A Career With Us

A career as a patent attorney presents a unique opportunity to combine science, engineering and law. Our attorneys work with some of the biggest businesses in the world to help them protect their inventions and bring them to market. 

Qualifying as a chartered UK & European patent attorney involves passing several sets of exams, and we provide a comprehensive package of support to our trainees throughout the process to guide them to success. 

Our approach to training

When you start your training with Withers & Rogers, from the get-go you'll be given the support and guidance you need to succeed and pass your exams to qualify as a chartered UK and European patent attorney. This means you'll be qualified to work on behalf of our clients at both the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO). 

Your first two weeks on the job will be spent in an induction period alongside the other trainees in your cohort from across all offices and practice groups. As well as being an opportunity to get to know the other people you'll be training alongside, the induction period includes information sessions on the firm and the industry, IP-related tutorials run by our qualified patent attorneys, and some social activities.

Throughout the remainder of your training, you will attend courses, lectures and tutorials organised by the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys. There is also our own extensive in-house tutorial programme.

The main focus of your training, however, will be exposure to a wide variety of work on actual live cases. This is where you will quickly develop your 'real world' skills and understanding of the role, as well as the culture and working practices that have led to our firm's reputation and success. 

When trainees come on board, we take the long view. One day in the future we want you to be a partner in our firm, and we'll make sure you have the support you need to achieve that. 

Contact hr@withersrogers.com if you have any questions relating to our training programme - we're here to help.

Who can apply?

Ordinarily we recruit trainee patent attorneys to start with us in September, but feel free to contact hr@withersrogers.com if you have some post-graduate experience and would like to start work sooner.

We hire graduates with a strong academic record in a technical subject, but above all, we’re looking for people who can demonstrate a passion for technology alongside strong commercial awareness. 

Generally, trainee patent attorneys will need an engineering or science related degree. Depending on your area of technical knowledge, you'll be placed in one of our main practice groups: Electronics, Computing & Physics, Advanced Engineering or Life Sciences & Chemistry.

FAQs

I have been working in industry or academic research since graduating but would now like to train as a patent attorney. Can I apply?

Yes. Post-graduate experience, while not essential, can be really beneficial to your career as a patent attorney.

Ordinarily we recruit trainee patent attorneys to start with us in September, but feel free to contact hr@withersrogers.com if you have some post-graduate experience and would like to start work sooner.

I can speak another language - is this an advantage?

Knowledge of any foreign language is very useful in a career as a patent attorney. German and French are particularly advantageous as we often visit Germany to conduct European Patent Office proceedings and we have an office in Paris. 

Nevertheless, this is not an essential requirement.

What degree do I need?

Generally, trainee patent attorneys need a degree in a science or engineering related field. 

This is to allow you to fully understand the technical composition of the inventions you'll be working with, and is also specified by the European Patent Office as a condition for registration and enrolment to take the European qualifying exams. 

If you have a degree in another subject area but are still interested in Intellectual Property Law, have you considered a career as a trade mark attorney?

What happens at Withers & Rogers' trainee assessment day?

We realise that trainee assessment days can be daunting, and we'll do all we can to make the experience both enjoyable and informative. Here are some of the things you can expect on the day:

  • You will be tested on your written communication skills, both technically and commercially
  • You will interview with members of our HR team as well as some of the partners to make sure you really understand the role of an attorney and what we expect from you as a trainee patent attorney
  • You will have the opportunity to meet our current attorneys to find out about their experiences and ask any questions you have about all things training at Withers & Rogers
  • You will take part in a group discussion to demonstrate your communication, teamwork and influencing skills
  • There will also be an opportunity to show us what you are really passionate about
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01347 823822 | info@gradcracker.com | Company registration number: 6370348
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