You’ll need a degree (at least a 2:1) in a science, engineering, technical or mathematics based subject to get a job as a trainee patent attorney. It’s possible to become a trainee patent attorney after pursuing a different career post-degree.
Training starts from day one. After an initial two week boot camp, assistants will receive on-the-job training which generally involves working for one (or more) fully qualified patent attorney combined with in-house and external tutorials in preparation for sitting the Queen Mary exams one year in.
Examinations are set by the Patent Examination Board (PEB) and the European Patent Office. In order to register for the UK exams, you will need to have passed the foundation exams which will be taken approximately one year after joining R&G. There are four foundation papers, four UK papers and four European papers to sit. Once fully qualified, you will be required to complete a litigations skills course for which there is an exam at the end.
It not a pre-requisite to join R&G with a PhD.
It typically takes around 4-6 years to be a fully qualified UK and European Patent Attorney.
Trainee Patent Attorneys can expect to take home up anything in the range of £35,000-£40,000, with the figure rising £48,000 and £52,000 once part-qualified. By time you have become a fully qualified Patent Attorney, you can expect a salary between £65,000 and £70,000 (IP Careers/Fellow and Associates)
All applications open in early September and typically close by the end of December or until all vacancies have been filled (this can be sooner or later than the published deadline).
Please note that we do not accept CV’s and covering letters unless accompanied by a fully completed application form which can be downloaded when you apply.
If your applications is approved, you will be invited to a first interview which will consist of a written exercise followed by an interview with a Partner from the relevant practice area and a member of the HR Team. If you are successful, you will then be invited back to meet two other Partners from the same group as well as being given an opportunity to have coffee with a couple of our current trainees.
All applications that meet the academic criteria (or equivalent) will be considered. We currently hold a sponsorship licence to employ non-EU applicants.
At present, it is unclear how Brexit will impact on the recruitment for non-British citizens. We will continue to support applicants as much as possible.
