Like many people in the profession, becoming a patent attorney was not a career choice I had planned for far in advance. After four years studying physics, I knew I wanted to find a career that would continue to expose me to new and exciting technology, but I was unsure which route I most wanted to follow, particularly in the context of a PhD.
When my master’s supervisor made a fairly throwaway comment about the patent profession, I was immediately prompted to investigate further.
I was particularly drawn to the client-facing side of the role and the challenge of combining scientific knowledge with commercial strategy and communication. The more I learned about the profession, the more I realised that it offered a challenging career path that particularly suited my interests.
Most of my work currently comprises prosecuting patent applications before the European Patent Office. This involves communicating with patent examiners to address any objections raised against the application. This often consists of interpreting documents cited by an examiner, identifying arguments available to us, and crafting clear and persuasive responses.
However, while the nature of the work has been fairly consistent so far, the technology it relates to has been much more wide-ranging. Each new case involves different technology in electronics and software, bringing with it a new set of problems to tackle. This structure has complemented my training particularly well, allowing me to practise handling different types of objections in the context of very different technologies.
I also have opportunities to gain experience in other aspects of the profession during the weekly training sessions provided by the firm. These offer a structured opportunity to learn about different areas of the job, with associates and partners often providing detailed walkthroughs of the problem and constructive feedback on our work.
From my first interview with R&G, I got a strong impression that the attorneys here were genuinely interested and passionate about innovative technology. There was a clear enthusiasm for working at the forefront of developments in the electronics and software industry.
I knew I wanted to be challenged by technically complex work, and the inventions I work with allow me to apply my physics background to much of the work that I do.
The emphasis on training was another major attraction of the firm. Almost everyone arrives in the job with a strong scientific or engineering background, but with little or no prior knowledge of patent law. R&G recognises and addresses this by providing a two-week "bootcamp", covering all the fundamental principles and concepts that will go on to underpin the rest of the training and careers.
My experience at R&G has been extremely positive. I have found myself surrounded by friendly, knowledgeable and supportive people who are always willing to help with my training and development.
Whether I am speaking with other trainees or senior partners, there is a genuine willingness for people to give their time and share their experiences. Everyone understands the steep learning curve that comes with the job, and I have found that people will always give you the time to help you grow and succeed in the role.
The social and networking opportunities have also been a great part of my time at the firm so far. They have helped me to build confidence in a new professional setting, as well as helped me build connections both across and beyond the firm.
