and gas industry. Although these experiences were useful in many ways I wanted to try
• Associate
  After graduating from Cambridge with a degree in Pharmacology, I was looking for a job which would keep me in close contact with the science that I enjoyed, but not confine me to a laboratory or academia.
• Trainee Patent Attorney
  After my PhD, I did two post-doctoral stints but became increasingly disillusioned with academic research and started looking around for alternative options. A friend I worked with during my PhD had become a
• Trainee Patent Attorney
  Patents as a career One of the great attractions to engineering was the emphasis on problem solving. However I wanted a career that would allow me to use my ability to communicate and use some creativity.
• Senior Associate
  I joined Potter Clarkson as a new trainee almost five years ago from a post in medical research. It can be quite daunting starting in the profession, particularly when you think about the number of exams to
• Associate
  During my final year studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, I realised that although I enjoyed science, working in a lab was definitely not for me. I decided that I wanted to find a job in the
• Trainee Patent Attorney
  When I decided to return to Europe, I asked myself which career I wanted to pursue. My experience in labs and academe left me with the belief that I did not want a career in research. Additionally, my
• Associate
  As I was coming towards the end of my degree, I started to think about that eternal dilemma that faces most university students: What am I going to do with the rest of my life? I had enjoyed my studies and

Course provider profiles

 
• Bournemouth University
  Successful completion of BU’s PG Cert in IP leads to full exemptions from foundation level examinations of the JEB/CIPA.
• Queen Mary University of London
  Queen Mary has a long history of excellence in research and scholarship in intellectual property, spanning almost 30 years.
• University of Manchester
  The School of Law established in 1872 is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country.