Patent examining offers an exciting and unusual opportunity to combine scientific and technical expertise with legal skills. Successful candidates will receive comprehensive training and mentoring support to develop the legal skills required for the role. Patent Examiners combine these skills together with their technical knowledge and analytical ability to establish if an invention is new and inventive and whether, or not, the application satisfies various other legal requirements.
Successful applicants will be appointed as ‘Associate Patent Examiners’. After 2-5 years understanding the basics of the examining job and developing a broad set of professional skills you can then apply for promotion to ‘Patent Examiner’. At this grade you work independently while continuing to develop your skills and experience. After a few more years of development there is non-competitive promotion to ‘Senior Patent Examiner’. Senior Patent Examiners are subject matter experts, leaders within the Patent Examining Division and provide mentoring support to the next generation of examiners.
In the first 6-7 weeks of the role, Associate Patent Examiners receive full time initial search and examination training as a cohort before working on live casework. The training consists of lectures, tutorials and activities where Associate Patent Examiners learn about all the stages involved in processing a patent application.
A quick intro to intellectual property from the IPO.
Once the formal training period has ended, Associate Patent Examiners move to join a group of Patent Examiner colleagues where they will continue to develop their skills and build their confidence to carry out the role:
We are looking for people who have specific knowledge in one of the following scientific fields:
We have particular skills gaps in the following specific scientific fields and anticipate offering more roles to candidates with knowledge in these fields:
This can be demonstrated by holding, or being on track to hold, at least a 2:2 degree in any of the listed subjects, OR, having equivalent industrial experience in a relevant technical field (5 years or more working in a STEM role where you have had the opportunity to learn, apply and embed technical knowledge in your specialist field).
Please note: equivalent experience does not need to be demonstrated to be over a consecutive period of time. We welcome applications from people returning to STEM after a career break or those looking for a change of career.
GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent) in Mathematics is also required.
We are looking for self-starters who tackle their work with enthusiasm and dedication. It is vital successful candidates will be team players and capable of seeing other people’s views. They will also be able to work independently and accept responsibility for their own actions and performance in meeting their personal work goals and business targets whilst always keeping the customer in mind.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
Please detail what you have learnt and how you have applied and embedded the outlined technical knowledge.
Benefits of working with us:
This role will be carried out remotely due to current government restrictions, please note however that travel to the IPO office in Newport may be required.
You will be provided with the support and equipment you will need to be able to work from home.
Once government restrictions are lifted this role will be based at our Newport office.
When working at Concept House, Newport the following benefits are also available:
Please note benefits may be subject to change.
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