Qualifications: MEng, Mechanical Engineering, University of Warwick
After obtaining my degree from Warwick University I knew I wanted a career as a patent attorney. I wanted to remain in the region so Birmingham was a natural choice for me.
The office is located in the city centre, making it a great place to work and socialise. Birmingham is home to many national and international businesses and has great travel links including the new Grand Central station. The city centre itself also offers great shopping and great places to eat and drink.
My day-to-day work typically involves responding to objections raised against patent applications by the UK or European Patent Offices. Since joining as a graduate, I have already had the opportunity to write a number of patent applications, which involves meeting with inventors to understand their invention and then writing the patent application with further input from the inventors. I am also working with my supervisor on a case that has been summoned to a hearing before the European Patent Office. This will involve travelling to Munich to argue the merits of the application at Oral Proceedings.
I attend two webinar lectures a week given by the in-house ‘Training Academy’ to prepare me for the UK foundation exams. Marks & Clerk is one of the very few firms to offer an in-house training programme, which, in addition to delivering lectures, arranges regular ‘away days’ for trainees across the UK offices.
The focus is not just on billing and from a very early stage there is the opportunity for personal development. For example, I have already been involved in business development (such as networking events) and maintaining client relations.
Once qualified, I know the firm offers opportunities for career development – to Senior and Principle Associate level as well as Partnership.
Marks & Clerk is a great employer and the Birmingham office, like the other offices I've visited, is really friendly. There are welcome lunches whenever a new employee joins, and the office is very social, with events such as bowling nights, wine tastings and go karting.
There are also a number of benefits associated with working for a larger firm with a global presence. I am able to work on a wide variety of cases, with different types of clients, and I am able to get an insight into the profession globally.
There is also a large support network with fourteen trainees in my year across the UK offices, and we regularly meet up for ‘away days’. Having a peer group who understand the steep learning curve is invaluable.
