Job title: Trainee Patent Attorney (Biotechnology)
Location: Brighton
University: University of Bristol
Degree: PhD in Dynamic Molecular Cell Biology
Why did you choose a career in the profession?
During my PhD I missed the wide range of topics I was involved in during my undergraduate degree. I knew I wanted to stay in a field related to life sciences and after a bit of research patent law seemed an interesting blend of science and law with exposure to a wide variety of work.
A day in the life
This is a tough one as it’s really so varied! The day will usually begin with going through emails and checking your deadline list to determine the most important tasks for the day.
The day can then include a mixture of: writing new patent applications, reviewing and reporting official letters from patent office to clients, responding to official letters from patent offices, discussing new data and potential IP with clients, freedom to operate for a client’s commercial product (can they use/commercialise their product without infringing another party’s patent), and much more.
Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to get into the industry?
Try and get some work experience or exposure to the job, even if just an open day at a patent law firm. It will help further your understanding of the job and if it’s something that seems right for you, and demonstrate on your CV that you’ve seriously considered the job. Some firms (such as Dehns) even run a summer scheme which is a really good way of getting work experience.
It’s also necessary to be able to demonstrate good communication skills (in particular written, although oral is also important). For example, demonstrating a wide range of knowledge in your field and being able to explain these concepts at different levels of technicality is desirable. If you’re at university, getting involved in extra roles like demonstrating in labs or journal clubs can help develop and evidence these skills.
What type of clients do you work for?
My clients include Universities (and their associated spin out companies) and small- to medium-sized companies. They work in a variety of different areas of biotechnology and biochemistry, including antibodies, anti-cancer therapies, immunology and microbiology.