Choosing a job in IP
If you are in your last year of your undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or just finished a degree, you may be wondering what career you want. If your degree is in science, engineering, or mathematics, a job as a trainee patent attorney might interest you.
In my last year of DPhil in Engineering Science, I did not know what career I wanted but I started to apply for different jobs, and IP was something that stood out. This was because, to me, it looked like an industry where I would be able to use the knowledge and skills I had learnt in my degree, while being able to work on a variety of things instead of only focusing on one topic.
While I was applying for jobs at different firms, I realised how different they were. In my opinion, if you are looking for a job as a trainee patent attorney, it is important to choose a firm that has values, culture and motivations that align with your own. This helps you to make sure that you understand and are happy with their needs and expectations.
In my case, I was looking for somewhere where I would be able to take on responsibilities as soon as I could to allow me to develop my skills quickly. Albright IP is a relatively small but expanding firm, so working here has allowed me to have hands-on experience in all the day-to-day activities of a patent attorney.
Starting the job
To be able to qualify as a patent attorney, the first four to six years of your career will be spent preparing and studying for exams. In our firm and many others, trainees work to qualify both as a UK Chartered Patent Attorney and a European Patent Attorney.
Before starting as a trainee, it can be useful to read up on the basics of patent law to develop some understanding of what the job might be like. However, you are able to just dive into it without much early knowledge as I’ve found the job itself provides the most useful training. Most firms provide a lot of in-house training such as personal supervision and weekly classes. Some firms even provide additional time during the week for self-study.
As a new trainee, the job and the amount of additional study after work can be daunting. However, there are a lot of people that can support you. If you are struggling, then do not be afraid to ask for help. In addition, if you make a mistake, don’t be afraid to tell someone as this will not only allow the problem to be fixed, but it also allows you to learn in the process. In this job, it is very important to be meticulous, but everyone still makes mistakes once in a while!
Exams
There are a number of exams that you need to take to qualify as a patent attorney. For the UK qualification, there are both Foundation exams and Final exams. There are different routes you can take for the Foundation exams. You can either do the IPReg-accredited In my case, I was looking for somewhere where I would be able to take on responsibilities as soon as I could to allow me to develop my skills quickly. Albright IP is a relatively small but expanding firm, so working here has allowed me to have hands-on experience in all the day-to-day activities of a patent attorney.
Starting the job To be able to qualify as a patent attorney, the first four to six years of your career will be spent preparing and studying for exams. In our firm and many others, trainees work to qualify both as a UK Chartered Patent Attorney and a European Patent Attorney. Before starting as a trainee, it can be useful to read up on the basics of patent law to develop some understanding of what the job might be like.
However, you are able to just dive into it without much early knowledge as I’ve found the job itself provides the most useful training. Most firms provide a lot of in-house training such as personal supervision and weekly classes.
Some firms even provide additional time during the Foundation Certificate examinations provided by the Patent Examination Board (PEB), or you can do an IPRegaccredited Postgraduate Intellectual Property Certificate course offered by Bournemouth University, Brunel University or Queen Mary, University of London. The route you take will most likely depend on your firm’s preference. In Albright IP, we take the Foundation exams provided by PEB.
A few months before I joined Albright IP in September 2021, I was given a choice if I wanted to take one or two foundation exams in October that year. However, at that point, I was just finishing my DPhil thesis and so I decided not to do any and instead focused on finishing my DPhil first.
However, if you are just about to start as a trainee or have just started a few months before the exams, it can be of benefit to do one or a few if you are willing. This is because it allows you to quickly develop a better understanding of the law through your studies.
When preparing for the exams, it is very helpful to be organised and create a study plan or schedule. Some people dedicate a month of study per exam. Some people prefer to start studying earlier but little and often.
During these times, it can be very easy to burn yourself out since you are working during the day and studying in the evenings. Even though it is important to pass the exams, it is equally important to take care of your health. Make sure that you are taking a lot of well-deserved breaks.
If there are other trainees doing the same exam(s) as you, group studies can also be very helpful. You can ask each other questions and help motivate each other through this time. There are also many other resources that can help you study, for example, there are CIPA informal lectures and JDD courses.
The exams are challenging, and it is not unusual for people to fail. In fact, every year a lot of people will have to resit exams. It can be really upsetting if you fail, but don’t be too hard on yourself. It is not the end of the world, and you can always try again. No matter how long it takes you to qualify, you will get there in the end. Make sure not to compare yourself and your achievements to others.
Having now been a trainee patent attorney for three years, I’m glad that I chose this career. Even though it is hard work, I find it interesting and rewarding to work on a multitude of different cases. I would recommend IP to anyone who is interested in supporting innovation and looking to challenge themselves every day.
