We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.
Gradcracker Insight – Carla speaks to Emma Henderson, Global Head of Early Careers at PA Consulting
Emma gives an insight into the application process and how to be successful at PA.
Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.
We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport.
Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.
PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life.
Job Description
Why considering joining us?
During your weeks as an intern at PA, you’ll learn some of what it takes to be a top-notch consultant. You’ll be coached and guided by experts and have opportunities to broaden your experience on a challenging project. Whatever you work on, you’ll be part of the team and free to build your networks, both here at PA and far beyond.
Be part of an internationally renowned intellectual property team at the heart of helping clients tackle tough IP challenges in a dynamic global environment.
We work with major technology organisations and major law firms supporting intellectual property aspects from analysis of patent landscapes through to expert witness support.
You will collaborate with expert consultants, benefit from supportive mentoring, and gain skills through hands-on learning and peer support.
Essential requirements
This role is open to undergraduates in their penultimate year of university. If you are currently a final year undergraduate and intend to return to university after the internship to complete an MSc/MEng, you will also be eligible for this position.
Qualification: Working towards a undergraduate degree in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Engineering, Data Science, Computer Science, or related fields is preferred but we welcome applications from all degree disciplines with interest in intellectual property.
Wider interest in technology: you will have a passion for technology, particularly an interest in intellectual property, and interest in big data processing and use of AI/ML. An interest in telecom/network technologies is a plus
Curious and keen to learn: willing to take on unfamiliar problems, ask questions, and develop your understanding of new technologies and industries, supported by our experts.
Collaborative and relationship-focused: able to work effectively with different people, build strong relationships with clients and colleagues, and support others to succeed.
Clear and confident communicator: able to communicate complex ideas clearly, both written and verbal.
Analytical and adaptable: able to structure unfamiliar problems, make sense of incomplete or messy information and develop logical, evidence-based conclusions.
Modelling and data science experience: familiarity with AI/ML training and fine-tuning. Experience using tools such as Excel, Python or MATLAB to analyse problems, build models, evaluate options or test hypotheses would be welcome.
Understanding data: experience sourcing, processing, analysing and/or visualising data would be beneficial.
What you can expect
Joining us as an intern is the next step in starting your career. Whether you’re coming from a specialist background or from an unrelated subject, we want you to be bold, stay curious and dive into the opportunities we have to offer.
You will get exposure to real-world intellectual property challenges and solutions.
You will work on real-world intellectual property challenges and solutions. Example projects and activities might include: Analysing patents against technical standards (e.g. 3GPP, IEEE standards) to assess their relevance and importance, Researching patent landscapes to understand emerging technologies and competitor activity, Supporting patent disputes through technical analysis of patents, products and standards, Assessing the commercial potential of new technologies and identifying opportunities to protect or exploit intellectual property and Reviewing large patent portfolios to identify the most valuable or promising intellectual property.
You will work directly with experienced IP consultants who will work through these problems with you, helping you structure analysis and develop your consulting skills.
You will have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful and challenging work in a collaborative environment.
Assessment process
First Stage Assessments:
Application form.
Online Assessments.
Technical Assessment.
Final Stage Assessments:
In Person Assessment Centre with Technical Assessments.
Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on earlycareers@paconsulting.com
The Offer
You will work to ensure PA remains at the forefront of IP knowledge and analysis in a dynamic environment with a large number of intellectual property assets.
Opportunity to work supports the work of the intellectual property team, examples of projects include training or fine-tuning AI/ML to analyse and classify patents, automating the analysis of large patent sets based on different criteria, or modelling trends in patent filing and identification of emergency technology areas to gain insightful understanding of innovation.
You will be exposed to a variety of experiences which will build an outstanding career
We work flexibly at PA, but your work base will be our Global Innovation Centre near Cambridge.
This role will start in June 2027 – for 8 weeks. Exact dates will be confirmed at offer stage.
A career at PA is what you make of it — so power your curiosity and prepare to make an impact.
We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status, or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.
We also do not sponsor visas and do not take any candidates on who do not have the right to work in the UK.
We've signed the Gradcracker feedback pledge.
(This means that we will supply feedback if requested after an interview.)
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Job ID Number: JR103025
Can I use AI to apply?
At PA, we use AI tools on a daily basis. However, we value transparency and authenticity above all in our hiring process. We want to get know you, your skills, and experience in our interview process.
As such, we ask that no AI tools (including AI note takers, meeting assistants, and similar tools) are used by candidates during interview sessions. If AI tools are used during an interview, it could influence the outcome of your application.
