Trainee Patent Attorney – Engineering

Context of the role

Withers & Rogers is one of Europe’s largest dedicated intellectual property law firms, with offices across the UK, Paris, and Munich. Established 140 years ago, we remain as passionate as ever about making intellectual property work to our clients’ best advantage. Today, our clients include many renowned, innovative organisations from across Europe, North America, and Asia.

We believe that our patent and trade mark attorneys, support, and operations staff have a breadth of expertise and a depth of specialist sector knowledge that is second to none.

Our purpose is building trusting relationships, and this permeates through everything we do, from working with each other to providing strategic advice to our clients.

This role is within our Advanced Engineering Group. The contractual base for this role will be Bristol; however, we are embracing hybrid working, and therefore you will have the opportunity to mix days in the office and home, as agreed with your line manager but there is an expectation that employees will attend the office as needed for their role.

Accountabilities

• Providing support with drafting patent specifications and analysing and responding to patent office communications.
• Corresponding with clients, patent offices and overseas attorneys as directed.
• Analysing prior art documents and developing creative and persuasive arguments against patent office objections.
• Supporting with analysing and amending patent specifications to overcome patent office objections.
• Researching the status, scope and validity of third-party intellectual property rights.
• Working towards qualification as a UK and European Patent Attorney, including attending relevant courses, lectures and tutorials.
• Engaging with business development activities, developing relationships with our current clients and building a network of contacts, with a view to converting contacts to clients and bringing in new business.
• Any other duties where necessary to ensure the needs of the business are met.

Knowledge and skills required

• A strong academic (2:1 or above at undergraduate level as a minimum) in the relevant discipline.
• Ability to grasp new technical concepts and express complex ideas clearly and accurately.
• Impeccable written English and the ability to structure precise and coherent arguments.
• Attention to detail and pride in work product.
• Ability to balance and prioritise workload, remain composed and level-headed during periods of particularly busy activity.
• A team-player with a proactive approach, first-rate communication skills and able to interact with all levels of internal and external contacts.
• The desire to learn and a willingness to become involved in the work.

Why choose Withers & Rogers?

Withers & Rogers is one of Europe’s largest dedicated intellectual property law firms. Our Advanced Engineering group is enthusiastic about great engineering. Our team works across a hugely diverse span of technologies, from medical devices, motorsport, oil and gas exploration, vehicle transmission to off-highway vehicles and sporting goods and more.

We believe that our patent and trade mark attorneys, support, and operations staff have a breadth of expertise and a depth of specialist sector knowledge that is second to none. Our purpose is building trusting relationships and our vision is to be an independent, responsible, sustainably profitable, and globally focused firm, known for building trusting relationships.

We focus on building strong partnerships with clients - getting to know their business, seeking to understand how best to protect the fruits of their developments and how to ensure that IP protection genuinely adds value to their organisation.

At Withers & Rogers, we believe in nurturing a diverse working environment where everybody feels included and valued. We are committed to attracting, developing and retaining people from all walks of life and backgrounds. We promise to create a culture of inclusion where all individuals feel respected, are treated fairly, can enjoy a good work-life balance, and have the opportunity to excel in their chosen career.

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