Interview
When I first started exploring career paths after university, I wanted a role that would use my scientific background whilst allowing me to grow in a commercial environment. That is what drew me to Gateley’s IP practices.
Gateley’s structure as a full service legal and professional services group stood out because it meant learning from patent attorneys as well as colleagues in legal, consultancy and business disciplines. It offered the rounded, real world environment I was looking for.
I didn’t always know I wanted to be a patent attorney. I followed science as I love research, and that interest carried me through my degrees and PhD. During my PhD, a few experiences steered me towards IP. One was a competition where we pitched a new company and considered everything from research to marketing to IP. Another was a three-month internship at a biotech company, where I saw the importance of patents, trade secrets and know-how. These moments helped me realise that IP sits at the intersection of science, business and innovation, which is where I wanted my career to be.
A key moment in my traineeship came nine months in, when I successfully completed an updated watch service relating to a Freedom to Operate (FTO) report. FTOs assess whether a company can launch a product without infringing existing patents and are known for being complex and detailed. My first attempt came back with a lot of red pen, which is normal at trainee stage. My next report only needed small amendments and received positive feedback. It felt like a milestone, showing that my scientific thinking was shifting into stronger legal and commercial reasoning. Constructive feedback made a significant difference and helped me move past the imposter syndrome that often comes with transitioning from academia into a new profession.
Qualifying as a patent attorney is a long process. There are two main routes, the UK exams and the European exams.
At Gateley, the journey to become UK qualified begins with five foundation exams: UK Patent Law, International Patent Law, English Law, Copyright and Design Law, and Trade mark Law. These take place once a year in October, so most trainees spread them out. Last year, I sat three and I will plan the next steps once I receive my results.
After passing the UK patents foundation exams, a candidate typically moves on to the advanced papers. Some trainees complete all the foundation exams first, whilst others combine foundation and advanced exams. The structure is more fluid than a typical university course, with learning spread over a longer period, which helps balance exam preparation with full-time work. The European qualifications require at least one year of professional experience before sitting the foundational exam, Paper F. Candidates typically take the advanced exams afterwards.
I enjoy the variety. No two days are the same. I might be meeting clients to discuss their innovations, or drafting responses to exam reports with examiners from IP offices around the world. We are involved at the start of a client’s journey, reviewing their data, understanding their experiments and advising on what they may need to strengthen a patent application.
A central part of the role is presenting a client’s case clearly and confidently, explaining why their invention is not only new but also innovative. To do that well, you need a deep understanding of the science, along with strong legal reasoning and strategic communication. This mix of technical insight and advocacy makes the work engaging and rewarding.
My advice is to build your CV beyond the science and say yes to new opportunities, whether internships, competitions or anything that exposes you to innovation from different angles. It is a highly-competitive profession to enter, and so any additional experience and exposure will help set you out from others when looking to apply.
University is often when you have the most flexibility to discover what you enjoy, whether that is patent law, commercial strategy or another part of the innovation ecosystem. The more experiences you gather, the clearer your direction becomes.